REMARKS ON BOTANY. 133 
GENERAL REMARKS ON BOTANY. 
* 
As we advance towards the equatorial regions, we find that 
the plants exhibit larger features; so that the paper which we 
require for an herbarium must be from eighteen to twenty 
inches long and twelve inches wide. Several planks ought 
to be procured for pressing-boards ; these should be formed 
of two thin ones glued together to prevent warping from 
the damp of the plants in pressing. The thread of the 
wood ought to run lengthwise in that which is placed next 
the paper, and transverse on the outer side. A press 
should be obtained for squeezing them, or weights and stones 
may be used for that purpose; others make use of a series 
lecting plants, as it is much better for absorbing the moisture 
_ fifteen to eighteen inches in length, and from six to eight inches 
in breadth: this box is about two inches to two and a half in | 
depth, and curved, that is, the lid is concave and the bottom 
convex, to each end should be attached a strong wire for pass- 
_ ing a strap through, so that it may be carried like a knap- | 
sack ; it ought to be japanned outside to prevent it from Wast- 
_ing. A small box of the same shape for carrying in the pocket, 
_ will also be found useful for small plants, this may be about 
_ seven and a half inches long and five broad. A small trowel, 
_ with the blade six inches long and two and a half broad, will 
it should be oblong and acutely shaped, as in the following 
figure :— 
Another instrument for procuring the branches of trees, is | 
an indispensable appendage to the botanist. The upper edge 
of which is sharpened for cutting branches of trees, or speci- || 
of the wood from the larger trunks of trees. The lower 
of leather straps with buckles. The Botanist should have | 
a book of blotting-paper in his botanical excursions for col- | 
| of the fresh plant ; besides this, a tin botanizing box of from | 
_ be found extremely useful for digging up the roots of plants; ° 
