220 FLORA OF WASHINGTON AND VICINITY. 



of moisture they exude. The pile should not be made too large, else 

 after pressure it becomes very irregular. To obviate this and at the 

 same time not require extra presses where the collection is large, boards 

 without cleats and of about the size of the brown paper are occasion- 

 ally inserted, and the pile continued upon these as upon the original 

 press-board. 



It often happens that the natural elasticity of freshly-collected plants 

 renders them somewhat unmanageable, so that when laid in the desired 

 position they refuse to remain so. In such cases the best mode of pro- 

 cedure is first to lay them out as well as possible and put on the white, 

 and the layer of brown paper, and then, after this is done, placing one 

 hand on one end of the pile and gently pressing, lift the brown and 

 white paper with the other at tbe other end and roll them back. Then 

 while holding these with one hand the refractory parts of the plant may 

 be put in position with the other, and by beginning this operation near 

 the middle and gradually unrolling the paper so as to let it come down 

 upon and hold all that has been gained, one-half of the specimen may 

 be forced to remain in its i)roper position. After this, the other end may 

 be lifted in like manner, and the same process gone through with until 

 any adjustments desired may be made and secured. This process, 

 though somewhat awkward to describe, is in itself quite simple, and a 

 little practice will render it easy. The results are in the highest degree 

 satisfactory. Once properly placed, even the weight of the layer of brown 

 papers is usually suflicient to prevent further movement, and the speci- 

 men then emerges from the press in fine condition. 



All the plants being in, the next step is to put them under pressure. 

 The other press-board is placed on the pile and a good trunk-strap put 

 around the whole, drawn to the proper degree of tightness and buckled. 

 How hard to press i^lants is still an unsettled question, and botanists 

 difier widely upon it. My own experience has led me to make my first 

 pressures quite light. I have lost many plants from too hard pressure 

 at first, and while some will bear it, it is safest on the whole to avoid it. 

 The easiest way to strap up a press full of plants is to place them on 

 the floor and with the knee upon the upper board draw up the stra]) and 

 buckle it. The buckle should be made to come on the side from you. 

 and to be at first quite low down ; as it is drawn it will rise, and should 

 never be allowed to come up to the upper press-board. In case of large 

 operations, two or three presses may be employed, and it is always well 

 to have two at hand in case of need. 



