Suggestions regarding the drying of plants, and the formation of a collection of fruits and seeds.

  • Graham, Robert, 1786-1845.
Date:
[between 1830 and 1839?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Suggestions regarding the drying of plants, and the formation of a collection of fruits and seeds. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    REGARDINU THE HEYIM OF PLANTS. AND THE FOEMATION OF A COLLECTION OF FRUITS AND SEEDS. Dr Graham lias drawn up the tbllowing suggestions, with the view of assisting the endeavours of those Gentlemen who will kindly take advantage of the opportunities they possess of forwarding the interests of Botanical Science. If it be inconvenient to attend to them, however, seeds and dried plants collected any how, and put up en 7nasse, in countries the Floraof which is imperfectly known, will be found valuable, and received by him with great thankfulness. Gentlemen need not be deterred from contributing, by a conscious ignorance of Botany : most valuable collections are often received from those whose only qualifications as collectors are a willingness to oblige, and activity or influence to collect or procure the plants with which they are surrounded. Dr Graham publishes at short intervals, in the Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, an account of every new plant which flowers in the Botanic Garden, stating from whence and from whom it w'as obtained, and any thing that may be remarkable in regard to its uses, cultivation, or history. While, therefore, he is most desirous that this list should be increased, those Gentlemen who may contribute to his collections may rely upon their contributions being immediately made known to the public. As his attention lias been p,articularly turned to the LeguminosEe, this is the family which of all others he is most desirous of completing in his herbarium. DRIED PXaAXTS. A number attached to each plant, when it is laid down to be dried, may be entered in a catalogue, in which may bo specified the place where the plant was gathered, the date, elevation, soil, wdiether on wooded or open ground, whether submersed or floating on water, and any obvious circumstance in reference to it, should there be any worth noting, as its size and local use. The value of the specimens will be increased by their containing flowers and fruit, and being in other respects as perfect, and as neartlie usual size and appearance of the plant, as possible. If the plant is small, the root may be preserved ; if the root-leaves difler from those on the stem, the specimen will be imperfect unless both are preserved, though the plant be too large to be taken entire. Few specimens should exceed eighteen inches in length ; but some may be folded, as Grasses, Reeds, &c. &c. In some plants, this cannot easily be done, yet a specimen of moderate size does not preserve the character. In such case, the plant may be cut into portions, containing an example of all its parts. Even detached leaves are sometimes required to complete a specimen. As barren and fertile flowers are sometimes lound on different parts of the same plant, or different individuals of the same species, it is frequently necessary to attend to this in the selection of specimens. Among Ferns, there are frequently barren and fertile fronds ; these should be preserved together. Native plants are by mucli the most desirable, where they can be had; and if ever garden specimens are taken, it w’ill be very important to note that they are such, and to state whether they are believed to he natives of the country where they \vere ibund, or imported for cultivation. VMien a collector is about to dry his plants, he will find great advantage in sitting down with the following preparations within his reach. 1st, A strong board before him on which his specimens are to be pressed. 2r/, A collection of thinner spare board,s. 3(7, At one side, a lieap of paper put up in fasciculi of three or more sheets passed within each other, the backs of the sheets being all turned in one direction. 4t/i At the other side a heap of thin firm paper of the same size, put up in single sheets, the backs turned in the opposite direction. It is desirable that these two heaps of paper should be distinguished from each other by their colour or texture ; at any rate, it is necessary that the paper com- posing the second heap should be thin and firm ; if the other be not thicker and absorbent, it will be desirable that each fasciculus should be com- posed of a greater number of sheets than three. 5M, A quantity of writing paper cut into small slips, oi^ which may be put numbers correspond- ing with the numbers in the catalogue: a fasciculus of the absorbent paper is then to be laid upon the board, and above this, within the fold of one of the thin sheets, one or more plants according to their size, spread out and numbered; then another fasciculus of absorbent paper, another thin sheet containing plants, and so alternately, the lodges of the thin slieets being always turned to the backs of the absorbent. If the heap thus formed be large, it should be divided by intervening thin boards; a strong board should be put upon the top, and the plants dried with firm pressure, and gentle heat, if this can be easily applied. If the heap be large, a degree of pressure equalling 180 pounds at least should be applied ; if very small, half this amount will be found sufficient. I The absorbent paper should be removed, and dry paper of the same kind, arranged in the same way, substituted at least once daily till tho plants are dry ; if it can be conveniently done oftener at first, it will be better. If this cannot be done even once daily, a much larger quantity of absorbent paper should be employed. In changing the paper, it is recommended that the thin paper should never lie opened, but removed along with the specimens to the dry absorbent paper, excc])t, perhaps, the first time that this is