SPECIMENS FOE HEEBAKroM. 801 



etc., a thin slice is taken from the centre, extending from the top of 

 the pileus to the base of the stipe. This is dried separately to show 

 the gills or pores, etc. The inner cellular portion of the pileus and 

 stipe is then removed, and these parts are dried so as to give 

 the form. Travellers visiting foreign countries (although not botan- 

 ists) wiU find it an easy matter to preserve Mosses, Lichens, and Sea- 

 ■weeds in a state fit for after-examiDation. In the case of Seaweeds, 

 it is necessary to avoid such specimens as are in a state of decay. 

 Those which are taken should be spread out in the shade to dry, 

 without washing them with fresh water, and when quite dry, packed 

 loosely in a box. Many species are found thrown upon the beach, 

 and the pools in the rocks at low water are often filled with excellent 

 specimens. The stems of the larger Algae are often covered with 

 parasitic species, which should be dried without separation. 



When the specimens (whether Phanerogamous or Cryptogamous) 

 are fully dried, they are then selected for the herbarium, and are fas- 

 tened upon fine stiff paper, fit for writing upon, 17 inches by 10|-. 

 In large herbaria, which are constantly consulted, the best way of 

 securing the specimens is by means of fine thin glue ; the plants, after 

 the glue is put on them, being made to adhere to the paper, by pres- 

 sure between folds of drying paper. Some use gummed paper, others 

 use thread or narrow ribbon, by means of which the specimens are 

 sewed to the paper. Some put more than one species on a sheet. 

 There may be as many specimens of the species as you choose, more 

 especially from different localities. Put single specimens near one 

 side of the herbarium sheet, and not in the middle ; change the side 

 on the alternate sheet. By this means one being on the right side of 

 the sheet, another on the left, a third near the top, and a fourth near 

 the bottom, the whole will be flat and not bulge up in the middle. 

 Fasten any loose parts with the strips of gummed paper ; strap down 

 the main stem in all cases, unless it is covered with hair, in which case 

 strips are superfluous. Write the name of the plant near the lower 

 right-hand corner of the half-sheet, and in some convenient spot near 

 the specimen itself, the habitat, etc. , If printed or written tickets are 

 put on, let them be pasted (not glued) upon the lower right-hand 

 corner. Plants of certain families, as Oompositse, are more particu- 

 larly exposed to the ravages of insects. Hence, all plants after being 

 dried should be brushed ovef with an alcoholic solution of corrosive 

 sublimate.* This treatment has the inconvenience of discolouring 



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