NATURAL HISTORY. 
101 
The chief trouble in collecting plants is to get the paper already 
used thoroughly dry before it is again employed. The best resource in 
dry climates is to stretch cords and hang these papers exposed to sun 
and air. Artificial heat must be resorted to in wet seasons, but the 
process is then slow and troublesome. 
For a traveller wishing to make large collections, the time consumed 
in changing the paper in which the plants are dried becomes an im¬ 
portant consideration. I have adopted with advantage a suggestion of 
the late Professor A. Gray to use, instead of ordinary drying paper, 
sheets, cut to the proper size, of the paper-felt which is used for laying 
under carpets. The specimens when originally laid out for drying are 
placed within sheets of thin paper without size, such as filtering paper, 
and as a rule these do not need to be changed. One sheet of felt-paper 
is generally sufficient between each layer of plants, and the operation of 
changing the paper is very quickly effected. 
It is an important rule to note the locality where the specimens have 
been collected, with the date. If proper care be taken to keep together 
all the specimens collected at the same time, it is not necessary to place a 
separate scrap of paper within each sheet; but it is advisable to do this 
when the dried specimens are packed for transmission home. 
5. Seeds .—Travellers may easily make valuable contributions to our 
knowledge of the vegetation of distant countries by preserving seeds of 
remarkable and unusual plants. The only precautions necessary are, to 
select seeds that are fully ripe; if enclosed in a seed vessel, or covering of 
a succulent character, to take care that this is thoroughly dried before 
they are packed; and that they are preserved from moisture during the 
homeward voyage. Small seeds may be enclosed in paper, the larger 
kinds in canvas bags, and the whole wrapped in a piece of oiled cloth. 
It is very desirable to keep each description of seed separate, and to 
note the place where it was gathered, with indications of altitude, soil, 
and climate. 
6. Bulbs .—These are easily obtained, but, as a rule, they should be 
taken only at the end of the growing season, and kept until the leaves 
are quite withered. They should be packed dry in a small box with 
shavings, or other elastic stuffing. The same treatment will suit the 
pseudo-bulbs of some orchids. 
7* Fleshy Tubers .—These and thick ,'omes yhigmay best be sent in boxes., 
