146 
Botanists finding P. AZ7#s in the States above mentioned, or in 
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, or Michigan, are requested to 
communicate with the Director of the Botanic Garden of Harvard 
University, Cambridge, Mass. 
§ 151. Wood’s Plant Press.—[On the suggestion of a very dis- 
tinguished European botanist, we republish the following article.] 
The method of drying botanical specimens heretofore generally 
practised, a method more particularly described in the November 
and December BuLietins [1872], is tedious and burdensome. 
Few, we think, will deny this. The collector who attempts to keep 
up with the season of flowers must have in use an immense quantity 
of paper—must rearrange specimens and paper at least twice a day 
—must*thoroughly dry the sheets, separately, daily—all this, besides 
the collecting, makes botany a édustness rather than a recreation, and 
leaves too little time for study or any other duty. 
It is the drying-press which is in fault—that old-fashioned press 
used by botanists from Linnzeus down. ‘True, it has done good ser- 
vice, and so has the sewing-needle. Shall the sewing-machine be 
‘rejected on this account? If the intolerable drudgery of plant- 
drying by adsorption can be obviated by an invention, why not try 
it? Wood’s wire-press, described in the “ Botanist and Florist,” p. 
ro, and “ C/ass-Book,” p. 15, is such an invention, unpatented, free 
to all collectors. It dries by evaporation rather than absorption, and 
thus makes available all .the sources of heat, whether natural .or 
artificial. It requires comparatively but little paper—less than half 
the amount needed in the old process; hence it is portable, and 
serves the double purpose of portfolio and press. It requires no 
changing of specimens and papers, no drying of damp and mildewed 
sheets. 
In fair weather the wire press dries in the wind and sunshine; 
in foul weather, by the fire. In either case, after one or two days 
the specimens will be found thoroughly cured, and as bright in colors 
as is possible by any other known method. 
To the travelling collector this form of pressisinvaluable. With 
it so light is his his labor in drying his specimens that it occasions 
him little if any delay, and so light his luggage that a single donkey 
will suffice him in lieu of half. a dozen for its transportation. With 
this simple press the writer, during a single year, cured more than 
three thousand specimens, in a protracted journey of about fifteen 
hundred miles. A. W.’ 
[For the convenience of those who may not have the original at 
hand we copy the description referred mf 
“The drying press, to be most efficient and convenient, should 
consist of a dozen quires of unsized paper, at least 11 x 14 inches 
folio ; two sheets of wire gauze (same size) as covers, stiffened by 
folded edges [a narrow, folded edge of tin plate is better] ; and three 
or four leather straps a yard in length, with buckles. When in use, 
suspend this press in the wind and sunshine ; or, in rainy weather, 
by the fire.” 
§ 152. Leaf Calendar.—Spring has come. It is time to watch 
the opening buds. We hope correspondents will keep a note book 
