1837-] Dr. Wight's directions for preserving Plants. 431 



amounting to many thousands of specimens, are all kept in country- 

 brown paper — several specimens can thus be kept in one sheet, as they 

 no longer spoil by being laid above each other. ' 



For pressing specimens at home, the most simple method is to lay 

 them between two boards, corresponding in size with the paper, under 

 a large stone or other weight ; but, in travelling, it is more convenient to 

 bind them tightly with strong straps and buckles, or cords. For the 

 latter purpose the boards should be made double ; that is, of two thinner 

 boards, disposed with the grain of the wood crossing at right angles, 

 and united by a few nails round the edges. A board of this construc- 

 tion, half an inch thick, will resist the utmost force a man can apply irt 

 tightening the straps, and may be made up of any number of smaller 

 pieces, in case entire ones are not procurable. 



Several specimens of each plant should be taken,* to guard against 

 loss, and show variations of form which almost every plant presents, 

 and are apt to mislead describers. Proceeding as above, any native, of 

 ordinary intelligence, can be taught, in the course of a few days, both 

 to collect and to dry plants, and are most valuable assistants in the for- 

 mation of a herbarium ; it being only necessary to give them a good 

 bundle of paper, and send them to the jungle, with instructions to pre- 

 serve specimens of every plant they can find bearing either flowers or 

 fruit. 



In collecting ferns, it is necessary to observe that the fruit are usual- 

 ly situated on the unde^ surface of the leaves, forming scattered dots or 

 lines, or covering the whole under side of the leaf or frond. Specimens 

 of that tribe should always have fruit: but some species have fertile 

 and sterile fronds, growing on the same root, of different forms— both 

 should be taken. 



The method of quick drying here recommended, in addition to the 

 great saving of time and labour, possesses the further advantage of 

 preserving the colours, better than the slower one of daily changing 

 the wet papers, but of course does not always succeed ; that, however, 

 is a matter of inferior importance as it is by forms not colours that 

 plants are distinguished in the herbarium. In wet or cloudy weather 

 the daily changing process must be adopted. 



