OF THE HERBARIUM. 
189 
(just as they were before laid between two boards during 
the process of drying), and either tie them round with 
thick string, or buckle them together with a strap of a 
woven material. The beginner is often tempted to lay out 
his money on nicely got-up portfolios, in which to enclose 
the orders ; but, if he will take my advice, he will save his 
money, and be content with the pasteboard covers, though 
their appearance is certainly less elegant. My own expe- 
rience is decidedly in favour of the latter, because, first of 
all, much time is consumed in the tying and untying of 
the numerous ribbons, with which a portfolio is furnished ; 
and, secondly, because the pressure of a tight string or 
strap (especially the latter, on account of its breadth) is 
much more equal. Besides, the ribbons are apt to break 
off with constant use, and they cannot be replaced without 
giving an untidy appearance to the portfolio ; whereas a 
string, or strap, can be renewed at will. 
Should the roots (as sometimes happens) interfere, from 
their thickness, with the proper disposition of the packets, 
raising them up at one end, and forcing the whole pile out 
of the level, it is easy to turn a certain number of the 
packets round, thus doing away with the unevenness of 
the bundle, and giving it the desired flat surface. Next 
for the best system of labelling. First gum a ticket just 
above the lower border (and equidistant from the two 
corners) of the pasteboard cover, with the name of the 
order upon it. Then, on the lower left-hand corner of the 
4 Genus ’ wrapper, let a ticket be gummed, bearing the name 
of the genus ; similarly, on the lower right-hand corner of 
the 4 Species ’ wrapper, gum a ticket, bearing the name of 
the species, preceded by the initial of the genus : thus 4 R. 
Kohleri’ marks the species 4 Kohleri,’ of the genus 4 Rubus.’ 
If the names are written in bold legible characters, they 
cannot fail to catch the eye of the observer immediately on 
his turning over the wrappers. 
But how is the student to grope his way through the 
mass of paper, accumulated in his herbarium, in order to 
