378 PHYTOGRAPHY. 



the specimens will be in much finer condition. An experienced 

 collector has no difficult} 7 in ascertaining whether a plant is com- 

 pletely cured or not, while to a novice it is often a matter of 

 uncertainty. A thoroughly dried plant can be usually told by 

 its peculiar hay-like rattle when disturbed ; also by placing the 

 plant against the cheek. If there is a sensation of coolness, the 

 plant is still moist. 



797. If the thick leaves of fleshy plants are immersed for 

 a few moments in hot water, the period of desiccation will be 

 greatly hastened ; but they frequently turn dark as a conse- 

 quence of the immersion. The drying of such plants, and 

 particularly of the Monocotyledons, may be advantageously ex- 

 pedited by placing them between several driers and ironing them 

 with hot irons. Small plants may be very neatly dried in old 

 books. Very beautiful specimens may be made by placing the 

 plant in a tall and narrow vessel, and pouring over it a sufficient 

 quantity of clean and dry sand. When the moisture is absorbed, 

 it may be flattened in a press. 



798. In shifting the driers of a collection, place the package 

 to be changed at the left hand on the table or counter, the new 

 pile in front with its length parallel to the person, a position 

 the most favorable for giving any needed attention in arranging 

 specimens, while fresh driers may be placed at the right hand, 

 or beyond the pile in front. Thus arranged, the sheets of speci- 

 mens can be rapidly shifted into their fresh driers. 



799. The moist driers may be spread out in the sunshine to 

 dry, or strung on a line in a warm room, or in the open air, if 

 not too windy. Very moist driers may be thorough^ dried 

 within an hour, if spread in the hot sunshine. In inclement 

 weather, they must be dried by the fire. 



800. To recapitulate the most important points in good speci- 

 men-making : Use specimen-sheets to hold the plants undis- 

 turbed during the whole process of drying : use plenty of the 

 most bibulous driers, sun-dried and heated when practicable : do 

 not make the piles too large : make the first shift of driers within 

 a few hours, at that time making all needed adjustment of the 

 flaccid specimens : change the driers twice a day for the first 

 day or two. 



801. For collecting and preserving specimens on a journey, 

 or when moving from place to place, some modification of the 

 stationary press is requisite. The Travelling-press must be porta- 

 ble : accordingly the pressure is applied by strong leather straps 

 with buckles. There should be three straps, one girding the 

 package around each end, and one lengthwise. The top and 



