Plants which are not very rigid, can be dried very well in a book without changing, if only two or three are put into a volume. Plants dry very variously ; some unavoidably turn black by drying, as the Orchis and Cypripedium. Flowers in many instances lose or change their colour; those that are blue especially.

After a specimen is dry, it should first be done over with a solution of corrosive sublimate in spirits of wine, one drachm to a pint, with a little camphor; or a solution of aloes, applied by means of a camel's hair pencil. This proves effectual in preventing the attacks of insects. It is next to be fastened to paper, which is best done by means of carpenter's glue. I first used a solution of gum Arabic, but specimens fastened with it are very apt to get detached in a short time, especially if handled. Glue is much superior. As it will not keep in a dissolved state any length of time, it must be dissolved at the time of using, and made into a thin size, which may be done by boiling a small piece in water in any convenient small vessel. A few drops of the solution of corrosive sublimate should be added. The specimen should be held out in one hand, and the size applied while warm uniformly over one side of it, with the other, by means of a large camel's hair pencil. It is then to be put immediately on the paper. care to place it right the first time, otherwise the size will deface the paper where is is not required; a piece of waste paper should be laid over the specimen and another under the paper. In this state put it immediately in the press between two or more quires of empty paper to form a bed for it, and screw the press firmly upon it. Let it remain one or two minutes, and taking it out remove the waste papers and apply new ones; repeat this as often as they are soiled by the size, otherwise the papers will be glued together.

Take

The paper is usually directed to be of the folio size, (the full size of a quire.) I have commonly used what

is called demy printing paper, folded quarto size, (half the size of the quire.) I fasten my specimens to the right hand side of a folded sheet, leaving the other to fold over it. On the outside of the left hand side I write the names of the Class, Order, Genus, and Species of the plant; and upon the inside of the same, its name, synonyms, common names, place of growth, time of gathering, and any thing else I wish to remember concerning it.

Great neatness should be observed in an herbarium. The papers should all be of the same size, and kept regularly and evenly packed. I have usually kept mine in several parcels, each between two pieces of bookbinder's pasteboard, tied down with tapes.

The uses of prepared specimens are, 1. To get a knowledge of Plants. When a number of plants are well prepared, we have an opportunity to compare them with each other all at once, and see in what they agree, and in what differ.

Observation. When a botanist has taken and examined a specimen, dried and prepared it on paper, as has been directed, and written its name upon it, he will have done about enough, and probably none too much to remember it well. It is well for every one, who wishes to be in any degree a practical botanist, to prepare a few specimens, if it be only fifty or an hundred species. In dependent of the value of the collection, he will thus acquire a particular knowledge of the plants.

2. To revive in the memory the names and habits of plants which have been previously examined.

3. To find out unknown plants which cannot be otherwise determined, by sending the specimens to some one acquainted with them. For this purpose duplicates should be prepared and numbered with corresponding numbers, one set being retained when the other is sent for examination.

QUESTIONS FOR STUDENTS.

A few general questions are here put down. It is left for the instructer to construct particular questions extemporaneously, from the subject of the lesson before him; varying them according to the knowledge and capacity of the pupil. For in this as well as other casses an instructer will find it necessary to seek out what avenues are open to the young mind, and shape his precepts accordingly.

1. What is Natural History? p. 1.

2. Into how many branches is Natural History divided, and what are they called? p. 1.

3. Of what does Zoology treat? p. 1.
4. Of what does Botany treat? p. 1.
5. Of what does Mineralogy treat? p. 1.
6. What is meant by Characters? p. 3.

7. Give an example of a simple character of a plant? p. 3.

3. What is system? p. 3.

9. What are the advantages of system? p 3.

10. How is the vegetable kingdom divided, accord

ing to the Linnæan system? p. 4.

11. What divisions are the Classes? p. 4.

12. What are the Orders? p. 4.

13. What are Genera? p. 4.

14. Give an example of a Genus? p. 4.

15. How is a Genus known? p. 4.

16. By what mark is the family of Buttercups known? p. 4.

17. What are Species ? p. 4.

18. Give an example of the Species of a genus? p. 4 & 5.

19. What are Varieties, and how are they distinguished from species ? p. 5.

20. Give an example of Varieties. p. 5.

21. To what are Classes, Orders, Genera, and Species compared? p. 5.

22. What are Vegetables? p. 5.

23. What are the Primary divisions into which Botanists divide a plant or vegetable? p. 5.

24. Define the Root. p. 6.

25. Of what part does the root consist? p. 6. 26. Which of these is most necessary ? p. 6. 27. Of what does the Herbage consist? p. 10. 29. How many kinds of Trunks are enumerated ? p. 10.

30. Name each of the 7 kinds and define it so as to see how they differ from each other. p. 10, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20.

31. What do Buds contain? p. 20.

32. What is intended by Foliation ? p. 20.

33. Define a Leaf. p. 22.

34. What is a simple leaf? p. 26.

35. What are compound leaves? p. 35.

36. How is a compound leaf distinguished from a branch? p. 35.

37. What is meant by Inflorescence ? p. 40.

38. Define the Appendages of plants, as Stipule, Bract, Spine, Prickle, Tendril, Gland, Hair, and mention examples. p. 38.

39. Define the various kinds of Inflorescence, as Whorl, Raceme, Spike, Corymb, Fascicle, Umbel, Cyme, Panicle, Thyrse, and mention examples. p. 40. 40. Of what does the Fructification consist? p. 45. 41. What is the use of the fructification ? P. 45. 42. Does every species of plants produce flower and fruit? p. 45.

43. Define the seven parts of fructification, Calyx, Corolla, Stamen, Pistil, Pericarp, Seed, and Receptacle. p. 45.

44. Which of these parts are essential and always present? p. 43.

45. Name and define the several kinds of Calyx. p. 46.

46. Name and define the several kinds of Corolla. p. 49.

47. What is the Nectary? p. 53.

48. Of how many parts does a Stamen consist? p. 54. 49. Which of these is essential and always present, and which sometimes wanting? p. 54.

50. What is the Pollen? p. 54.

51. What causes the Anther to burst? p. 55. 52. What are the grains of Pollen? p. 55.

53. What causes the grains of Pollen to burst? p. 55. 54. Of what parts does a Pistil consist? p. 55. 55. Which of these is absent in some flowers? p. 55. 56. What are the functions of the stamens and pistils? p. 56.

57. From the office the stamens and pistils perform, is it necessary they should be present in every species of plant? 56.

58. When a flower has stamens only, what is it called? p. 57.

59. When a flower has pistils only, what is it called? p. 57.

60. When a flower has stamens and pistils both, what is it called? p. 57.

61. What part of the flower forms the seed-vessel or Pericarp? p. 57.

62. What are the various kinds of pericarps? p. 57. 63. What part of the fructification are all the other parts designed to perfect ? p. 59.

64. What is the Receptacle? p. 62.

65. When is the receptacle called proper and when common? p. 62.

66. What is an aggregate flower? p. 62.

67. Define the several kinds of aggregate flowers

p. 62.

68. What is the use of dividing and subdividing the vegetable kingdom into Classes and Orders? p. 64.

69. Why are the Classes and Orders called Artificial divisions? p. 64.'