Vol. VI, No. 46.] BuLLeTin oF THE TORREY BOTANICAL Cus. [New York, Oct., 1878. 
§ 262. Some rambling Notes on Collecting and Preserving 
5 _ Herbarium. Specimens, ; 
V. Drying Specimens, continwed—Our design in this article is 
to describe, with some detail, the common methqd of drying speci- 
mens, particularly the writer's mode of procedure. In this 
account he hopes will be found a fuli answer to those queries which 
have from time to time been submitted to him, and to whose pro- 
ponders he now apologizes for any lack of courtesy he may have 
shown in not giving their polite inquiries an earlier and, perhaps, a 
more direct reply. 
The driers or drying papers, which we shall describe first, are 
equally necessary to both ways of curing specimens, though by the 
wire-press not so many are required, Paper having the quality of . 
imbibing moisture quickly should be used for this purpose. Some 
kinds of wrapping-paper—usually of light or grayish color—answer 
very well. Most newspapers are good. Common blotting-paper is 
admirable, in case you obtain sheets of sufficient size, although it is 
rather expensive. An excellent quality of drier is sold: by several ° 
houses who deal in goods relating to natural history, among which is 
the Naturalists’s Agency, Salem, Mass. These driers cost at Salem 
$5 a ream, which price, with freight or expressage added, makes a 
moderate outlay to purchasers living at a distance, but the driers are 
durable and, with careful usage, will last through many collecting 
seasons. 
I have used with great satisfaction these Salem driers, and also, 
with quite as good success, my own prepared driers or packets made 
of newspapers. There may be a slight difference in favor of the 
former; but even with plenty of extra driers on hand, I use these 
packets largely, for I find them quite indispensable in pressing coarse 
and succulent plants. 
These packets are made in the following manner. I select such 
newspapers as are more bibulous. The bibulous quality can be 
readily ascertained by letting a drop of water fall on the paper ; the 
more quickly the water is absorbed the better the paper for drying 
purposes. I take two papers of the size of the Mew York Tribune, 
—the paper of which absorbs nicely and also folds to the size of the 
Naturalist drier, 18 by 12 inches,—fold them evenly, and fasten 
together at two of the corners with McGill's eyelet paper-fasteners, or 
else by stitching with a strong thread or cord. This gives mea 
packet of 16 leaves, which I find the size best adapted for most pur- 
poses, although a portion of the packets may be made of 8 and 12 
thicknesses. The stitching can be done very expeditiously with a 
sewing machine. Newspapers of other sizes, can be folded as near 
the dimensions as possible and then cut to the required size. Wrap- 
ping or other paper, if used, should be made, for convenience, into 
packets like the newspapers. 
It is well to have on hand a good supply of drying paper. I 
have generally found use during the season for three reams of Nat- 
uralist driers and nearly half as many packets.. Unless you wish to 
collect liberally for exchanges, you can probably get along with a 
third of that quantity, or less. Still you will find it poor economy to 
