1875.] Suggestions for the Ynnan Expedition. 9 



few good and complete specimens (not mere fragments) be taken. These 

 should be carefully ticketed and the label should state locality and date, 

 and it should record, if the plant is cultivated or taken from a garden. 

 It depends upon the skill and experience of the collector to make notes on 

 the frequency, range, and elevation of each species. Notes on the colour of 

 the flowers and fruit, uses, etc., are always of great value. 



If any opportunity should arise for sending dried collections back to 

 Bhamo, they should be sent by that route as long as the Mission travels on 

 this side of the Salween. 



As to what should be taken it may be said, every plant, whether herb, 

 shrub or tree. It would also be desirable that cryptogams should be 

 gathered. The latter can be dried in the same way as phanerogams, but 

 in the case of many Fungi and Algee a good many manipulations and even 

 microscopical drawings (in the case of Spirogyras, etc.) are indispensable 

 for their future identification. 



The dried plants should be put between dry paper and packed in wax 

 cloth (also while travelling), in order to prevent their being spoiled should 

 the rains set in. 



A specimen of every plant met with should be preserved, and in order 

 to get an idea of the geographical distribution of species along the entire 

 line of route, a memorandum should be made of the plants seen every day. 

 As the plants will probably be collected by one who does not know 

 the names even of their natural orders, probably the best memorandum in 

 most cases will be to collect a fragment of every species met daily. In 

 other words, a few perfect specimens of each species met with should 

 be collected for (subsequent) determination or description ; but besides 

 these, smaller specimens (sufficient for comparison with the perfect ones) 

 should be collected daily, to show geographical distribution. Of course, 

 if accurate notes can be made, the necessity of collecting such fragments 

 is avoided. 



A perfect specimen consists, in the case of small species, of an entire 

 plant bearing leaves, flower-buds, expanded flowers, and ripe fruit : in the 

 case of large species, of a small mature branch (young shoots should not 

 be taken) bearing characteristic leaves, and of branches bearing buds, flowers, 

 and ripe fruit. Where a plant- bears leaves of two forms, specimens of both 

 should be taken. 



Each individual specimen should have attached to it a ticket bearing 

 note of locality, or elevation above sea, and date of collection, also notes 

 of colour of flower, of native name (if it can be got on apparently reliable 

 authority) and of reputed properties and uses, also a note of the parts 

 used. The ticket of each individual specimen should invariably be attached 

 to it ivhen first put into the drying paper. Writing tickets at any subse- 



