4 Trees, Stars, and Birds 



read about them, but look at them and take leaves and 

 other parts to keep for further examination and for 

 comparison with other trees. In gathering leaves for 

 your collection, select those that have not been eaten by 

 insects or damaged in other ways. Unless the leaves 

 are very large, cut off a twig with several typical leaves 

 attached. If you cannot press your specimens at once, 

 yon may prevent withering by keeping them inclosed 

 in a box or laying them in a large magazine. 



For pressing leaves, use absorbent paper like large 

 sheets of blotting paper, or the soft felt paper that is 

 used under carpets. If you cannot get either of these 

 kinds of paper, place several thicknesses of newspapers 

 between each two specimens. Spread out the leaves 

 on a sheet of the absorbent paper in such a way that 

 each leaf will lie flat and will not cover other leaves. 

 It may be necessary to trim off some of them. Let at 

 least one leaf of each specimen show its under side. 

 Cover the first specimen with absorbent paper and upon 

 this paper spread out another specimen, continuing in 

 this way until you have put into the press all the good 

 specimens you have collected. With each specimen place 

 a strip of paper telling where you found it, the date, and 

 the name of the tree, if you know it. Then put the pile 

 of papers and specimens where it will not be in the way 

 and cover it with a board on which is placed a stone or 

 some other convenient weight. For a few delicate 

 specimens a weight of 15 or 20 pounds will suffice. 

 Ordinarily a heavier weight will be better. 



The day after you put the specimens in the press, 

 change the drying sheets. If you use felt paper, one or 



