342 On P?-eserving Organic Specimens. 



the folios of botanical specimens, they must each contain a vessel 

 partly filled with unslacked lime, which will always maintain 

 when the door is kept shut, an inclosed atmosphere of such ex- 

 treme dryness that no living thing can exist there, and no chemi- 

 cal change go on. 



I am of opinion, that as botanists are in the habit of mutually 

 interchanging specimens, they would find it greatly to their ad- 

 vantage to adopt a somewhat similar mode of enveloping the 

 packages to be sent. The length of the tin or zinc boxes should 

 be about twenty two inches, the breadth near thirteen, and the 

 thickness from one to six inches. The opening for the cover 

 may then be twenty one by twelve inches ; and the cover, be- 

 sides having six or eight nut and screw fastenings, may be ce- 

 mented on by bees' wax or sealing wax. On each side the spe- 

 cimens next the metal, may be placed thin layers of powdered 

 quick lime in cotton batting. In this way, no damage would be 

 likely to occur to specimens in transportation. These boxes, 

 having no other use, might be considered as belonging to the 

 fraternity of botanists, I'ather than to individuals. 



In conclusion, I cannot but anticipate that the mode of forming 

 collections or museums of plants, by inclosing handsome speci- 

 mens behind glass, will hereafter contribute greatly to the diffu- 

 sion and improvement of botanical science. It is not my design, 

 at this time, to set forth in detail the various excellences and 

 advantages of such a method. To the reflecting reader they 

 must be already obvious. The same principles may be beauti- 

 fully applied in preserving bouquets of natural flowers, beneath 

 glass bells, as mantel ornaments. The same plan cannot fail of 

 answering admirably in preserving collections of insects. Even 

 miniatures, larger paintings, documents, in short, almost any sub- 

 stance, whether of organic or inorganic nature, may be thus 

 saved from the merciless hand of time. 



New Orleans, November 26, 1838. 



