DIRECTIONS FOR PRESERVING PLANTS. 39 



In gathering plants for this purpose, such as are smaller than 

 the size of the paper are to be taken up roots and all. In many 

 cases, portions only of plants can be preserved, on account of 

 their size, and then the most essential parts are to be selected, 

 including always the flowers. Plants to be preserved are to be 

 gathered in dry weather, and immediately deposited in the tin 

 box, which prevents their becoming shrivelled by evaporation. 

 If gathered in wet weather, they must be laid out for some 

 time on a table or elsewhere to undergo a partial drying. 

 When roots have been taken up along with the stems, they 

 ought to be first washed, and then exposed for some time to 

 the air. 



Let us now suppose that a dozen specimens are procured. 

 Over one of the boards lay two or three sheets of the paper, on 

 the uppermost of which spread out the plant to be dried, un- 

 folding its various parts, not however so as to injure its natural 

 appearance. A few of the flowers and leaves ought to be laid 

 out with particular care. Over this specimen lay half a dozen 

 sheets of paper, on the uppermost of which lay another plant 

 as before, and so on successively, until the whole are disposed 

 of. A few sheets are then laid upon the last, and a board 

 placed over all. 



Plants, viewed with reference to drying, may be divided into 

 two classes, the one comprehending those which, being thin, 

 soft, and flexible, require little pressure to reduce them to a 

 level, the other including such as being stiff and thick require 

 much pressure. Supposing the above plants to have been of 

 the first class, we lay upon the upper board one of the smaller 

 weights. A series of more stubborn specimens being, in like 

 manner, placed between other two boards, we lay one of the 

 larger weights upon them. 



Should more specimens be collected next day, they are dis- 

 posed of in the same manner ; and thus successively. At the 

 end of three days generally, the plants first laid in are to be 

 taken out, together with the paper about them. They are to be 

 laid in fresh paper, three or four sheets being placed between 

 every two plants, and the whole put between two boards, with 

 a weight over them. The second series is similarly treated 

 next day, and so on. The paper from which the plants have 

 been removed is to be dried for future use. 



There will thus be four sets of plants ; two in the first stage 

 of drying, and two in the second stage. The plants of the se- 

 cond stage sets should be taken out about three days after they 



