SCIENTIFIC SURVEY. 121 



tion ; but proposals to exchange have been regarded, in all cases, 

 as worthy our most prompt and careful attention. We now have, 

 as I have already stated, abundant material in the Portland collec- 

 tion for many exchanges, and I commend. Sir, to your most serious 

 consideration, this subject of facilitating its useful and judicious 

 distribution. 



I have been requested to give, in this report, some plain direc- 

 tions for collecting and preserving plants. Most excellent rules 

 are laid down in Dr. Gray's "Lessons" and " Structural and Sys- 

 tematic Botany," also in other text-books upon the same science ; 

 and, for this reason, it seems to me to be entirely superfluous to 

 present extended directions in regard to the matter of plant col- 

 lection. Nevertheless, since it is desired that some guiding rules 

 should be given in this report, I will offer a few brief directions to 

 those wishing to commence collecting plants, prefacing them by 

 the remark that Botanists in Maine will find Dr. Gray's " Manual " 

 and "Structural Botany," indispensable to a proper understanding 

 of the Flora. Although the " Manual " has a very extensive geo- 

 graphical range it does not, in embracing so much, slight any part 

 of its survey. This remark, which may be thought to have too 

 personal a character for a report of this kind, is prompted solely 

 by a desire to call the attention of Maine teachers and students to 

 the absolute necessity of using the most thorough, precise and 

 useful manuals of botany. 



Plain directions for collecting and preserving plants : 



1. Gather plants upon a dry day, if possible, and shield them 

 from sunlight and wind. 



2. Plants should be dried between sheets of even, thick bibulous 

 paper to which considerable pressure is applied. This mechanical 

 pressure can be obtained by means of heavy weights or, more 

 conveniently, by a botanical press. 



3. A press, portable, easily adjusted, and in every way satisfac- 

 tory, is constructed of three boards and two strong leathern straps. 

 The boards should be at least fifteen by twelve inches in size, and 

 be kept from warping by means of firm oaken splints secured to 

 the ends. The middle board serves to equalize the pressure. 



4. Between the boards should be placed eight or ten quires of 

 thick, unsized, but smooth paper. The plants, as soon as conven- 

 ient, must be laid evenly between these sheets of paper, having 



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