DIEECTIONS FOR COLLECTING PLANTS. 



29 



cover should be riveted another strap, which may be put through a 

 buckle fastened to the corresponding point on the other cover, to 

 keep the covers together. A much more convenient fastening for the 

 strap, however, is a button, similar to that by which the curtains are 

 fastened on a carriage. Short slits to go over the button should be cut 

 in the straps at intervals, doing away with the inconvenience and 

 waste of time involved in fastening and unfastening a buckle. A few 

 inches on either side of the middle strap and its fastening should be 

 fastened the ends of a leather handle. Such a handle should be 

 attached to each cover, so that the two can be used in temporarily 

 holding the covers together. Thus, one avoids the necessity of bother- 

 ing with the strap every time a plant is put in the portfolio. The 

 portfolio covers should be sufficiently thick to avoid much warping at 

 the corners. The warping can be largely prevented by riveting a thin 

 strip of iron or steel about three-fourths of an inch wide to the inside 



Fig. 2. — A collectinfj portfolio, showing plan of construction. 



of the upper and lower edges of the portfolio covers. If the covers 

 are of heavy binder's board, the total weight of the portfolio is con- 

 siderable, but this may be replaced by tough fiber board, such as is 

 used in light extension cases. The boards may be covered with 

 enamel cloth or leather, with flaps for the protection of the specimens 

 in rainy weather. The side flaps should be 10 inches wide and the 

 two end ones 7 inches wide, the latter being held together by a strap. 

 The portfolio should then be filled with thin papers, which when 

 folded should measure 11 J by 16| inches. Newspaper stock is best 

 for tliis; in fact, ordinary newspapers cut to this size may be used 

 with advantage. The above sizes should be maintained as a maxi- 

 mum in order that the resulting specimens shall not be larger than the 

 standard mounting sheet, which is 11 1 by 16^ inches. The unused 

 sheets can be kept in place and easily slid from under the flaps on 

 one side of the portfoho as needetl, the flaps on the opposite side 



[Cir. 126] 



