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Vol. Hl. No. t1.;  BULLBTIN OF THE TORREY BOTANICAL CLUB, [New York, November, 1871. 
69. Herbarium Suggestions —No. 4. Drying Specimens.—At the time 
of collecting specimens, and while laying them between the thin 
sheets of the portfolio, no special care is necessary to straighten 
out the leaves, and other parts of the plant. This would often be 
interfered with by the wind in the open field, and, moreover, the 
vegetable tissue is elastic and the parts of the plant will not “stay 
put,” when arranged at this time. At the subsequent early changes 
of the driers, however, and especially on the first change, this mat- 
ter should receive careful attention ; all folds and doublings-up of 
leaves, petals, etc, should be removed, and the whole specimen 
should be arranged as nearly as possible to conform to its natural 
appearance before collection. 
At the same time that this is done, let pieces of bibulous paper 
be interposed between any leaves or other portions of the plant 
which overlap each other, in order to prevent their moulding and 
hasten their drying, and change these fragments of paper sub- 
sequently when changing the driers. 
The more bibulous the paper composing the driers, the better. 
A good quality for the purpose may sometimes be found in large 
paper stores, but is somewhat expensive. Ordinary newspapers, 
of suitable size, will answer. For the convenience of handling, the 
drying paper is made up into packets of about twelve thicknesses, 
and this is sometimes done by stiching them together, but a far 
better way is to unite them by two of “McGill's paper fasteners ” 
placed about an inch from the edge of one of the sides. 
When fastened in this way, the packets may be dried by placing 
them astride of a clothes-line in the open air, or on a string stretch- 
ed across the room; and this is much better than having them 
lying about on the floor to be trodden on by the feet and with only 
one surface exposed to the air. 
We should always have a large supply of packets so as to use 
them liberally, especially when the specimens are thick and succu- 
lent. In the latter case, also, sheets of thick pasteboard are desir- 
able to interpose here and there between the packets to prevent 
a thick stem from indenting its neighbors. 
For pressing plants, two boards with weights on top are best: 
Screw presses are objectionable, since, as the plants shrink in 
drying, they cease to receive the necessary pressure. This point 
: gieag been mentioned in a previous number of the Bulletin, 
p. 16, 
In drying plants, they are retained continuously in the thin 
sheets of paper in which they were at first placed, but their posi- 
tion in the sheet is advantageously changed from time to time as 
Soon as the plants are sufficiently dry to bear motion without — 
crnmpling. sce ogee 
_ Plants that are sticky and liable to adhere to the paper epvelop- — 
ing them may be sprinkled over with some inert powder, as that 
of Lycopodium or powdered soapstone. ( To be continued.) F. J.B. — 
70. Sesuvium pentandram, Elliott,—Is Sesuvium pentandrum a dis- 
tinct species Page a variety of S. Potulacastrum, L.? To judge 
