42 HISTORY OF BRITISH FERNS. 



hie, in tlie tufts as tlicy gro-iv, preserving tlie whole mass 

 of fronds, with the stem and roots, the fronds being spread 

 out in an easy and graceful form, and as fur as possible 

 kept quite flat, but not formally " laid out" so as to destroy 

 any peculiarity of habit which the species may possess. 



If entire tufts cannot be obtained, VAid single fronds 

 have to be substituted, thoy should be taken quite to the 

 base, and must be removed from the stem with care, so 

 that the scales, or hairs, or farinose powder, which may be 

 present on the stalk, may be preserved equally with the 

 frond itself. 



Of larger-growing species, single fronds only are manage- 

 able, and these, when of larger size than the folios in Avhich 

 the specimens are to be kept, must be folded to somevrhat 

 less than the length of the papers, w/iilsi yet fresh. 



Of the gigantic species, portions only of the fronds, cor- 

 responding in size with the paper to be used, can be pre- 

 served ; but all of our native species, except in cases of 

 extreme luxuriance, may, we believe, with a little judg- 

 ment in the selection of specimens, be folded so as to allow 

 of their being preserved in ordinary folios measuring 

 eighteen inches by tv,-elve inches, or thereabouts. 



It is sometimes recommended to select specimens with 



