OF A COUNTY HERBARIUM.
75
will be found possible to secure better specimens. The heads can
afterwards be mounted in their proper position on the paper.
MOUNTING.
The specimens should be mounted upon the best paper obtain-
able,—a kind having a smooth surface to which dust will not adhere.
I should recommend a substantial cartridge paper of a light cream
colour, and there are obvious advantages in adopting sheets of the
same size as those used in the National Collection at the British
Museum, viz., 171/2 by 111/2 inches.
Some difference of opinion exists as to whether it is better to
gum or otherwise fix the specimens firmly to the paper, or to secure
them by straps of paper, so that they may be detached for examin-
ation.
Museum specimens would run so much less risk of damage if
firmly attached to the paper, that I should strongly recommend it.
And the following paste used in our National Museum is most suited
to the purpose,
The water should be mixed very gradually and uniformly with the
mixed powders until a thin paste is formed, when it would be well
to add two drams of the preservative solution given below, in order
to prevent the attacks of insects.
Previous1 to mounting, the plants should be painted with the
following preservative solution,
It is a dangerous poison, and should therefore be carefully used.
It will effectually prevent insects attacking the specimens, and as a
further precaution lumps of camphor or naphthalene may be kept in
the cabinet.
Each genus should be kept in one or more covers according to
the number of species included in it.