696 REPORT—1896. 
Carbon Disulphide is also most useful for fumigating bundles occasionally, 
the whole bundle being placed for a day or two in a large trough rendered 
air-tight by the usual method, the atmosphere in it being saturated with 
the vapour. 
EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. 
Morphological Preparations and Dissections to illustrate Systematic 
Characters, if mounted like herbarium specimens on stiff paper, and also 
ordinary herbarium specimens, can be well exhibited on any available 
wall-space by a method that I have used for some time, and that permits 
the rapid change of the specimens when desired, they being kept when 
not exhibited in the ordinary herbarium cases or in boxes. The sheets to 
be exhibited are placed in frames each consisting of a stiff back of card- 
board and front of glass, the two being separated by strips of wood, which 
in some are 2 in. and in others only 4%; in. thick. The fourth side (top) is 
left open, and through it the sheet is dropped into the space, I use 
different sizes of frames, the largest being 174 in. by 11 in. in surface. 
To support the frames strips of wood are fixed against the wall, each 
strip being grooved so as to hold the frames both above and below itself, 
as shown in the sketches in the margin. The specimens are quite 
protected from injury and dust, and are very easily and rapidly inserted 
and removed at will. 
VESSELS FOR SPECIMENS. 
Fluid Preparations.—For these, after having tried all the various 
forms of jars and bottles that I could procure, I prefer the jar in most 
cases, and, where the expense is not an insurmountable obstacle, the 
rectangular jar with polished front. This is, of course, if the preparation 
is to be mounted for permanent preservation. For small objects I 
sometimes prefer bottles, either round or flat, as the narrower neck is 
more easily secured. 
Dry Preparations T usually place in glass-topped boxes if it is desirable 
to protect them specially. 
METHODS OF SEALING. 
Hermetical Sealing.—I have employed this method with success for 
small objects that can be preserved in fluid or dry in tubes, e.g. some 
galls ; but it is suited to only a limited number, 
Corks for Bottles and Jars.—A coat of paraffin or of collodion helps 
a good deal to retard evaporation through corks, while not preventing 
their removal when wished. 
Glass Tops.—I use these for the jars, the cover and the mouth of the 
jar both being ground. A convenient cement is isinglass dissolved in 
acetic acid, heated slightly to render it fit for use. This permits of the 
top being readily removed when necessary. It is rendered more secure 
by two coats of collodion painted over it when firm. 
It is convenient to provide for the addition of fluid to replace any lost 
by evaporation after a time by having a small hole bored through the 
glass cover. This hole is closed with a cork, A more elaborate cement, 
composed of gum mastic, isinglass, and acetic acid, with a small admixture 
of gum galbanum and gum ammoniac, has proved useful and reliable in 
my experience. 
Labelling.—I employ manuscript, type-written, or printed labels, as 
may be determined by the advantages in each case, and by the expense. 
