OF THE HERBARIUM. 189 



(just as the j were before laid between two boards during 

 the process of drying), and either tie them round with 

 thick string, or buckle them together with a strap of a 

 woven material. The beginner is often tempted to lay out 

 his money on nicely got-up portfolios, in which to enclose 

 the orders ; but, if he will take my advice, he will save his 

 money, and be content with the pasteboard covers, though 

 their appearance is certainly less elegant. My own expe- 

 rience is decidedly in favour of the latter, because, first of 

 all, much time is consumed in the tying and untying of 

 the numerous ribbons, with, which a portfolio is furnished ; 

 and, secondly, because the pressure of a tight string or 

 strap (especially the latter, on account of its breadth) is 

 much more equal. Besides, the ribbons are apt to break 

 off with constant use, and they cannot be replaced without 

 giving an untidy appearance to the portfolio ; whereas a 

 string, or strap, can be renewed at will. 



Should the roots (as sometimes happens) interfere, from 

 their thickness, with the proper disposition of the packets, 

 raising them up at one end, and forcing the whole pile out 

 of the level, it is easy to turn a certain number of the 

 packets round, thus doing away with the unevenness of 

 the bundle, and giving it the desired flat surface. Next 

 for the best system of labelling. First gum a ticket just 

 above the lower border (and equidistant from the two 

 corners) of the pasteboard cover, with the name of the 

 order upon it. Then, on the lower left-hand corner of the 

 ' Genus ' wrapper, let a ticket be gummed, bearing the name 

 of the genus ; similarly, on the lower right-hand corner of 

 the c Species ' wrapper, gum a ticket, bearing the name of 

 the species, preceded by the initial of the genus : thus ' R. 

 Kohleri' marks the species ' Kohleri,' of the genus i Rubus.' 

 If the names are written in bold legible characters, they 

 cannot fail to catch the eye of the observer immediately on 

 his turning over the wrappers. 



But how is the student to grope his way through the 

 mass of paper, accumulated in his herbarium, in order to 



