174 OF THE HERBARIUM. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



OF THE HERBARIUM. 



The object which the collector has in view (or at least 

 should have in view) is, not the mere gathering together of 

 a great number of different plants, but the acquisition of 

 material, wherewith he hopes to enlarge the bounds of his 

 own knowledge, and, so far as lies in his power, to advance 

 the interests of science. For this purpose he arranges his 

 examples in a certain definite order^ grouping them together 

 in the manner that seems most consonant to the system of 

 nature ; in one word, he forms an Herbarium. 



Simple as this process may appear to the novice, it will 

 not I trust, be superfluous to offer a few words on the 

 subject, pointing out certain fixed principles, which should 

 guide the student in the arrangement of an herbarium 

 intended to be scientifically useful : to these shall be added 

 some suggestions to aid him in its preservation. For the 

 best arranged and most admirably got-up collection is 

 certain to fall before the assaults of its numerous enemies, 

 if not properly looked after. 



As my readers are by this time well aware, the first step 

 towards the preservation of a dried specimen is to place it 

 between a sheet of paper ; and this applies to plants of 

 every known order with the exception of a few, which are 

 either too large (like the Laminarise), or which cling too 

 tenaciously (as many Lichens do) to a stone or some other 

 rough object, to be removed. 



Provided that the specimens are laid upon clean white 

 paper, the choice of the wrapper may be left very much to 

 the fancy of the student; it should not be very thick, 

 otherwise the fascicles will take ivp too much room ; and 



