164 CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS. 



with cleats on one side of each to keep them from warping, and a 

 supply of unsized paper (newspapers will do), folded to a proper 

 size — 10 by 18 inches is large enough. If it is larger or smaller, 

 it will do. Lay one of the boards on the floor, cleats down, and 

 spread on this a dozen thicknesses of paper. Then place a plant 

 in a separate sheet, laying out the leaves and parts of the flower 

 in as natural a manner as possible, aiming always so to arrange 

 the specimens that every organ may be distinctly seen after the 

 plants are dry. Several specimens, if small, may be put in one 

 sheet. Lay this sheet with the specimens in it on the sheets on 

 the board. Lay several empty sheets on this, and then one filled 

 with specimens, till all are made up. Then lay as many sheets 

 on the top of all as were at the bottom. On all place the other 

 board, with the cleats up, and on it place weights to the amount 

 of one hundred pounds, taking care that the weight presses 

 equally on all sides. They may remain in this state not longer 

 than a day, when the specimens must be changed to dry sheets, 

 and the sheets from which they were taken placed to dry. If 

 all the sheets are exposed to dry, and an entirely new set put 

 in, it is better. This changing must be continued until the 

 thickest parts of the specimens are thoroughly dry. This dry- 

 ing of plants is the most troublesome part of the pursuit, but 

 when well done, the value and beauty of the specimens fully 

 compensate for all. Several specimens of a kind should be put 

 up, and if the plant is peculiar to the region in which the col- 

 lection is made, a great number should be put up for exchange. 



When the specimens are perfectly dry, they may be put up 

 in the herbarium. The mode of putting up herbaria is various. 

 All that is requisite is to have sheets of paper, either single or 

 double, with the specimens attached to them, in any convenient 

 manner. 



321. There should always be attached to each plant its name, 

 order, locality, time of flowering, and any points of interest 

 that may be observed. Plants will be attacked by insects unless 

 great care is taken to keep them out. A tight can or box, with 

 camphor kept in it, is the most effectual mode we have ever tried. 

 They may lie on dry shelves in portfolios with camphor among 

 the leaves, if examined occasionally to remove any insects that 

 may get in. The most convenient mode of attaching specimens 

 is to have narrow slips of paper and a vial of gum tragacanth, 

 or thick paste, and stick the two ends of the paper on each side 

 of the main part of the specimen, or several may be put on dif- 

 ferent parts. Those intended for exchange should be kept by 

 themselves. 



