OZ MISC. PUBLICATION 568, U. S. DEP'T. OF AGRICULTURE 



tutes for pill boxes and can be made in any quantity or size by wrapping 

 a rectangle of paper around a pencil, a glass vial, or any similar cylin- 

 drical object as a form. The loose end is twisted shut, the insects are 

 inserted, and the top is then carefully twisted shut to hold the specimens 

 in position. The collection number, or other data, can be written on the 

 side of the paper cylinder. Flaked naphthalene, added to the boxes in 

 which the dried insects are stored or snipped, must not come into direct 

 contact with the specimens. 



Even pickled specimens need careful treatment. Never crowd a bottle 

 with specimens or leave a large air bubble. It is best to fill the bottle 

 with liquid or else to insert a wad of soft paper at the top of the con- 

 tainer to prevent the specimens from moving about and becoming en- 

 tangled with each other. For pickled material the collection data may 

 be written with a soft pencil on a piece of paper which is placed inside 

 the bottle. The stoppers of the bottles should fit securely to prevent 

 leakage, and they may be dipped in melted paraffin for sealing. 



Packing for Shipment 



All the pill boxes, paper cylinders, and paper triangles should be 

 packed separately in small boxes with sufficient wadding to prevent 

 shifting about. Glass containers, vials, and bottles should be wrapped 

 individually in paper and then packed securely in a strong box or car- 

 ton, with cotton or wads of soft paper between, over, and under each 

 item. These smaller boxes then go inside a larger box with at least a 

 2-inch layer, all around, of wadded paper or excelsior to give protection 

 from rough handling of the package. 



SUMMARY 



This work is intended especially for the beginner who wishes to know 

 how to prepare plant and insect specimens for study and preservation. 

 It is written also for the enthusiastic layman who wants information 

 about some plant or pest which has attracted his attention. Too often, 

 he receives in reply to his query, not an answer, but merely an expla- 

 nation that his specimen was too small, too dry, moldy, or otherwise 

 inadequate. Frequently the opportunity to collect additional material 

 has passed, or else the person still does not know just where he failed. 

 Moreover, time has been wasted on both sides; the inquirer is disap- 

 pointed, and the examiner of his material is regretful in not being able 

 to supply the information desired. 



The preliminary discussion points out that the essential and mini- 

 mum information required is the same for all kinds of natural-history 

 specimens. The collector should give particular heed to these general 

 remarks as well as the more specific ones under the special headings. 



The necessary points to keep in mind are: (1) Information desired: 

 (2) name of collector; (3) where collected; (4) date collected: (5) ade- 

 quateness of sample; and (6) proper preparation and packing to ensure 

 arrival at destination in perfect condition. 



Careful attention to the directions and study of the illustrations will 

 enable anyone to prepare specimens sufficiently valuable to be added 

 to scientific collections, where they will be available for future studies 

 and investigations. This is particularly true in the case of wild plants 

 which might become important as new crops, and also for the diseases 

 and pests which occur on these plants. 



& U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1945—645404 



