PRESSING WILD FLOWERS 139 



The level should be made up by blotting-paper 

 folds or wadding, so that the leaves receive suf- 

 ficient pressure to keep them in shape ; but the 

 pressure must not be heavy or the pods will 

 crack. 



Botanists who have no leisure to mount their 

 plants during the spring and summer should 

 transfer them from the ordinary press to a 

 storing-press where they may be safely kept 

 until the winter-time. However carefully 

 dried plants are laid in drawers or boxes, their 

 leaves are bound to curl if left free to do so for 

 more than three or four days. This storing- 

 press should consist of two stout pieces of card 

 or corrugated board and a folded newspaper 

 for top and bottom. Put your specimens in 

 their folders between the boards and secure 

 with tape or coarse twine tightly tied. Do not 

 apply too much pressure ; a very little is enough 

 to keep leaves from curling and too much will 

 break the brittle plants. Do not put in driers ; 

 they will absorb moisture in damp weather and 

 mildew and discoloration may result. 



If you use labels, they may be written and 

 placed with the plants. 



