10 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



sheets of absorbent paper, and press them with a hot iron. This seems to 

 absorb the juices so quickly as to prevent much change of colour, but except 

 they are kept flat by pressure for some time, they are apt to curl up when 

 exposed to the air. And the very celerity of the process prevents any re- 

 arranging or smoothing out of creases in leaf or petal, which may be success- 

 fully done in the first change of paper by the more common way. 



In mounting specimens stout white cartridge paper is desirable, but what- 

 ever the quality chosen, the sheets should, all be cut to a certain uniform size 

 which ought not to be less than 15 inches by 10 inches. The specimens 

 should be arranged as naturally as possible upon the sheet, and then fastened 

 down with neat strips of gummed paper— postage stamp edging does excel- 

 lently well. Some prefer to use a thin solution of gum-arabic, which also 

 has its advantages in securing the plant firmly to its place, and its drawback 

 is the difficulty of removing the plant from the paper, if through any chance 

 you should wish to do so for examination. It has also a tendency to cockle or 

 curl up the more delicate parts of the plant in its application, and to leave 

 too obvious traces of its use. Nevertheless, it is very desirable always to 

 have some on hand when mounting is going on. 



As a rule only one specimen should be placed on a sheet. If the plants 

 are small, and you have abundance of specimens, two or three may be dis- 

 played side by side. But in no case should the sheet be crowded, and cer- 

 tainly distinct species ought never to appear on the same sheet, except it 

 might be for educational purposes to show their differences. It may often 

 be desirable if there is sufficient space, to place on the same sheet with the 

 typical specimen, a root leaf, a mature fruit, or any similar characteristic 

 organ, which may not all be represented on the plant at one time. For ex- 

 ample, the early spring root-leaves of the round-leaved hairbell [Campanula 

 rotundifolia) , which give it its specific name, are usually withered and van- 

 ished before the flowers appear, and yet they are eminently characteristic of 

 the species. On the same part of every sheet — the lower left hand corner is 

 perhaps the most suitable — should be written the name, place of growth, and 

 date of collecting the plant. These particulars are indispensable, but others 

 may be added, such as the class, and natural order, and the number in the 

 London Catalogue — this is very desirable as a ready means of reference. 

 Also any brief remark about the comparative rarity of the plant, either in the 

 country or in the immediate district, the soil on which it grows, &c. It is a 

 good plan to have a number of small labels printed with these headings, and 

 only the blanks to fill in.* To prevent the attacks of mites, or the larvae of 



A book of Botanical Labels, including one for every species and variety recognized 

 at the date of publication, was issued a few years ago by the Editor of The Young Nat- 

 uralist, and may still be had, price 5/- 



