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siccus. Who Joes not viait Tvith rare and refined pleasure llie 

 tree, planted by some distinguished individual, or consecrated by 

 some glorious act ? We cannot always memorialize these 

 living specimens, but we can create increased associative value 

 to dried specimens of plants. I wonder how fcAV there are, 

 •who have not cherished some faded rosebud, or yellow gera- 

 nium leaf — the gift of aiFection, — or turned over reverentially 

 the dried and attenuated holly-hock and peony petals in the old 

 family bible, — which those, whose memories we revere, have 

 placed there 1 



There are actual specimens of plants in the herbaria of 

 Europe, plucked by Linnaeus; and for whose sake, many of his 

 pupils emperilled their lives to bring them to their master from 

 every land. Could we conceive a more Avorthy respect for 

 such choice but withered garlands of human fame, than is due 

 and is paid to these specimens of plants ? 



That herbarium is rich and valuable, which can collect the 

 labors of as many naturalists as possible, both of the illustrious 

 living and of the noble dead. In this associative relation, with 

 some of the best and most patient and noblest of earth's sons, 

 the collection of an herbarium becomes of prime value and 

 importance. 



3. The herbarium may be made an instructive volume of 

 the past as well as of the present. A little dried bit of a vege- 

 table culled and preserved by the hands of some collector —es- 

 pecially if accompanied by his own schedule or MS. ticket, 

 bearing the date and place of growth, — may settle an historical 

 point, or indicate the changes, which have occurred in some dis- 

 trict of country. Plants appear and disappear with a mysterious 

 significance from spots well known to man ; — the notice of their 

 visits, return or total absence from such areas of country, are 

 too valuable to be utterly neglected. How intensely curious 

 would a perfect suite of the rarer plants of this vicinity be to 

 us now, if we could see the specimens detected by Dr. Cutler, 

 Dr. Pickering, Dr. Bass, Dr. Nichols, and the celebrated 

 Oakes — arranged in the serial order of their herborization and 

 definitive of the early condition of our surroundings, when na- 

 ture "Was nearer and closer to our dwellings. Where is the 



