WEEDS 167 



If nothing better is available, newspaper answers fairly 

 well. Cut the paper into single sheets of convenient size 

 (about 1 6 by 12 inches is recommended). Next obtain 

 two boards, about half an inch thick, and slightly larger 

 than the sheets of drying-paper. A few stones or bricks 

 (best wrapped in stout brown paper) will complete the 

 plant-drying outfit. 



In gathering a plant, take care to get as complete 

 a specimen as possible. A perfect botanical specimen 

 should show root, stem, leaves, flowers, and fruit Some 

 plants are too large to allow of this, and in their case 

 portions should be selected to make the dried specimen 

 as fully representative of the plant as possible. 



Take one of the boards, and put on it two or more 

 sheets of the drying-paper. On the top sheet lay the 

 plant, carefully arranging it so that its parts are as nearly 

 as possible in their natural positions. On the plant place 

 some more sheets of drying-paper, and then arrange 

 another plant. (Two plants must never be placed on 

 top of one another between the same two pieces of paper.) 

 Go on in this way until all the plants are spread out, and 

 finally put on the second board, and the weights. 



By the next day the sheets of paper will probably 

 have become damp, and must be changed for dry ones. 

 Damp papers should be dried in the sun. When chang- 

 ing the plants, lift them carefully and take care that their 

 leaves, etc., are in natural positions. The work of arrang- 

 ing the parts in position is often best accomplished after 

 drying has gone on for a few hours. The plant is then 

 limp, and the leaves, etc., will be found to remain in any 

 position. When quite dry any attempt to move a part 



