HARD J VI CKE 'S S CIE NCE-GOS SIP. 



8t 



made of American walnut 18 inches by 12 inches, and 

 f inch thick, well seasoned and French polished, with 

 two grooves sunk in each of the long sides, to take 

 two of the strongest portmanteau straps procurable. 

 Having arranged all the plants with as much paper 

 as possible between each layer, I put on the top 

 board and strap as tightly as I can. I next take a 

 stretcher, a piece of wood 12 inches long, i\ thick, 

 with both ends cut into a wedge. Inserting one end 

 of this under one of the straps, I force the strap up, 

 and then pull the other strap over the opposite end. 

 It is now pretty tight, but not tight enough for me, 

 and two wedges cut to the same angle are inserted 

 underneath the stretcher, one at either end, and 

 forcing these towards the centre the straps are 

 further tightened, and the pressure considerably in- 

 creased. It is absolutely essential that the straps 

 should be of the best, and kept well oiled, or they will 

 not stand this treatment long. This is the press I 

 take on my holiday excursions, it just drops into a 

 light deal box, which, when corded, is quite safe to 

 hand over to the tender mercies of a railway porter. 

 For home use I have a more substantial affair ; the 



boards are made of birch two inches thick, but, 

 instead of using straps, I have had two squares made 

 of hoop iron twelve inches wide and eighteen inches 

 high, with the ends lapped over and riveted. The 

 upper part of each square is let into a shallow groove 

 in a strip of ash to keep it in shape, and this being 

 very springy, keeps up a good pressure when the 

 stretcher and wedges are introduced. This plan is 

 much cheaper than straps, being practically inde- 

 structible, and if it is thought desirable, the wedges 

 may be driven home with a mallet. 



I have, however, a third form to suggest which 

 has several advantages, but involves a greater cost. 

 It is composed entirely of metal. Two gratings are 

 made on the principle of the gridiron, with the bars 

 one inch apart. The papers containing the plants 

 are placed between these gratings, and they are drawn 

 together on each of the longer sides by two screw 

 arrangements, similar to those used for tightening the 

 stays of telegraph posts. By turning round the 

 centre socket, which has a screw at each end, but the 

 threads cut in opposite directions, the opposite edges 

 are rapidly drawn together and maintained there 

 with a considerable pressure. 



There is thus a slight economy in space and there 

 is nothing to wear out, but what particularly 

 recommends this method is, that it can be put into 

 the oven, before the fire, or other warm place, 

 without running any risk. Straps will not stand this- 

 treatment for any long time, and I have known cord 

 give way and do some damage to the surroundings. 

 It must also be borne in mind that, if the papers are 

 dried in the press in this manner, a vast amount o£ 

 time is saved. 



Those who are occupied more particularly with 

 water plants such as charas, potamogetons, etc., would 

 find great advantage in having a light tin or zinc 

 trough about three inches in depth into which the 

 press would just drop and which would fit easily 

 inside the box in which the press travels. I have 

 found this much more convenient than anything else 

 for floating such plants on to the papers, and believe 

 the results to be more satisfactory than any other. 



Fig. 35 represents a section through the long 

 diameter of the first press, and Fig. 36 a perspective 

 view of the metal one. 



Frederic H. Ward. 



Springfield^ Tooting. 



A NATURALIST OUTWARD BOUND. 



AS an old contributor, I request that you will 

 publish this letter should it reach London 

 safely ; for the novel experiences of one unaccustomed 

 to the tropical wealth of Ceylon may entertain many 

 of your readers. I write far away from land, rushing 

 forward in a Peninsular and Oriental Mail towards 

 the Australian coast. To-day we cross the Line ; 

 the temperature in the shade at mid-day is 82°Fahr., 

 but the rush of air created by the pace of the ship 

 apparently cools the atmosphere and renders heat 

 pleasant. The pole star and familiar Great Bear 

 have nearly, if not quite, disappeared from sight ; 

 the Southern Cross and constellation of the Ship are 

 gradually rising earlier each night above the horizon. 

 Two nights ago I watched the slow course of a large 

 meteor ; it fell from the zenith towards the north-east, 

 leaving a distinct trail of light and illuminating the 

 deck of our vessel as if with summer lightning — 

 thousands, of flying fish skim the waters ; to watch 

 their action is quite a fascination. By comparison 

 with the speed of the ship I reckon they attain a 

 flight of about twelve miles an hour, while seventy 

 seconds is the longest period that I have noted one to 

 remain out of water, during which it touched the 

 waves more than once. In the Red Sea the medusae 

 floated near the surface of the water in considerable 

 numbers. Some weie of an exquisite violet tinge; 

 others milky-white, with red organs within. At 

 night thousands of solitary phosphorescent lights 

 floated by, evolved, I think, from these jelly-fish. 

 One Portuguese man-of-war I noticed sailing grace- 



