The Herbarium. 153 



llent New England botanist, Mr. Wood, the learner will 

 e . • hi s walks meet with plants in blossom, with which he 

 ° >t unacquainted, and he who is duly interested in his pur- 

 S > will by no means fail to seize and analyze each spec- 

 • n while the short hour of its bloor* may last, and to store 

 hi memory with the knowledge of its names, habits and uses. 

 Thus in a few seasons, or even in one, he will have grown fa- 

 rniliar with nearly or quite every species in his vicinity. 

 The student, then, should devote particular attention tocollect- 

 . an( j preserving his plants so that he may at his leisure 

 study their characters fully, compare them with each other, and 

 arrange them correctly. To form such a collection, or Her- 

 barium, the following apparatus is necessary. A tin box made 

 in a portable form, say twenty or twenty-four inches long, by 

 four or five in depth, with a close fitting cover. In this the 

 plants are to be placed when first gathered, without bruis- 

 ing or breaking them. As much of the plant as possible, in- 

 cluding, in the smaller herbaceous plants, a portion of the roots, 

 should be taken, and of the larger species, entire flowers, and 

 leaves, with the shoot from which they spring. If necessary, 

 they may be kept in the tin box for several days. Next a 

 press of some kind should be provided. For this purpose two 

 thin boards about 12 by 18 inches, connected by hinges, are prop- 

 er, or even the covers of a large book may be sufficient. Next, 

 a few quires of printing paper, the smoother and more porous 

 the better, should be provided. Between several thicknesses 

 of this paper, the specimens should be placed in such a man 

 ner as to preserve as much as possible their natural form and 

 appearance. This often requires some care in spreading out 

 the leaves and arranging the flowers. The whole is then put 

 into the press, or between the covers of the book, and subjected 

 to a proper degree of pressure. This is effected by fitting the 

 press with a screw, or more simply, and as well, by laying on 

 weights, always taking care not to make the compression so 

 great as to crush the plants. Some collectors recommend 

 that they should not be meddled with, after this is done, until 

 they are quite dry, but we have found the best plan to be, to 

 expose them to the air daily for a short time, so as to allow the 

 moisture to evaporate, until they are quite dry. By the other 



