COLLECTION OF PLANTS. 51 



made. The specimens remain permanently in their 

 special folios, but the driers must be frequently changed, 

 and new ones put in, while the wet ones are exposed to 

 sunlight or heat. Herein is the whole secret of good 

 specimen-making': well-regulated pressure, and incessant 

 change of driers. 



We ought to state, however, as this is a perverse 

 world, and inanimate objects often seem imp-directed, 

 that when one wholly forgets a series of specimens, and 

 leaves them in the press for weeks, they occasionally come 

 out better than others that have been watched. Yet, 

 dear, youthful collector, build not too high hope on this 

 result of laziness! Eternal vigilance is the rule. Vari- 

 ous forms of press are used. Some are provided with 

 straps, others with screws and levers. After all, a simple 

 weight, following the plants down as they shrink, is as 

 good as anything. The length of time that a plant should 

 remain in press can best be learned from experience 

 Judge by the feeling whether it is dry. If still damp, let 

 it remain. 



THE MOUNTING OF PLANTS. 



The collector's work does not cease when he has 

 pressed his plants. Indeed, it has then hardly begun. 

 Supposing that they are now perfectly dried, they must 

 next be poisoned. This is necessary to prevent the 

 attacks of insects which will otherwise be likely com- 

 pletely to destroy them. One has a feeling of despair 

 when he goes to his cases some day and finds the work of 

 years in ruins. Corrosive sublimate applied with a soft 

 brush is the best remedy known. It should be dissolved 

 almost to saturation in strong alcohol, and the bottle 

 plainly marked as poisonous. Keep the solution out of 

 the way of small children and irresponsible persons. 



