Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-24
The matina Of 4 HerbarIum.

An interesting and instructive employ
ment tor children in the summer Is to
prepare collection of preserved speci-
mems of all the plants growing on the
home property, whether II Is village LOT
or an extensive country place. There Will
be plenty of material in either case. Such
an undertaking would give occasion ior
mary a pleasant and profitable ramble
and would be a capital training, OF the
observing faculties, while II Is also pos
sible that there might result from such
work some real benefit to science. IN
making a herbarium," says an authority
on the subject, sit is well to start with
certain well-defined limits in view. and
to work thoroughly and we'll wit those
limits. If you were collecting all forms OF
vegetable life the extent would pc
appalling, and 1t is therefore de-
sirable to limit your FIRST col
lection to some especial field Flower
ing plants are, of course, the most inter-
esting. and the smaller child can be M
terested in their collection and freserVa-
ton. Not only is the habit of observation
strengthened, and useful knowledge op-
tanned by summer work of this kind. but
the habits of neatness and system which
are absolutely necessary are of the great
est advantage in after life. Each child
should have his or her own Kit, consist
ing of tin collection box, PAIR OF
strong. blunt scissors, small trowei, ana
if old enough, a strong jackknife-these
for field work. Indoors he ought 10 nave
a recognized place at a work tal ,is, Vi u
mounting box. which is a box lined WIFI
tin to prevent insects from entering. WIZ
a hinged top and a hinged front, wnieh
can be left open while arranging or
looking at the sheets of specimens. Inc
drying sheets the child himself shoull
prepare These consist of squares CT
newspapers folded little smaller than
the inside measurement of the boN or
the portfolo--a good size is a paper 25Nlo
folded so as TO be 11iexS As soon as
practicable after the specimens are
-.~l,z hA
the drying sheets. and a record OF the
plant should be written on the left hand
corner Of the sheet. It's name " posi-
ble). the locality where IL was growing.
together with its conditions, the date OF
its collection. and any other details OF m
terest. Such notes can be made hurried
~ at this time and in abbreviated form
When the specimens are mounted tiey
can be written out more neatly and with
greater elaboration. In arranging sptci-
mems in the drying sheets, care shoniu De
taken that they should have a pleasing
appearance. The backs as well as tne
fronts of the flowers and leaves should
show and while the surplus OF leaves ana
branches should be clipped off. care
should be taken that the whole plant
should have as natural an appearance as
possible. Various expedients to keep the
shape of the different parts OF q pant
will suggest itself in the drying. A laay
slipper, for instance. may have wad OF
cotton inserted in the bag of the Hover;
thick stems or even fruit may be sliced
or the pulp removed. In pressing such
specimens pads of paper torn to proper
sizes and of suitable thickness should be
placed over the thinner parts of the spec
linen as me thicker parts are reduced by
drying. When the plants are properly
arranged in the folded drying papers
they should he placed between thick blot
ting paper to absorb the moisture. These
papers should be frequently changed TO
dry blotters The first day or two twice
in the twenty-four hours will be neces-
sary; afterward every other day will do,
until the specimen is quite dry.
If plants are put in portfolio they
should be poisoned. so that they will be
insect proof but in tin mounting-box
this is not necessary, except for eXcep-
Tionally rare specimens. 1t goes without
saving that corrosive sublimate, which
is generally used for poisoning should only
he handled by inexperienced person. After
the plant is dried, ii should be mounted
(gummed is the best way, although some
naturalists prefer strips CT paper on
brstol-board, and its history written in a
clear neat hand in the corner of the
board.
If a child does it. 1t is best to write it
first in pencil. so that any mistake may
be erased. and then traced over. 1t would
take too long, in these columns TO tell of
the interesting possibilities of such col
lection. but enough has been said to sug-
gest an employment for summer leisure
that might be made both amusing and
profitable to young people, and even, also
to children of larger growth.