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Unlike most other plants, lichens are found in as perfect condition one 
season as another. Soon after a rain is a good time to gather them, as they 
are then more easily handled than when dry and brittle. 
No very elaborate collecting outfit is necessary. A good sharp jack 
knife and something to contain the specimens are the most important requi- 
sites. For holding the different kinds as collected, the writer finds paper 
bags such as grocers use, particularly convenient. They take up so little 
room that a supply may be carried in the pocket and so be always handy for 
the collection of any good specimen that may turn up unexpectedly in one’s 
walks. When one expects to gather more specimens than might be easily 
carried in one's pocket, a light basket is to be recommended. In order to 
obtain specimens which adhere firmly to rocks, bark and the like, it is neces- 
sary to detach portions of the substance upon which they grow. For this 
purpose it is well to have a cold chisel and a small sharp hatchet which may 
be used either as a hammer in connection with the chisel or to chop off slices 
of hard bark or wood. Only experience can teach the collector how to obtain 
good rock specimens, but a little practice will show how blows may be most 
effectively directed. After a fragment has been detached it is often possi- 
ble to trim off superfluous material, and for obvious reasons it is best when 
possible to do this at the time. The specimen should always include 
enough of the margin of the lichen to show its character. To prevent the 
heavier specimens from injuring the more delicate ones, it is well to put the 
latter in a box by themselves. If one is collecting in a dry time a small 
sponge and some water is convenient to have for moistening such specimens 
as would be otherwise too brittle to be easily detached without injury. 
While collecting, the conditions under which a given sort are growing, 
should be carefully noticed, and a record of this, together with the locality, 
should be made on the bag or wrapper which is to contain the specimen. 
For example such a note might read: “ On trunk or branches of apple trees. 
Cambridge, Mass., March, ’91.” The date, however, is not so necessary in 
the case of lichens as with most other plants. 
Whenever possible it is important to obtain specimens in fruit (the form 
of which will be described later). Certain species may never produce fruit 
in the student's locality, but in such cases their study is best pursued in the 
light of knowledge previously gained from perfect specimens of allied forms. 
Some species have the fruit so small and inconspicuous as scarcely to be 
seen with the naked eye. It is well, therefore, to have at hand a pocket lens 
magnifying about ten to twenty diameters, to scrutinize such minute struc- 
tures. 
Soon after the specimens have been brought home is the best time to pre- 
pare for the herbarium such as need preparation. The slices of bark will curl 
unless dried under pressure. If they are already curled and dry, soaking 
in cold water will render them flexible, after which they may be put in press. 
Warm water should never be used to moisten lichens as it discolors them. 
Specimens which are shrubby or of considerable thickness may be flattened 
under light pressure between folds of a newspaper. With such species as 
