10 [Assembly 



But the immediate aim of the Regents is to restore and perfect 

 the State Herbarium. That you may understand its condition, 

 they append hereto a list of its actual and supposed deficiencies. 

 It would be comparatively easy to supply them, if inferior speci- 

 mens were admissible. The Herbarium, even as it is, is invaluable ; 

 being, so far as it extends, connected with the Natural History of 

 the State, that glorious contribution of New- York to science — 

 a collection of specimens prepared, or sanctioned, by Dr. Torrey, 

 as true examples of the plants described in his Flora of the State. 

 To contribute to that Flora will, the Regents doubt not, be con- 

 sidered an honor by every worthy botanist. 



The paper of the herbarium is seventeen and a half inches by 

 twelve, and it is desirable that the specimens should be of suitable 

 dimensions : they ought, Avhen the plant is small and the root 

 manageable, to embrace the root. If possible, every species ought 

 to be fully exhibited, by specimens both in flower and in fruit, 

 and in all its varieties. The appended list very seldom refers to 

 a variety, but every variety is desired. Thus, the list includes 

 Aster miser; but that Aster exhibits at least four well-marked 

 varieties, all of which are wanting in the State Herbarium. Every 

 specimen should be properly displayed and dried. A well dis- 

 played specimen exhibits as much as possible of what is botani- 

 cally important. To be well dried, the specimen should be dried 

 quickly, thoroughly, and under proper pressure. To dry it quick- 

 ly, the botanist should use plenty of dr3^ing papers and a proper 

 weight — a weight that will press very hard, and yet not crush. 

 The Asters, Solidagoes, and many other Compositee, can hardly 

 be too heavily weighted. A screw press ought not to be used. 



You are requested to send to the Cabinet whatever you may 

 think proper. The Regents will be glad to receive specimens of 

 any or all the plants of your vicinity, but especially of such as 

 are indicated in the list, and such others as are not credited to 

 the State by the Catalogue of 1853 or by the books. If the bota- 

 nists of the State send liberally of the plants peculiar to their 

 neighborhoods, the Regents may be able to distribute the dupli- 

 cates among those who need them. It is in contemplation of such 

 a contingency that you are requested to furnish, not only a full 

 list of all the plants known by you to grow spontaneously in your 

 vicinity, but also a list of any plants you may desire from other 

 portions of the State. 



