MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 683 



dried, and then packed in boxes with dry moss, 

 sand, peat-mould, or saw-dust. 



Directions for Vegetable Productions. 



1. Woods. — Specimens should be procured when- 

 ever practicable, especially of such as seem adapted 

 for economical purposes, They should be portions 

 of branches, or sections of trunks, and should not 

 be too small. 



2. Gums and Resins. — The plants whence pro- 

 cured, specimens of different varieties, or in various 

 stages, should be sought after, also noting native 

 names, method of preparation or collection, mode of 

 transmission, &c. 



3. Dye-stuffs. — As for the last, carefully inquiring 

 after such as are in use by natives, but are not com- 

 mercial. 



4. Medicinal-agents present a wide field for in- 

 vestigation, as the true sources of many drugs in 

 every day use are still matters of obscurity, such are 

 various Catechus and Kinos, Cassia-buds, Rhubarb, 

 Socotrine-Aloes, Balsams of Peru and Tolu, many 

 varieties of Cinchona, &c. 



6. General commercial, and other products. — 

 Examples of which are innumerable, and to be met 

 with everywhere, yet many are of exceeding inte- 

 rest and importance. 



6. Vegetable -poisons, especially those used by 

 savage tribes for poisoning their spears and arrows, 

 ought always to be investigated. Many most viru- 

 lent substances are as yet but barely known ; one 



