By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 



253 



Herbarium has now been commenced, and with a view of carrying 

 out the above object, and for the guidance of those botanists who 

 might feel disposed to contribute plants for permanent preservation 

 in the Herbarium of the Societ}', the following explanatory 

 suggestions, regarding the illustration and labelling of specimens 

 have now been drawn out. 



The first object with any Herbarium, whether local or general, 

 should be to show the species. A fair typical specimen of each 

 species is the leading idea to be met, and it will very usually be 

 found needful to have more than one single specimen, because the 

 early, the flowering and the fruiting stages frequently differ much, 

 although it may often happen that two of these stages can be got 

 on a single plant at once. 



The second object should be to show in some measure the range 

 of variation for the species, by adding abnormal forms or varieties 

 to the typical examples. It is too commonly the case that varieties 

 are neglected, instead of being carefully preserved. For instance, 

 one, Fumaria capreolata, might have been kept to show the 

 species ; but lo ! this species is now divided into numerous sub- 

 species, four of them held to be English ; consequently one 

 specimen can show but one of them, while all may be found in the 

 same county. 



A third object may be that of evidencing the localities for rare 

 species or remarkable varieties, 1 and especially such as are likely 

 to become extinct in the localities, as for example, Carex tomen- 

 tosa, Carduus tuberosus, C. Woodwardii. Such specimens in course 

 of time become historical facts in our science. 



Fourthly, the general range of the species in the county may be 

 shown by specimens from different and distant localities, in each of 

 the five comital sections, into which Wiltshire has been divided for 

 the better illustration of its Flora. The mode by which individual 

 members may each and all contribute to this object, is by sending 

 specimens of any Wiltshire plants — rare or common — from different 



Darwin's remarkable book, the " Origin of Species," will render the preser- 

 vation of local varieties matter of enhanced importance to all classes of 

 naturalists. 



