APPENDIX 207 
In this country it is advisable to take a portfolio filled with 
drying paper when starting on an expedition for collecting 
plants for the herbarium, and to press the plants as soon as 
obtained, as so many of the veldt flowers fade very quickly. 
Some can, however, be brought home in the vasculum, and this 
should be done whenever possible. If possible the entire plant 
should be taken, including the root, fruit, and seed. In the 
case of trees and shrubs collect twigs in various stages, Le. 
with buds, leaves, flowers, fruits, and also take a piece of 
bark. 
Each specimen should be numbered when placed in the 
portfolio or vasculum, and a note should be made of its 
appearance, method of growth, ete. 
Large flower heads such as thistles may be sliced in half 
before pressing. Conifers and Heaths should be immersed 
in boiling water before drying, or their leaves will fall off 
when dried. 
Delicate water plants must be arranged on sheets of white 
paper under water, and must always remain on these sheets 
while drying. 
Drying.—The specimens must be spread out on the sheet 
as naturally as possible. The flowers should be spread out, 
and where possible a vertical section should be cut and 
pressed. In the case of composites some florets should be 
pressed separately as well as the capitulum. The sheets 
must be piled up without lumps in the middle, and then 
pressed. The drying papers should be changed frequently. 
When the plant is thoroughly dry it should be poisoned by 
immersion in a solution of mercuric chloride in alcohol. 
Mounting.—When the specimen is thoroughly dried it 
must be mounted on a sheet of paper, and fastened with little 
strips of gummed paper. The sheet must then be labelled, 
