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OF THE HERBARIUM. 
CHAPTER XVI. 
OF THE HERBARIUM. 
The object whicli the collector has in view (or at least 
should have in view) is, not the mere gathering together of 
a great number of different plants, but the acquisition of 
material, wherewith he hopes to enlarge the bounds of his 
own knowledge, and, so far as lies in his power, to advance 
the interests of science. For this purpose he arranges his 
■examples in a certain definite order, grouping them together 
in the manner that seems most consonant to the system of 
nature ; in one word, he forms an Herbarium. 
Simple as this process may appear to the novice, it will 
not I trust, be superfluous to offer a few words on the 
subject, pointing out certain fixed principles, which should 
guide the student in the arrangement of an herbarium 
intended to be scientifically useful : to these shall be added 
some suggestions to aid him in its preservation. For the 
best arranged and most admirably got-up collection is 
certain to fall before the assaults of its numerous enemies, 
if not properly looked after. 
As my readers are by this time well aware, the first step 
towards the preservation of a dried specimen is to place it 
between a sheet of paper; and this applies to plants of 
every known order with the exception of a few, which are 
either too large (like the Laminarias), or which cling too 
tenaciously (as many Lichens do) to a stone or some other 
rough object, to be removed. 
Provided that the specimens are laid upon clean white 
paper, the choice of the wrapper may be left very much to 
the fancy of the student ; it should not be very thick, 
otherwise the fascicles will take up too much room ; and 
