118 WILD FLOWER PRESERVATION 



themselves in a more seemly manner ; but the 

 rule is that plants should remain in water for 

 as short a time as possible. The sooner a plant 

 is pressed the better it will look when mounted, 

 and the longer it is in water the greater the risk 

 of failure. 



The following rules should be remembered 

 when pressing flowers : 



1. Plants should be pressed as soon as pos- 

 sible after gathering. 



2. The press, drying-paper and folders, 

 scissors, penknife, paint-brush, etc., should be 

 at hand. 



3. Press two of each species, taking the 

 frailest flowers first. 



4. When pressing plants arrange them ac- 

 cording to their natural manner of growth. 



5. Arrange plants with the paint-brush, 

 touching them with the fingers as little as pos- 

 sible. 



6. Tear a few sheets of blotting-paper into 

 tiny snippets and use these to separate over- 

 lapping petals, and to equalize pressure round 

 thickened stems or flower-heads: or small 



