Books giving general directions for forming an Herbarium of permanent scientific value, and all materials necessary for the treatment of specimens in accordance with such instructions will be provided herewith.

A complete, and in every way excellent, Herbarium is from the first to be had in view, but it is not intended that those engaged in forming it shall at the outset give much time or study to the matter. For the present, therefore, it is desired that only unusually fine specimens be gathered of plants that are abundantly common, but no opportunity should be lost of securing the first specimen that may be seen of those which are at all rare or liable to extinction. [177]If later a better specimen is found, it can be put in the place of the first. When without a collecting box, specimens can safely be carried for a day or two in the pocket, if folded in a piece of newspaper.

That the Herbarium may be of the highest scientific value, several specimens of each plant should be collected. Of flowering plants, each specimen should be of a size sufficient to represent as fairly as possible, the flower, fruit, leaves, root-leaves, roots and under-ground stems. In dioecious plants, each specimen should represent both forms of flowers. Care should be taken that specimens of Sedges are well ripened. Specimens are required of all flowerless plants, such as Ferns, Mosses, Lichens, Fungi and Algae, with mature fructification, when distinguishable.