[45] DIRECTIONS FOR COLLECTING PLANTS — KNOWLTON. 



seem fragmentary, as much can frequently be made out with very poor 

 material. But care should be taken to get as complete a representa- 

 tion as i^ossible. 



In collecting in any locality it is well to get out as large a series as 

 possible before selecting the specimens to be taken. In this way many 

 nearly valueless specimens may be discarded at once, for, with a large 

 number to select from, the reallj^ good material can be readily picked 

 out. Fragments that illustrate essential or important characters should 

 be taken, such as the tip of a leaf, a petiole with a small jiart of the 

 leaf attached, a good, perfect base of a leaf, or a well-preserved portion 

 of the margin. By the comparison of a good series of such fragments 

 a thorough and satisfactory idea of the form, size, and character of the 

 leaf may be obtained. A leaf with no part of the margin preserved 

 can usually be discarded at once, with, of course, the limitations men- 

 tioned above. Enough should be taken to illustrate the species if it 

 can be obtained. 



In collecting ferns the most valuable specimens are those found in 

 fruit, and nothing, no matter how fragmentary, that shows the slightest 

 tendency to be fruit-bearing should be discarded. A chance fragment 

 may frequently settle important biological questions. 



Specimens that are accidentally broken are not to be discarded as 

 worthless, for they can be easily mended with strong glue and made 

 nearly or quite as good as before. Parts of the same specimen should 

 be kept together if possible; that is, each should be wrapped separately 

 and the whole wrapped in a single larger bundle. The repairing is best 

 done in the laboratory. 



Counterparts or reverse impressions should be carefullj^ preserved, 

 and also kept together. These reverse impressions are frequently of 

 great assistance in the study of the specimen. 



Much work can be done in the field in the way of reducing the size 

 of the specimens ; that is, just as much of the matrix should be re- 

 moved as possible ivith safety to the impression that is preserved upon 

 it. The distance and means of transportation must be taken into ac- 

 count and the specimen treated accordingly. If it is preserved, for 

 example, in a thinly laminated shale, very little reduction of the size 

 of the specimen should be attempted, but if the matrix is firm much 

 can safely be removed. On the other hand very fragile specimens, such 

 as clay, had best be sent in in bulk and broken up afterwards. 



IV. — Care of Specimens in the Laboratory. 



The first thing to be done with a collection of fossil plants after un- 

 packing and unwrapping them will be to attach a small label to each 

 specimen. These labels may conveniently be made of green paper, 

 which should be cut into small circular pieces three-fifths of an inch in 

 diameter with a common harness punch of that size. Upon these labels 

 a number is to be written that is called a lot number, and opposite this 



