130 Hints to the Young Botanist. 



characters of the parts not taken, as the bark, roots, &c., and also 

 notice the form and size of the plant, more especially if it be a 

 shrub or tree. Another point to be attended to is the collection of ■ 

 more than one specimen of each species, which, after drying, will 

 enable the botanist to make choice of the finest specimen for his 

 herbarium and give him the advantage of having duplicates for 

 exchange with other botanical collectors. As soon as gathered, 

 the plants are to be carefully placed in the vasculum in such a 

 way as to prevent injury to the flower and crushing" of the leaves. 

 If small and very delicate, and more especially, if the flower be 

 tender and deciduous, they should be immediately pressed between 

 the layers of bibulous paper in the Field Book or Portfolio, care 

 being taken to arrange the parts so as to preserve the natural 

 habit and appearance of the whole plant. Some plants may be 

 gathered from different localities and any variations observed are 

 to be noticed. Should this be done over extensive districts, the 

 geographical range of distribution will in many instances be as- 

 certained and will constitute a valuable desideratum in this coun- 

 try. Monstrosities, which are interesting in a morphological 

 point of view, should likewise be preserved and the circumstances 

 in which they were found, mentioned. In an excursion, notes 

 may be taken of the general features of the country, scenery, &c., 

 as these will be of much value for subsequent reference. 



On returning from a botanical travel, it should be the object of 

 the collector to name all the plants he has gathered and subject 

 them to pressure immediately. It is much more easy to examine 

 the characters of a plant when it is fresh, and the flower can be 

 more readily dissected for the purpose of ascertaining the relations 

 and dispositions of its parts, which are always referred to in 

 botanical descriptions. We shall allude to the mode whereby the 

 names of plants may be easily arrived at; but as this will require 

 some general explanations regarding their natural classification, 

 we shall leave the subject till our collection of plants is safely 

 under pressure. 



For the purpose of drying plants, it is necessary to have the 

 following apparatus : — 



I. Absorbent Paper, of good texture, and large size — say 18 

 inches long by 11 broad. This will answer all ordinary plants, 

 but in the case where the flowers or leaves are delicate and cannot 

 easily be transferred, it is advisable to place them first within a 

 sheet of thin crown tea paper or fine blotting paper, from which 



