THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



339 



sides of our wells to the walls of the bouse, the tops of trees, 

 and oa lofty mountains. Bryuni ar^'entium, I am told, is found 

 all over the world. It is abundant on Westminster Bridge, and 

 on waste grounds where houses 

 are building, or have lately been 

 built, between the stones in unfre- 

 quented squares, and on many 

 walls in and near London. 



"While collecting, the hoe-shaped 

 blade attached to the stick or um- 

 brella (Figs. 8 and 9), will be 

 found especially useful for loosen- 

 in^^ Orthotrichums, and others that 

 grow on trees above your reach. 

 The specimens may generally be 

 caught in the hand as they fall. 

 It will also be useful for pealing 

 them off the sides of w^alls, banks, 

 etc. ; and even on the ground it 

 will often save stooping or kneeling 

 where the soil is damp. Many 

 may be reached and removed from 

 under water, and from wet banks 

 and the sides of deep ditches, 

 with a piece of stout iron wire, 

 crooked to form a hook, and tied 

 on to the stick. 



ABEANGING THE SPECIES. 



The species sbould be kept 

 separate as far as is possible, and 

 should be stored in the apron or 

 the bags, according to their relative 

 sizes and delicacy of structure. 

 On returning home, the first task 

 should be to endeavour to name 



them ; if, however, we intend leaving the naming to some friend 

 after the specimens are dried, we must put the date of collecting 

 and district with each ; and if we have more than we can readily 

 dry, expose the others to the air of a warm room, thinly spread 

 on blotting-paper ; and, wben dry, may be placed away and pressed 

 at any future period, as will be explained presently. 



Fia. 8.— Blade on 

 stick. 



Fig. 9.— Blade 

 on Umbrella. 



DRYING IN THE PRESS. 



Having picked the specimens over loosely, take a large sheet of 

 stout brown paper, turn out the mosses upon it, and carefully 

 remove from them any dead leaves and other rubbish that may be 

 mixed with them, throw them into a basin of boiling water, andj 

 with your drying-paper and press beside you, remove each specimen 

 with a pair of surgeon's dissecting forceps, and place it on the 



