20 



dried specimens accompanying the timbers, drugs, fibres, &c, 

 which have been sent to the Royal Gardens, a large number are 

 absolutely useless. 



III. Herbarium Department. 



Collecting;.— For the collection of specimens a tin box or vascu- 

 lum, made to shut close, to prevent evaporation, is necessary. 

 Such boxes can be made of aluminium, and are much lighter than 

 those usually sold for the purpose. A portfolio containing some 

 sheets of drying- paper is also useful for certain plants, like some 

 Scitamineae or Iridaceae, with very delicate flowers, which should 

 be placed under pressure when gathered. Each specimen should 

 consist of as much of the plant as will adequately represent its 

 habit, foliage, flowers, and fruit, where possible ; if small, the 

 whole plant including the root should be obtained ; if large, 

 portions which can be laid upon a sheet of paper 16 ins. long by 

 10 ins. broad should be procured. Tall plants or slender stems, 

 such as grasses, sedges, fern-fronds, &c, may be doubled once or 

 twice into J 6 in. lengths. Specimens without flowers or fruit are 

 worthless and should not be collected. If the specimens are wet 

 when gathered, the moisture should be allowed to evaporate 

 before placing them in the press ; otherwise, they are very liable 

 to be spoilt by mildew. 



Labelling'.— Every species collected should be accompanied by a 

 label bearing a number and particulars as to locality, altitude, 

 colour of the flowers and any character of the plant which the 

 specimen does not show, such as whether it may be a branch from 

 a tall tree or from a small shrub, the date when collected and 

 name of the collector. A collector should never use the same 

 number twice, and each specimen should have a different number. 

 If several specimens of the same plant, collected at the same place 

 are put in the press together, only one of them need be labelled, 

 but the number upon the label should be written upon pieces of 

 paper and placed with the other specimens, so that when dried all 

 can be referred to the same label. 



Labels should be after the pattern and size shown below : — 



Flora of Southern Nigeria. 



No. 



Name. 



Veen a cvla e Na me. 



[Space for notes by collector as to colour, scent, 

 habit, time of flowering , fruiting , uses, dec.'] 



Locality. 

 Altitude. 



Date. 

 Collector's Name. 



