Ixxii DIRECTIONS, &c. 



Directions for preparing an Herbarium of dried 

 Specimens j^ S^c, 



If plants be properly dried, their different parts may be 

 restored by plunging the specimen in hot water. Dried spe- 

 cimens of plants, with access to the field, the garden, and to 

 books, are obviously requisite to the practical botanist. When 

 a press cannot conveniently be obtained, plants may be dried 

 very well between the leaves of any large folio book, piling up 

 weights and other books to afford the suitable pressure. 

 Should the specimens be crowded, they require frequent shift- 

 ing; and the moist paper must be dried, before replacing 

 the specimens. Where the paper is abundant, and the speci- 

 mens few, they require but little, if any shifting. Those vege- 

 tables which are very tenacious of life, must be immersed in 

 boiling water previous to drying. In exhibiting the plants to 

 be dried, avoid too formal a display of the several parts, except 

 the single flowers, for shewing a genus, &c. To prevent 

 heaths, and firs from shedding their leaves in drying, immerse 

 the specimen, previous to drying, in boiling water. 



When the specimens become completely dry, they may be 

 glued down ; each to half a sheet of small folio paper, and all 

 the species of each genus may be placed together within a 

 sheet of paper, writing the generic name on the outside of 

 each paper of species : the name of each species should be 

 inscribed near the plant. To preserve the Herbarium from 

 depredations of insects, the following poisono^is application 

 was strongly recommended by Sir James E. Smith — a solu- 

 tion of corrosive sublimate of mercury, in rectified spirits of 

 wine, about two drachms to a pint, with a little camphor. Apply 

 a small portion of this liquid to each specimen, ivhcii it becomes 

 ■perfectly dry^ before gluing tlown, unless the plant be very 

 delicate. A few drops of the solution may be mixed with the 

 glue. The Herbarium should, of course, be kept from damp, 

 in a dry situation. See SmitJi's Introduction to Botany, 



1 The botanist should be provided with a common pocket microscope, a 

 needle,and a pair of forceps. For minute purposes, Gould's Microscope, sold 

 by Gary, Strand, London, price £1 16s. may be recommended. 



