SECTION 19.] HERBORIZATION. 186 



561. Of small herbs, especially annuals, the whole plant, root and all, 

 should be taken for a specimen. Of larger ones branches will suffice, with 

 some leaves from near the root. Enough of the root or subterranean part 

 of the plant should be collected to show whether it is an annual, a 

 bieunial, or a perennial. Thick roots, bulbs, tubers, or branches of speci- 

 mens intended to be pressed should be thinned with a knife, or cut iuto 

 slices. Keep the specimens within the length of fifteen or sixteen inches, 

 by folding, or when that cannot be done, by cutting into lengths. 



562. For Drying Specimens a good supply of soft and unsized 

 paper is wanted; and some convenient means of applying considerable 

 pressure. To make good dried botanical specimens, dry them as rapidly 

 as possible between many thicknesses of sun-dried paper to absorb their 

 moisture, under as much pressure as can be given without crushing the 

 more delicate parts. This pressure may be had by a botanical press, of 

 which various forms have been contrived; or by weights placed upon a 

 board, — from forty to eighty or a hundred pounds, according to the 

 quantity of specimens drying at the time. For use while travelling, a 

 good portable press may be made of thick binders' boards for the sides, 

 and the pressure may be applied by strong straps with buckles. Still 

 better, on some accounts, are portable presses made of vrire network, 

 which allow the dampness to escape by evaporation between the meshes. 

 For herborization in a small way, a light wire-press may be taken mto 

 the field and made to serve also as a portfolio. 



563. It is well to have two kinds of paper, namely, driers of bibulous 

 paper, stitched into pads (or the pads may be of thick carpet-paper, cut to 

 size) and thin smooth paper, folded once ; the specimens to be laid into the 

 fold, either when gathered or on returning from the excursion. These 

 sheets are to hold the specimens until they are quite dry. Every day, or 

 at first even twice a day, the specimens, left undisturbed in their sheets, 

 are to be shifted into fire-dried or sun-dried fresh driers, and the pressure 

 renewed, while the moist sheets are spread out to dry, so as to take their 

 turn again at the next shifting. This course must be continued until the 

 specimens are no longer moist to the touch. Good and comely specimens 

 are either made or spoiled vrithin the first twenty-four or thirty-six hours. 

 After that, when plenty of driers are used, it may not be necessary to 

 change them so frequently. 



564. Succulent plants, which long refuse to part with life and moisture, 

 and Spruces and some other evergreens which are apt to cast off their 

 leaves, may be plunged for a moment into boiling water, all but the flowers. 

 Delicate flowers may be encased in thin tissue paper when put into the press. 

 Thick parts, like the heads of Sun-flowers and Thistles, may be cut in two 

 or into slices. 



665. Dried specimens may be packed in bundles, either in folded paper 

 or upon single half-sheets. It is better that such paper should not be 

 bibulous. The packages should be well wrapped or kept in close cases. 



