51 



sheets has been acquired, but no herbarium space was available 

 for this rapid expansion, and funds were not available for the 

 purchase of steel, or even wooden cases. 



I accordingly investigated the feasibility of adapting ordinary 

 corrugated paper cartons, such as are now extensively used for 

 shipping various products by express and parcel post, to herba- 

 rium storage purposes. Several different types were designed 

 until finally a form was evolved that is not only eminently 

 satisfactory for the purposes indicated but which is also very 

 economical, convenient, and, generally speaking, as tight and 

 as nearly insect and dust proof as is the average wooden case. 

 These cartons have been found to be so thoroughly satisfactory 

 after two years of constant use that I feel that botanical institu- 

 tions, and botanists generally who maintain working collections 

 of herbarium material, should be apprised of this innovation. 

 These specially designed cartons are not only eminently satis- 

 factory for the economical storage of mounted botanical material 

 but also form a most excellent medium for the storage of dupli- 

 cate specimens, unmounted material that is awaiting attention, 

 and for various other needs of the growing herbarium. 



The size finally selected as best adapted to the purposes 

 indicated is 48 cm. long, 34.5 cm. wide, and 24 cm. high, outside 

 measurements. Each unit consists of an outer and inner sleeve. 

 The outer sleeve forms an oblong case open at both ends, the 

 edges of the sheet of corrugated cardboard forming this sleeve 

 being firmly fastened with a single strip of gummed cloth on the 

 outside; manufacturers deliver them in this form. 



The inner sleeve is merely a strip of corrugated cardboard 

 about 1.6 m. long and just wide enough to fit snugly inside the 

 inner sleeve. This is creased so as to automatically form an 

 oblong case open at top and bottom, fitting closely inside the 

 outer sleeve. This inner sleeve forms the rear end of the unit, 

 double sides, the front end forming a flap which serves as a door; 

 a flange about 4 cm. wide serves to hold the door in place when 

 closed. Compensation for this flange is provided for by making 

 the right hand side of the inner sleeve correspondingly shorter 

 than the left hand side. The inner sleeve is firmly pasted in 

 position through the use of sodium silicate (water glass). The 

 rear end is sealed with craft tape such as is used by tradesmen 

 for fastening packages and cartons, the 5 cm. width being the 



