216 FLORA OF WASHINGTON AND VICINITY. 



base of the plant and at a considerable angle, so as to go beneath it. If 

 it cannot be raised upon the trowel at the first thrust, make a similar 

 one on the opposite side, meeting the former. In soddy ground it is 

 often necessary to cut out a conical clod, with the plant in its center, 

 and then remove the earth from the roots after it is taken out of the 

 ^Tound. This is frequently the case with Carices, which should never 

 be broken off at the top of the ground. 



lu placing plants in the portfolio it is usually worth while to take a 

 little pains with them. They will never again be as firm and easily 

 placed, and if the above directions about not allowing them to move 

 afterwards are followed, it will be found that every minute so em- 

 ployed will save many at the second handling. Still there is a limit 

 •of economy in this, and in many cases it is full as well to pay no 

 further attention to the specimens than to see that they are snugly in- 

 closed in the folds of the book. No ends should, under any circum- 

 stances, be allowed to project. Whatever portion does so is sure to be 

 ruined ; for, in the first place, it is exposed to the air and sun and dries 

 up, and in the second place it is certain to rub against bushes and other 

 objects and be torn and bruised. The specimens must go wholly inside 

 the portfolio. This suggests a remark upon si)ecimens longer than the 

 book they are to be placed in. How is this to be done? If only a little 

 less than twice the length, a bend in the middle is the thing required. 

 But do not guess at the middle ; place the full-lengthed plant upon the 

 book ; see that one end clears by at least an inch; then bend the stem 

 over your finger an inch from the other end. If the stem is disposed to 

 break, bend it over a larger object, as your knee or the palm of your 

 hand. If it breaks, this cannot be helped, and does not materially de- 

 tract from the value of the specimen. Keep the parts always together 

 as if it had not broken. If the specimen is too long for one length, but 

 less than twice the required length, do not bend it in the middle but 

 nearest one end, so as to maintain the proper length. In most cases the 

 ujiper should be the short end and naturally droop or lop over, but oc- 

 casionally it is better to bend next the base. For specimens of more 

 than two lengths two bends are necessary. These should be made with 

 care in two respects : first, to see that the bends are in the same plane^ 

 i. e., that they be so made that all three of the parts of the specimen 

 will lie side by side upon a level surface, and, secondly, to see that they 

 are in opposite direetions, zigzag, or like the letter N. If care is taken 

 in this latter particular, a three-lengthed specimen may be made to look 



