250 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [Sept., 
OPEN LETTERS. 
Drying Plants. 
On reading the Herbarium number of the Gazerre I noticed that none of 
the writers on specimen makin 
years ago, while botanizing in otia. ough not e re 
for common he specimens fall short of those obtained by th inary 
methods, yet, if so situated tha abundance of driers is not o nable, or, if 
will be found of practical value. On the trip referred to a large number of 
specimens had been collected, but so bad was the weather from rain and sea 
fogs that there was great danger of losing them a!l. Under these circumstances. 
advantage was taken of occasional glimpses of sunshine in the following way: 
each sheet of specimens was pla between two driers a were sprea 
in a single layer on the floor of an open balcony. Pieces of board placed in 
the sun, logs or bark, would of rse answer the same purpose. Smal nes 
laid on the corners of the sheets prevented the di ing them, and n 
pressure was used except the weight of the single drier covering the specimens. 
of good sunshine served to fully cure mos This plan is only 
i licable to specimens previously somewhat wilted in the press, as the leaves 
resh or insufficiently wilted ones curled up from the absence of pressure. 
lon, Ontario, Canada, T. J. W. Buraess, M. D. 
A Collection of Exotics. 
In reply to the suggestion of Prof. W. W. Bailey concerning exotics in the 
herbarium, I may state that in the herbarium of the United States National 
Museum we have undertaken to form precisely the kind of a collection he men- 
ons. 
lt is the policy of the National Museum to publish, in the form of bulle- 
tins, investigations upon the natural history of various interesting localities- 
Colum ia. A committee of botanists was also appointed by the Biological So- 
ciety of Washington to assist in the collection and preparation of this material. 
For several years but little was accomplished, but on the formal establishment 
i m 
1 k nd ore- 
over exotics that have long been cultivated are generally burdened with an 
extensive synonomy, but with a good named herbarium of foreign plants for 
mparison much may be accomplished. __ 
en finally mounted for exhibition or study each specimen will be la- 
beled with its accepted scientific name, the common name under which it is 
te these enera 
we shall probably not be able to do so on account of limited space, althou. 
‘ne suggestion of Prof. Bailey to this effect may be a good one. At any rate 3 
ee of this character will furnish a source of popular information of un- 
Vaiue, ; TON. 
United States National Museum. id) sede 
