March, 190".] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 209'^ 



should be folded or cut in two. Very fleshy specimens 

 should be dipped in boiling water for a minute or two 

 before drying. Thick stems, root, rhizome, or bulbs, 

 should be split in two, or have a slice taken from the 

 under side, so that they lie flatter on the paper. 



The paper should be changed once a day or oftener 

 during the first three or four days, less frequently after- 

 wards ; the length of time necessary to dry the specimens 

 varies with the nature of the plant (whether dry or suc- 

 culent) and with the kind of paper used. Many little 

 expedients will be suggested by practice. 



To retain colour, rapid drying is necessary. This can 

 be done by using drying paper warmed in an oven and 

 frequently changed, or by placing a layer of hot dry sand 

 on the sheet of paper above the specimens, and im- 

 mediately applying pressure. Care is needed to obtain 

 good results. 



The dried specimens may be kept loosely between 

 double sheets of paper, the size usually adopted being 

 17 inches long by ii inches wide. But for use in schools, 

 w^here the specimens are likely to be handled much, they 

 are better fastened to stiff sheets of paper of white card- 

 board. Strips of gummed paper or linen are often used 

 for this purpose, but it will usually be found better to 

 fasten the whole specimen to the sheet by means of glue. 

 The best glue should be used ; it ought to be of the- 

 consistency of cream, and dabbed on, while hot, with a 

 brush. When the specimens are mounted, the sheets 

 should be placed between newspapers, and pressed. 



The specimens should be accurately labelled with the 

 locality, name of collector, date, botanical and common- 

 names, and any other details that may be thought neces- 

 sary. It will be well to keep the native plants separate 

 from the introduced ones, and to classify them accord- 

 ing to their natural orders and genera, if possible. 

 Other methods of classification may be adopted, e.g., 

 garden weeds, pasture weeds, fodder plants, plants 

 growing near water, trees, shrubs, climbers, &c. The 

 cabinet should be secuvelv closed to keep out dust; and 

 camphor or naphthaline should be placed on the shelves 

 to keep off the small insects that will otherwise attack 

 and destroy the specimens. If any insect or insect larvse 

 obtain entry in spite of this, place a saucer of carbon 

 bisulphide in the case after school on Friday, close the 

 case, and remove any carbon bisulphide remaining before 

 the children return to school on Monday, taking care that 



