The Elements of Botany, For Beginners and For SchoolsGray, Asa
Science
The Elements of Botany, For Beginners and For Schools
Gray, Asa
Plants
567. The botanist's collection of dried specimens, ticketed with their
names, place, and time of collection, and systematically arranged under
their genera, orders, etc., forms a _Hortus Siccus_ or _Herbarium_. It
comprises not only the specimens which the proprietor has himself
collected, but those which he acquires through friendly exchanges, or in
other ways. The specimens of an herbarium may be kept in folded sheets
of paper; or they may be fastened on half-sheets of thick and white
paper, either by gummed slips, or by glue applied to the specimens
themselves. The former is best for private and small herbaria; the
latter for large ones which are much turned over. Each sheet should be
appropriated to one species; two or more different plants should never
be attached to the same sheet. The generic and specific name of the
plant should be added to the lower right-hand corner, either written on
the sheet, or on a ticket pasted down; and the time of collection, the
locality, the color of the flowers, and any other information which the
specimens themselves do not afford, should be duly recorded upon the
sheet or the ticket. The sheets of the herbarium should all be of
exactly the same dimensions. The herbarium of Linnæus is on paper of the
common foolscap size, about eleven inches long and seven wide. This is
too small. Sixteen and three eighths inches by eleven and a half inches
is an approved size.
568. The sheets containing the species of each genus are to be placed in
_genus-covers_, made of a full sheet of thick paper (such as the
strongest Manilla-hemp paper), to be when folded of the same dimensions
as the species-sheet but slightly wider: the name of the genus is to be
written on one of the lower corners. These are to be arranged under the
orders to which they belong, and the whole kept in closed cases or
cabinets, either laid flat in compartments, like "pigeon-holes," or else
placed in thick portfolios, arranged like folio volumes. All should be
kept, as much as practicable, in dust-proof and insect-proof cases or
boxes.
569. Fruits, tubers, and other hard parts, too thick for the herbarium,
may be kept in pasteboard or light wooden boxes, in a collection apart.
Small loose fruits, seeds, detached flowers, and the like may be
conveniently preserved in paper capsules or envelopes, attached to the
herbarium-sheets.
§ 3. INVESTIGATION AND DETERMINATION OF PLANTS.
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