430 Dr. WigMs directions for preserving Plants* [April 



Directions for preserving Plants. — The first point to be attended to 

 in forming collection of plants is the selection of suitable specimens. 

 These, when both are procurable, ought always to present flowers and 

 fruit, but when both cannot be had, invariably one of them, however im- 

 perfect, as it is impossible to make out an unknown plant from the 

 leaves only. Flower buds will generally suffice, where full blown ones 

 are not to be had, and immature fruit, where the full grown one is either 

 too large, or so soft and pulpy that it cannot be preserved. The smaller 

 herbaceous plants should have root and stem ; but of trees or shrubs, 

 branches, 12 or 18 inches long, are usually sufficient. Many herbaceous 

 plants, too large, even when folded down, to be preserved entire, have 

 the radicle and stem leaves of different shapes ; in such cases, two or 

 three of the radicle leaves and flowering branches will form perfect 

 specimens. 



For drying, lay one or more of these specimens, according to their 

 size, side by side, not above each other, in the fold of a sheet of paper, 

 and subject them to considerable pressure for some hours. This is 

 necessary to give them form, and fit them for convenient disposal in 

 the herbarium. "Where paper is abundant or readily procurable (and 

 any kind serves for drying — commor bazar paper answers the purpose 

 perfectly), two or tlree sheets should be interpose'd between each paper 

 of plants, to absorb as much as possible of the moisture that exudes. 



When they have been thus pressed from 24 to 36 hours, the papers 

 containing the specimens must then be removed from between the 

 others, and either replaced between fresh dry paper, or spread out in 

 the sun, and covered with a rather thick layer of sand, say about two inch- 

 es. Two days will generally be found sufficient to dry the thin leaved 

 plants, but if that is not enough they should be so exposed daily till 

 thoroughly dry. Thick succulent ones often require many days. 

 The sand serves the double purpose of preventing the leaves curling 

 and getting out of shape, and of absorbing moisture ; while it retains an 

 equable degree of heat long after the rays of the sun have ceased to sup- 

 ply it. If the quantity of sand is considerable, plants may thus be 

 even w 7 ell dried, without once subjecting them to any other pressure, 

 but as it is always very desirable to preserve the forms of plants it is 

 better to re-press them every night when taken in. The papers that 

 were interposed and have become damp, are in like manner to be ex- 

 posed to the sun and air to dry, and fit them for re-application ; by- 

 attending to this rule many thousand specimens may be dried w r itht 

 a few quires of paper. "When dry, which is known by the stiffness of 

 the specimens and the leaves not bending or curling on exposure to 

 the air, they may be removed to any more convenient paper for pre- 

 servation ; old newspapers, especially Europe ones, are excellent ; but 

 any dry firm paper answers the purpose. My own collections, now 



