tea, and oaks: to prevent this, these seeds should be placed 
in sandy earth, two inches of this earth should be laid on the 
bottom, and the seeds put at a little distance from each other, 
they are then covered with a layer of earth one inch in thickness, 
and proceed in this manner till the box is filled within six or 
eight inches of the top, andthe remainder filled up with sand. 
The box must not be too tightly covered, as it is of consequence 
that the air should penetrate the earth. Indeed, there ought 
to be an opening at the top, with a trellis cover of brass wire, 
to prevent the intrusion of mice ; this was the manner in which 
M. M. Michaux, senr. and junr. transported nearly the whole of 
the North American oaks to France. During the passage the 
seeds will germinate, and their embryos will be developed, and 
all that is required is to place them in fresh soil congenial to 
their habits. The same method must be adopted with stone 
fruits, such as walnuts, plumbs, and nectarines; as also with 
laurels and myrtles, and more particularly those species which 
have to be transported across the equatorial seas. 
For the preservation of the seeds of pulpy fruits, a different 
mode must be pursued. These seeds are perfectly ripe when 
the fruit indicates the first stages of putrefaction, the seeds 
must then be removed, thoroughly dried, and placed in paper 
bags for preservation. 
Drizep Prants.—These are collected for the formation of 
herbariums, and are of much use in enabling the botanist to 
describe and distinguish new species. By means of these 
alone, the naturalist can determine all the characters of the 
plants, and thus form a classification of the vegetable king- 
dom. Besides the leaves and stem of the plant, its roots should 
also be procured if possible. 
Fruits in a ripe state preserved in spirits are extremely use 
ful for comparison with those which we raise in Europe. 
Resins, gums, and all other substances which are likely to 
prove useful in the arts or medicine, ought to be procured. 
The plants intended for an herbarium, must be gathered both 
in the flower and fruit; they must be laid out in as natural a 
manner as possible between leaves of paper, with a board 
placed over them, and some stones or other weights for pres- 
sure, to prevent the leaves from curling upon drying. This 
pressure must be applied till they are perfectly dry, and they 
THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. ESE? 
