THE BOTANICAL OUTFIT 37 



handled is better left with a dull surface. 

 Plate I shows the press open and fastened up. 



A still better press, and one which requires 

 no great skill in carpentering to manufacture, 

 has, instead of solid boards, a lattice-work of 

 ash slats, inch thick and an inch wide. These 

 should be laid at right angles to one another 

 and one or two inches apart and should be se- 

 cured at the corners and all intersections with 

 two or three wire brads, securely clinched and 

 preferably of brass which will not rust. Such 

 presses, to fit drying sheets of the standard size 

 (12 x 18 inches) , can be bought, without straps, 

 from the Cambridge Botanical Supply Co. for 

 from 60 cents upward according to size and ma- 

 terial used. The model which costs $1.35 is 

 the most generally serviceable. 



12. Drying-papers and Folders. It is neces- 

 sary to keep a good stock of these, for plants re- 

 quire several changes of paper before they are 

 fit for mounting, and stinginess in this item is 

 fatal. Botanical drying-paper may be bought 

 from 35 cents per quire, according to weight. 

 Thick white blotting-paper is almost equally 

 good and costs about the same. Pads of old 



