56 THREE KINGDOMS. 



We get some soup-plates, fresh water, a bit of 

 alum, some camel-hair pencils, and 7 use needles 

 mounted on lucifer matches, to assist in disentang- 

 ling the mass. 



Of course we are prepared with paper cut into 

 large and small squares ; and, as much of the beauty 

 of the specimens depends on the quality of the paper, 

 it should be fine, and at the same time stout, almost 

 as good as drawing-paper. 



Now float a piece of weed in fresh water ; if very 

 dirty or sandy, wash it first, and in renewed water 

 float it on a piece of paper supported by your left 

 hand, whilst with your right hand you arrange the 

 plant in a natural manner, using a mounted needle 

 or porcupine-quill, and thinning out the superabun- 

 dant branches with a fine-pointed pair of scissors. 

 When the specimen is placed as you like it, cautiously 

 raise the paper that the position of the plant be not 

 altered, and let it rest somewhere with sloping inclina- 

 tion, that the moisture may run off whilst other speci- 

 mens are treated in the same way. 



Do not leave them long thus, for they must be 

 pressed before the paper is dry. 



A convenient traveling-press consists of two pieces 

 of deal board about two feet long and one foot wide, 

 a couple of quires of whity-brown paper, and a double 

 strap. Lay blotting-paper between the coarser paper, 

 and you can strap them closely and carry your sea- 

 weed very safely in your hand. 



In drying them, you must have old linen or fine 

 muslin, old and soft, to lay upon the weed and prevent 

 it sticking to the upper paper, but do not leave it be- 

 yond a day or so, lest it leave chequered marks upon 

 the surface of the weed, especially those with broad 

 fronds, like Delesseria. 



Experience will give the best lessons. Some sea- 



