HERBAR′IUM

[Eng., L.] Syn. Hortus siccus , L. A collection of dried specimens of plants; hence called HORTUS SICCUS , or dry garden. Plants for the herbarium should be gathered on a dry day, and carried home in a tin-box (‘ VASCULUM ’), or other convenient receptacle which will preserve them fresh for a time. Those which have collected moisture in their leaves should be allowed to dry, their stalks being placed in water to keep them alive. Plants with very thick, succulent leaves or stems must be killed by immersion in hot water before they can be safely placed in the drying pre . The pre consists simply of a few stout boards with a screw—or, still better, a number of heavy weights, bricks, or stones—for pre ing them together. The specimens of plants, when all superficial moisture has been removed, are placed between layers of bibulous paper ( BOTANICAL PAPER ), care being taken that the parts of each are arranged in a natural manner. The sheets containing the specimens are then placed between the boards, and pre ure is applied. This must be very gentle at first, and should be gradually increased as the plants become dry. The paper is changed every day or every second day, and the damp sheets are dried for use at a future time. When properly dried, the specimens are placed on sheets of writing paper, and fixed by a few stitches of thread, a little gum, or strips of gummed paper. The name of the genus and species, and the locality where found, ., are then marked beside each. Camphor or a little corrosive sublimate may be used to preserve herbaria from the ravages of insects. The preparation of an herbarium offers an almost endle source of amusement to the ingenious, whilst the specimens so collected, if well preserved, are almost as useful to the botanist as the living plants.