EXPLOKATOBY NOTICES FOE MAY. 



In this mouth the phanerogamious, or flowering 

 plants, should almost exclusively be attended to, un- 

 less the Explorator be wandering in places of difficult 

 access, which he is not likely to again explore, such as 

 the wilds of Scotland, or the rocks of Cumberland and 

 Wales. In such spots, of course, all will be fish that 

 comes to the net ; indeed, the exploring botanist will 

 never shut his eyes for a moment when abroad ; for it 

 is a matter of general experience, that, although the 

 particular plants sought for may not be met with, yet, 

 others are sure to be found, perhaps not before previ- 

 ously recorded as occurring in that locality. 



It is not possible to lay down a rule that shall be 

 applicable to all plants ; but, in general, it is best to 

 lay the specimens out upon fresh papers immediately 

 upon arrival at home, but without applying any 

 weight upon them that night. In the morning they 

 should be again changed, and the more succulent ones 

 placed by themselves ; and it is now expedient to lay 

 on a moderate weight, which, as the plants grow drier, 

 should be gradually increased. Till quite dry they 

 should by no means be left for more than a day with 

 a heavy weight upon them, or the juices will penetrate 

 the underlying papers, spoiling both them and the 

 plants below. The common botanical press does ex- 

 ceedingly well for the smaller and finer specimens, as 



