1918] Nichols & St. John,— Corrugated Boards 157 



with every specimen sheet. After this fashion a stack might be built 

 up to a height of sometimes two feet or more. 



In strapping up this final press, the straps were placed crosswise 

 the press, a foot or more apart, with both buckles on the same side 

 of the press — one of the open sides. For straps, broad, webbing 

 trunk straps were used: these can be adjusted much more easily 

 than leather straps and are much stronger. These straps were twelve 

 feet in length and by tying together the free ends, a loop of any length 

 desired could be made, by which the press could be hung up to dry. 



The press was now ready for the fire. At first thought it seemed like 

 tempting Providence to entrust our plants to an open fire, but experi- 

 ence showed that with due care there was little danger. Only twice 

 during our trip, the first and the last day in camp, did any catastrophe 

 threaten: the first time due to lack of experience, the last due to an 

 overzealous attempt to exceed the speed limit in the drying process. 

 On both occasions the press was rescued before any serious damage 

 had been done. 



The matter of fuel was the occasion of considerable experimentation. 

 Coniferous wood burns too rapidly and flares up too much. Of the 

 woods available in the region traversed, alder makes the hottest fire, 

 but the sticks are small and a green alder fire of the sort required 

 demands constant nursing. We finally settled on green paper birch. 

 This was everywhere available, was easy to cut and split, and once 

 started produced a hot fire, but without too many sparks or too much 

 flame and smoke, a fire which could be depended on for a maximum 

 continuous supply of heat with a minimum amount of attention, 

 especially after it had been tamed down to a glowing bed of coals. 



For holding the press in position over the fire a tripod was con- 

 structed from light saplings about ten feet long, bound together at 

 the smaller ends with a piece of cord. The tripod was straddled 

 over the fire and the press suspended from the projecting end of one 

 of the saplings (one of which it was our custom to cut short for this 

 purpose), broadside over the fire and at such an angle that the channels 

 in the ventilators would lie in a vertical position. The height of the 

 press above the fire was determined approximately beforehand by 

 lengthening or shortening the loop, but both height and position 

 could be subsequently regulated by shifting the legs of the tripod. 

 With a slow fire the press could be left at a height of barely two feet 

 above the coals without danger, but the "coefficient of safety" 

 naturally varies and can be judged only by experience. 



