120 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 
particularly interested in the retention of the natural color 
of foliage and flowers. In this moisture-laden climate it is 
almost impossible to dry specimens by the ordinary method 
without applying artificial heat, and an electric iron is gen- 
erally used to foree drying. The fresh specimen is placed 
between blotting-paper and the heated iron applied until the 
specimen is pressed and dried. At frequent intervals the 
specimen is tested by touching the leaves or flowers, the opera- 
tion being considered complete when they will not adhere to 
the finger. Frequently an hour or so is taken for an indi- 
vidual specimen.’’ 
The following article is a translation from ‘‘Orchidaceae 
Powellianae Panamenses,’’ by Dr. R. Schlechter: 
‘‘In 1919, one of my Costa Rican correspondents brought 
to my attention the fact that Mr. C. W. Powell had brought 
together in Panama an important collection of orchids of 
that vicinity and urged me to get in touch with him. I 
accordingly wrote Mr. Powell and received from him the 
answer that R. A. Rolfe, of Kew, had already taken up the 
study of his collection, but that he would be glad to send me 
duplicates of the separate numbers possible. I therefore did 
not anticipate that I should have the opportunity of work- 
ing on the collection. R. A. Rolfe, who, in 1920, was already 
in ill health, died suddenly in April, 1921, before he had done 
any work on the Powell orchids. 
‘‘Mr. Powell then asked me to take over the work. I was 
the more pleased to do this because I knew that in the orchid 
flora of Panama there would not only be many new species, 
but that many of the Warszewiczian discoveries might be re- 
discovered and cleared up. 
‘“When the first collection appeared I was agreeably sur- 
prised by the exquisitely prepared flower material. Unfor- 
tunately, however, in many cases, there was no vegetative 
material, since, as Mr. Powell informed me, Rolfe had writ- 
ten him that flowers alone would suffice. With great readi- 
ness Mr. Powell then proceeded to supply me with the vege- 
tative parts of the various plants; not a particularly pleasant 
job, but one that was dispatched with zeal so that most of 
the numbers are already complete. The new numbers coming 
in each week are characterized not only by their splendid 
preparation, but also by their completeness. 
