189 



reaching home, yet neglect to do so is not attended with such 

 disastrous results as with the collecting-box. 



A slip of writing-paper, on whicn the date, place, and situa- 

 tion in which the specimen was gathered should he attached, 

 and note should be taken of the stature, habit, colour of the 

 flowers, or of any other particulars which the specimen itfeelf 

 cannot supply, or which may be lost in the process of drying, 

 A ready mode of attaching a label to a plant i*s making a loop 

 in the middle part of the paper by two longitudinal cuts, 

 through which the stalk or other part of the plant is passed. 



The perfectly dried plants may be packed up in bundles, 

 with a single sheet of paper between each layer. They may 

 be placed very closely on the sheets, but not in more than one 

 layer on each sheet, and care must be taken to protect the 

 bundles by sufficient covering from the effects of . external 

 moisture or the attacks of insects. 



The Society being desirous of collecting material for a report 

 on the introduced plants, seeks information in reference to 

 each plant as follows : — 



Whether a weed of cultivated or pasture ground. 



Whether an escape from cultivation. 



Date of its appearance. 



The extent of its spread. 



Whether on the increase or decrease. 



The conditions most favourable for its propagation. 



Its utility or inutility. 



Duration of flowering. 



Its common name. 



Seaweeds should be searched for among the rock-pools 

 between tide-marks. Deep water alga? are occasionally cast 

 up after storms, but they should be rejected if not fresh ; they 

 may be gathered into a linen bag. Empty collecting-bag into 

 a basin of sea-water ; select the best and cleanest plants and 

 rewash. To Mount. — Moat the seaweed in water and slip 

 under it a piece of smooth drawing or fine white cartridge 

 paper, arrange the specimen on the paper, and carefully remove 

 from the water, press and dry between blotting paper. Thin 

 plates of perforated zinc to support the mounting paper when 

 in water, and to facilitate its removal therefrom, will prove 

 useful. Most seaweeds will adhere to the mounting paper, 

 but if it be wished to have them loose use calico instead of paper. 



Geology. — Rock specimens should be broken off from rocks 

 in situ, and not from rolled stones or boulders, though much 

 useful information may be gained by proving them to belong to 

 some distant locality. Take from interior parts unaffected by 

 weather. 



