“After all we can do,” Sir J.E.  Smith observes, “plants dry very variously.  The blue colours of their flowers generally fade, nor are reds always permanent.  Yellows are much more so, but very few white flowers retain their natural aspect.  The snowdrop and parnassia, if well dried, continue white.  Some greens are much more permanent than others; for there are some natural families whose leaves, as well as flowers, turn almost black by drying, as melampyrum, bartsia, and their allies, several willows, and most of the orchideae.  The heaths and firs in general cast off their leaves between papers, which appears to be an effort of the living principle, for it is prevented by immersion of the fresh specimen in boiling water.”

The specimens being dried, are sometimes kept loose between leaves of paper; at other times wholly gummed or glued to paper, but most generally attached by one or more transverse slips of paper, glued on one end and pinned at the other, so that such specimens can readily be taken out, examined, and replaced.  On account of the aptitude of the leaves and other parts of dried plants to drop off, many glue them entirely, and such seems to be the method adopted by Linnaeus, and recommended by Sir J.E.  Smith.  “Dried specimens,” the professor observes, “are best preserved by being fastened, with weak carpenter’s glue, to paper, so that they may be turned over without damage.  Thick and heavy stalks require the additional support of a few transverse strips of paper, to bind them more firmly down.  A half sheet, of a convenient folio size, should be allotted to each species, and all the species of a genus may be placed in one or more whole sheets or folios.  On the latter outside should be written the name of the genus, while the name of every species, with its place of growth, time of gathering, the finder’s name, or any other concise piece of information, may be inscribed on its appropriate paper.  This is the plan of the Linnaean herbarium.”—­Loudon.

THE END.

FOOTNOTES.

[001] Some of the finest Florists flowers have been reared by the mechanics of Norwich and Manchester and by the Spitalfield’s weavers.  The pitmen in the counties of Durham and Northumberland reside in long rows of small houses, to each of which is attached a little garden, which they cultivate with such care and success, that they frequently bear away the prize at Floral Exhibitions.

[002] Of Rail-Road travelling the reality is quite different from the idea that descriptions of it had left upon my mind.  Unpoetical as this sort of transit may seem to some minds, I confess I find it excite and satisfy the imagination.  The wondrous speed—­the quick change of scene—­the perfect comfort—­the life-like character of the power in motion, the invisible, and mysterious, and mighty steam horse, urged, and guided, and checked by the hand of Science—­the cautionary, long, shrill whistle—­the beautiful grey vapor, the breath of the unseen animal, floating over the fields by which we pass, sometimes hanging stationary for a moment in the air, and then melting away like a vision—­furnish sufficiently congenial amusement for a period-minded observer.