376 A NATURALIST IN MID-AFRICA. 



hooks are put on the other to correspond. It is 

 a matter of the greatest importance that every 

 plant should have a number attached to it, and 

 this is most easily done by small tied-on labels 

 like a minute luggage label. On this should be 

 written the place, district, altitude, date, and 

 notes as to whether it is in an exposed or 

 sheltered, wet or dry place, as well as colour of 

 flower, &c. These points are usually not attended 

 to, and their importance is not diminished by the 

 fact that most herbarium botanists pay no atten- 

 tion to them. 



The actual drying of the specimens is a matter 

 of extreme simplicity. 



A sheet of paper is laid on the chain half of the 

 frame ; this is covered by a layer of specimens, 

 not touching one another ; another sheet of paper 

 is laid on, and then another of specimens until 

 about twelve layers are in the pile ; then a sheet 

 of paper and the hook half of the frame is laid on ; 

 stand or kneel on the top of the pile and slip the 

 chains over the hooks. The elasticity of the 

 frame keeps a gentle pressure on the plants within. 

 Of course almost any number of specimens can be 

 put in a frame, but they dry very much more 

 quickly if there are only a few in each. These 

 frames should be put in the sun at 9 a.m., and 

 taken in and packed in a tin box at 5 p.m. The 

 plants within dry rapidly under these circum- 

 stances. Fresh paper should be put in the frames 



