MOUNTING THE PLANTS 151 



album must be put under pressure until the 

 glue is dry and every plant is adhering per- 

 fectly. Inequalities of thickness caused by 

 stout stems or flower-heads are more awkward 

 to deal with in albums than when separate 

 mounts are used ; and as plants will not adhere 

 without equal pressure upon every part, the 

 level must be made up by placing folds of 

 blotting-paper over the thinner portions. 

 When the plants are perfectly dry and secure 

 and not before then the next page may be 

 Med. 



An album of dried plants may be a very 

 dainty and interesting possession, or merely a 

 hopeless collection of dreary-looking objects 

 resembling a scattered and flattened out rub- 

 bish heap more than anything else! Every- 

 thing depends upon natural and careful press- 

 ing and mounting. Do not overcrowd the 

 book, for the result will be confusion. Leave 

 restful spaces between the groups, and let trail- 

 ing plants trail as they will across the pages, 

 even if they seem to take up an extravagant 

 amount of room. 



Nature cannot bear to be stifled and 



