FLORA OF WASHINGTON AND VICINITY. 219 



of saving these, aud to press only a part of what has been collected, for 

 several specimens of everything should be taken if they can be found. 

 A temporary label should be written for each plant as it is reached, 

 placed with it, and kept with it throughout. If there is more than one 

 specimen, the temporary label will be needed for the duplicates when 

 the other specimen is mounted. The label should give the Latin name 

 of the plant, if known, or if only the generic name is known, then this 

 should be written, the date of collection, and the particular locality, 

 both habitat and station, or at least the latter. Any special fact 

 observed in connection with the plant may also be written on the label. 

 This done, the next step is to press the specimens. 

 The following is my own method of pressing plants: 

 The prei^s consists of two pine boards 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, 

 18 inches long, and dressed, having each two cleats on one side, one 

 across near each end. Upon one of these a pile of plants is built. 

 For drying i>aper, after trying many different kinds, I have finally 

 adopted ordinary cheap brown wrapping-paper. The size used is 10 

 by 16 inches. It would perhaps be better to be larger. The double 

 sheets (two leaves) are kept separate, by which means the thickness 

 between each specimen may be varied ad libitum. Four or five sheets 

 is the usual thickness for ordinary plants. These are placed upon the 

 lower press-board (cleat side down), and upon them is laid a sheet of 

 thin white paper a little larger than the brown paper. This paper 

 is a firm but very thin manila, a little heavier than tissue-paper, but 

 good tissue-paper would answer. Upon this sheet, which is single, 

 the plant to be pressed is laid ; its leaves are laid out neatly, and all its 

 parts are placed in the position in which it is desirable for them always 

 to remain. This done, a second sheet of thin white paper is laid over the 

 plant ; then another layer of four or five double sheets of the brown pa- 

 per is laid on. Upon this another sheet of white paper is then laid, 

 another specimen placed upon it and arranged for final disposition, 

 another sheet of white pajier laid over that, and another layer of brown 

 paper upon that. This process is continued until the portfolio is emptied. 

 Several things are to be observed as the work of preparing the speci- 

 mens for pressure progresses. The amount of brown paper used should 

 be made to vary somewhat according to the nature of the plant. 

 Grasses and grass-like plants require much less; succulent plants 

 require more; thick-stemmed plants need thick layers of paper, more 

 to preserve the even surface of the pile than on account of the amount 



