DKTING. Xlll 



manure yet recommended. The more delicate sorts 

 may, perhaps, be well covered in from the frost by 

 straw or heaps of leaves. 



Another method of preserving ferns is in the herba- 

 rium ; and of all plants they seem best to stand the 

 process of drying, and to lose less of their original 

 colour and beauty of form than any others. We would 

 now refer to the " Fern Collector's Album," * to which 

 this little book is intended as a companion, and which 

 affords great facilities for the preservation of dried 

 ferns. 



To those who have not already made dried botanical 

 collections, we would give the following simple direc- 

 tions for their guidance : Before you leave home, get 

 any carpenter to plane you two deal boards, about 

 half an inch thick, a foot wide, and a foot and a half 

 long ; between these place one or two quires of 

 Bentall's drying-paper ; or, if unattainable, common 

 blotting-paper and old newspapers will answer very 

 well. Round the boards put two narrow but strong 

 leather straps, which cost about a shilling each : these 

 must be drawn as tightly as possible, and will secure a 

 great amount of pressure on the plants inside, and the 

 whole may be strapped on the top of a box in travel- 

 ling, so as not to take up any room. In gathering 

 the ferns, cut them as low down the stem as possible, 

 and in small specimens get up the radix if you can. 

 In putting them to dry in the blotting-paper, have 

 respect to the natural position of the fern, and also to 



* London : Robert Hardwicke, 192, Piccadilly. 



