190 OF THE HERBARIUM. 



lay his hand on any wished-for specimen ? This is easily 

 effected by the simple process of numbering the tickets 

 outside the wrappers, one set of numbers for the genera, 

 and another for the species in each genus, the orders 

 being distinguished by Roman figures. Whatever sys- 

 tematic work the student has taken as his guide in the 

 arrangement of his herbarium may be made the ground- 

 work of his numbering. Should the work in question not 

 be numbered, the student will have no difficulty in going 

 himself through the volume, first marking the genera 

 from beginning to end with consecutive numbers, and then 

 the species, in these confining the consecutive numbers to 

 a single genus. All that is requisite now is to look 

 into the index of the book for the genus to which the 

 desired specimen belongs, and to ascertain its number. 

 Then, by keeping his eye on the external labels of the 

 herbarium, the student can find the specimen without 

 being compelled to open any but the right packet, and 

 also with the least expenditure of time. A specimen can 

 be replaced in the same simple manner. Of course the 

 descriptive tickets accompanying the examples are also 

 numbered ; and the search is much facilitated, if a list of 

 the genera contained in each order, or at least a list of 

 their reference numbers, is slipped under the string or 

 strap enclosing the fascicle. 



When the herbarium has grown to a large size, so that.' 

 individual packets are less frequently consulted, it is well's 

 to wrap the separate fascicles in paper, or, better still, in J 

 linen, bringing the ends well round, so as to overlap the i 

 centre, and tying them together by two strings fastened to 

 the opposite corners of the covering material. Each string 

 is carried right round the bundle, and looped in again, 

 where its other end is attached to the linen cover. If 

 paper is employed, the pasteboard covers must be placed 

 over and under it, to keep it in place. In either case the 

 list of enclosed genera may be slipped under the outside 

 fastening. 



