462 APPENDIX I. 



China (the so-called Rice-pafer), or the leaves of a Palm in 

 India, or Straw in North America. Of all such, the several 

 states of preparation should be collected and exhibited, not 

 only as objects of curiosity, but as exemphfying the progress 

 of Art and Science. 



In case of samples of timber, of various fibres, dye-stuffs, 

 drugs, or any other vegetable product, it is of the first 

 importance that there should be sent along with each ex- 

 ample a dried specimen of the leaves and flowers of the tree 

 or plant affording the same, marked distinctly with a corre- 

 sponding number, so that the source of the product may be 

 scientifically determined. Through want of such dried speci- 

 mens accompanying the timbers, drugs, fibres, Src, which 

 have been sent to the Royal Gardens, and to the Inter- 

 national Exhibition, a large number are absolutely useless. 



III. HERBARIUM DEPARTMENT. 



In preserving Plants for the Herbarium, or Hortus 

 Siccus, the object is to prepare specimens in such a manner 

 that they may be thoroughly dried, the colours as far as 

 possible retained, and such a degree of pressure given that 

 they do not curl up in drying. For this purpose provide a 

 quantity of paper of a common folio size, brown, or stout 

 grey, moderately absorbent, 16 inches by 10, folded. Two 

 boards are requisite, of the size of the paper, one for the 

 top, the other for the bottom, of each ttiass of papers. 

 Pieces of paste- or mill-board placed between the papers, if 

 the specimens are numerous or particularly thick or woody, 

 are very useful. For pressure, nothing is better than a heavy 

 weight on the topmost board, or, while travelling, three 

 leathern straps and buckles ; two to bind the boards and 

 papers transversely, and one longitudinally. Thus provided, 

 gather your specimens, if small, root and stem — if large, cut 

 off portions of the branches, a foot or rather more in length, 

 always selecting those in flower and in a more or less 

 advanced state of fruit. Long, slender plants, as Grasses, 

 Sedges and many Ferns, may be doubled once or tnice. Place 

 them, before they wither, side by side, but never one upon 



