eT IOS 
ia 
ON PRESERVATION OF PLANTS FOR EXHIBITION. 685 
The following methods, devised by Mr. Tagg, assistant in the museum 
at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, are in use there :— 
1. For cementing Specimens to Glass, Mica, &c.—Gelatine is necessary 
for large specimens, and though becoming opaque in alcohol may be used 
when the specimen is sufficiently large to hide the cement. f 
Delicate specimens that dry when exposed to air for a very short time 
can be fixed to the glass with gelatine while still in alcohol. To do thisa 
pipette with hot water jacket is required (see figure). 
Pipette.—An ordinary pipette is surrounded by an outer tube forming 
a jacket, in which water is put. 
Method of using Pipette with Hot-water Jacket.—Gelatine is taken 
into the pipette, the outer tube filled with water, and the whole 
placed in a beaker of boiling water till the 
water in the jacket surrounding the pip- 
ette is also boiling. The specimen is laid 
in a flat dish in alcohol ; at the bottom is 
also the glass to which specimen is to be 
cemented. Having decided where specimen 
shall be fastened, the pipette with hot water 
is put quickly into the spirit, its,orifice is 
made to touch the glass, and some of the hot 
gelatine is forced out. With the other hand 
the specimen is now gently pressed into the 
still soft gelatine and held in position for a 
second or two. The gelatine soon hardens, 
and the specimen is permanently fixed. 
2. For making jflat-sided Vessels to hold 
Specimens.—Pieces of glass are cut to required Boiling Water 
sizes for the sides of the vessel, and are then 
fastened together in the following manner :— 
1 oz. Nelson’s amber gelatine is soaked in 
water for twelve hours. Water not absorbed 
is poured off, and the softened gelatine is 
melted over hot water. To this are added 0:5 
grm. of bichromate of potash and 10 drops of 
glycerine. The cement is put on warm. 
Professor Errera sent an account of ex- 
periments conducted in his museum in Brus- 
sels, and his statements are in agreement with 
those already set forth. He finally decides 
against all liquid preservative media in cases 
in which it is desired to retain the original 
colour, and substitutes a method of rapid 
desiccation in sand. By this means he has hay genbber.pad to make 
= Z joint water-tight. 
been able to prepare specimens which have ; 
remained unaltered as to colour for a considerable number of years. The 
method was described by EH. Cornélis in ‘La Belgique horticole,’ August 
1880. Professor Errera states that the drying in vacuo, as recommended 
by E. Cornélis, is, however, unnecessary. The dried specimens are preserved 
in airtight bottles, which contain in their hollowed stoppers some calcium 
oxide, in order to absorb any moisture from the air within the bottles. 
The reports of Professors Errera and Trail appear of special import- 
ance, and are printed in full, forming Appendices I. and IT. 
Gelatine 
