BTJLLKTIN 39, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. [12] 



rate collections and different times in the season. When fruit can be 

 found attached to the stem and leaves, this is of course the preferable 

 way, since it leaves no possible doubt as to the identity of both. This 

 should therefore be done as long as the size of the fruit will permit, 

 and is recommended in the case of all acorns and even in hickory-nuts. 

 In the case of larger fruits, such as the walnut (Juglans), the crab 

 apple, or the persimmon, the fruit can be collected separately." (Ward.) 



The above statements regarding the necessity of visiting a plant at 

 different times or seasons in order to secure a complete representation 

 of course only apply when the collector is able to remain in the vicin- 

 ity for a considerable period of time. When the collector is passing 

 hastily through a country he will always find many things that can 

 only be collected in an imperfect state, but they should by no means 

 be neglected on this account, for, on the principle that " half a loaf is 

 better than no loaf," valuable things may often be secured in this way. 

 Leaves unaccompanied by either flowers or fruit, or fruit without flowers 

 or leaves, can usually be identified, and even the exceedingly difficult 

 willows, as I am informed by Mr. M. S. Bebb, the eminent salicologist, 

 can be collected without either flowers or fruit and yet be identified. 

 In the case of such plants as the willows, however, this course should 

 only be adopted when everything else fails. 



" For most herbaceous plants enough has already been said to guide 

 the beginner in securing good specimens. Nearly all botanists take a 

 pride in this, and, aside from its purely esthetic aspect, it is of the first 

 scientific importance. The plant should in all cases be represented, 

 and, as art only aims to imitate nature, so good taste coincides with the 

 scientific requirement that the plant after collection should resemlile as 

 nearly as possible the plant before collection. 



" Small annuals growing in loose soil can usually be pulled up by 

 the roots without injury to the latter, and this is then the best course ; 

 but if the plant is very rare it is best not to trust to this, for fear of in- 

 juring the only specimen. It is but the work of a moment to insert the 

 trowel below it and carefully shake the roots clean. Nearly all biennials 

 and j)erennials require to be dug up, but this will be found less labor 

 than might be supposed. A little practice will render any one skilled 

 enough to take up nearly all ordinary plants with one or two strokes ot 

 the trowel. As it is impossible to tell in what direction a horizontal 

 rhizoma may extend, it is best to strike in at some distance from the 

 base of the plant and at a considerable angle, so as to go beneath it. 

 If it can not be raised upon the trowel at the first thrust, make a simi- 

 lar one on the opposite side, meeting the former. In soddy ground it 

 is often necessary to cut out a conical clod, with the plant in its center, 

 and then remove the earth from the roots after it is taken out of the 

 ground. This is frequently the case with Carices, which should never be 

 broken off at the top of the ground. 



"In placing plants in the portfolio it is usually worth while to take a 



