PREFACE. vii 



little or no use. When a specimen (average size) is found it should be 

 carefully pulled, or dug up, so as to preserve as many roots and leaves as 

 possible ; after shaking the soil from the roots lay each specimen between 

 sheets of brown paper, or ordinary newspaper will do ; then lay the sheets 

 of paper containing the specimens between two strong boards a little longer 

 and wider than the specimens, and subject them to a slight pressure at first ; 

 every alternate day the specimens should be changed into perfectly dry 

 paper, and subjected to increased pressure until they are quite dry. Under 

 ordinary circumstances the operation will not take longer than eight or nine 

 days. The exact amount of pressure to be given, however, will depend on 

 the consistence of the grass. It must be borne in mind that too much 

 pressure crushes the delicate parts, and too little allows them to shrivel. 

 Stones, or any pieces of old iron, will answer as weights for pressing the 

 specimens. 



F. TURNER, BOTANIST, 



Department of Agriculture. 



