Nature in Camping 17 



other ways. The bases and pedestals can be made of blocks of wood painted, 

 or if you need a lot the same size, cast of plaster. The trays can be made of 

 paper, tin, sheets of glass or jar caps. Make neat uniform small labels to go 

 with each specimen. 



Do not crowd the specimens too closely together; spread them so that they 

 can be seen from several sides and arrange them so that there is a pleasing 

 contrast in color or shape between one specimen and the next. Later on 

 when your collection has grown enough you will want to arrange them 

 according to one of the systems used by advanced collectors. 



COLLECTING HINTS 



It is against the law in many states to pick flowers or ferns. Nearly every 

 city and state park has the same conservation laws, otherwise there would 

 be nothing beautiful left for others to see and enjoy. Do not pick a flower 

 unless there are many more left like it, and never pull it up by the roots. If 

 you have the collecting urge, why not make a collection of leaves, grasses, 

 weeds, etc.? It is important to know them too. Ferns may be collected if 

 you are careful to pick one from a clump and not too near the root. A bucket 

 is a good thing to take along if you are not going too far on your trip, 

 because you can put some moss and damp earth in the bottom, and keep your 

 specimens fresh until you get home. 



A Collecting Press 



It is important to have nature specimens fresh when they are put away 

 to press also they must dry quickly. A simple press may be made by 

 knocking off two sides of an orange crate and smoothing down the edges. 

 If you are going to collect small specimens take the two ends instead. Make 

 a filler for the inside out of layers of large pieces of blotting paper if you 

 can afford it, and if not use newspaper, which will readily absorb the 



