86 



FLOWERS AND SEA WEEDS 



The apparatus required for the preservation of the wild flowers 

 of our cliffs, and the sea weeds, consists of a quantity of blotting 

 paper or other thick absorbent paper cut to a convenient size, a few 

 thin boards and a few pieces of calico of the same size, some heavy 

 weights, and several sheets of drawing paper. 



The wild flowers are arranged on the sheets of absorbent paper 

 while still fresh, care being taken to display the principal parts to 

 the best advantage. They are then placed in a single pile, with a few 

 extra sheets of absorbent paper between each two specimens to 

 facilitate the drying, boards at the bottom and top as well as at 

 equal distances in the midst of the pile, and the weights on the top 

 of the whole. 



The natural colours of leaves and flowers are not very often 

 preserved satisfactorily, but the best results are obtained when the 

 drying process proceeds most rapidly. Hence, if the press contains 

 any specimens of a succulent or sappy nature, they should be 

 taken out after the first day or two, and then replaced with a fresh 

 supply of dry paper. 



The flowers must be left in the press until quite dry, and they 

 may then be mounted on sheets of drawing paper, by fixing them 

 with a little gum tragacanth, or by narrow strips of gummed paper 

 passing over their stems. 



Some collectors prefer simply placing their botanical specimens 

 inside double sheets of drawing paper, not fastening them at all, 

 and there is much to be said in favour of this, especially as it 

 allows the specimens to be examined on both sides ; and even 

 when they are fastened to the paper double sheets are much to be 

 preferred, for the specimens are not then so liable to be damaged 

 by friction when being turned over, especially when the names are 

 written on the outside of each sheet. 



The larger sea-weeds may be dried in the same manner, though 

 it is a good plan to absorb the greater part of the moisture they 

 contain by pressing them between pieces of calico previous to 

 placing them in the ordinary press. It should be observed, however, 

 that many sea- weeds exude a certain amount of glutinous substance 

 that makes them adhere to the paper between which they are 

 dried, while they do not so freely adhere to calico. These should 



