HOW TO FORM A HEftBARIUM. 



25 



sheet for each variety. The specimens should be laid on 

 the paper with the under or fructifying surface upper- 

 most, and the barren side of the frond applied to the paper. 

 Small strips of gummed paper, about an inch in length, 

 and not more than one-eighth of an inch in width, should 

 be laid across the principal and secondary ribs or branches 

 of the frond, and each end fastened down to the sheet of 

 paper ; other pieces may, in like manner, be placed across 

 the tips of the fronds, or wherever else appears to be ne- 

 cessary to secure the specimen to the paper. It may be 

 suggested that too many such slips disfigure the specimen, 

 and if there are not sufficient it cannot be retained in 

 its place. Experience must be the best teacher. Some 

 object to fastening the specimens to paper at all, others 

 recommend gluing them down by the whole surface. Both 

 these plans appear to us to be equally objectionable. If 

 the specimens are loose, they are not only in danger of 

 being broken or damaged, but of being misplaced and 

 dissevered from the label which belongs to them. If wholly 

 glued down they cannot under many circumstances be 

 removed from the paper, either to be transferred to other 

 paper, or for closer examination or comparison. 



Each specimen having been mounted, the label which 

 accompanies it should be fastened down beside it. This 

 may be pasted. Einally, its generic and specific name 

 should be written legibly at the lower rigJit-h^nA. corner. 

 All the specimens belonging to one genus should then be 

 collected together, and placed between the folds of a sheet 

 of paper half an inch wider and longer, when folded, than 

 the half-sheets upon which the specimens are mounted. 

 These " genera covers " may be of the same paper, or a 

 smooth brown paper may be employed for the purpose. 

 On the outside of the " genera covers," at the lower left- 

 hand corner, the name of the genus should be written in 

 a good bold hand. The whole may be transferred to a 

 deal box, the front of which is movable as well as the lid, 

 being hinged to the bottom, so as to fall down and lie flat 

 on the table. The lid may be so contrived as to hold the 

 front in its place when closed. A deal box 9 inches deep, 



