174 NOTEBOOKS AND COLLECTIONS 



flower, fruit, buds, leaves, stem, root-leaves, 

 and root. Consequently, it will often be 

 necessary to procure specimens of tbe same 

 plant at different seasons. If it is too large 

 for exhibition entire, its parts may be shown 

 by a judicious choice of samples of the several 

 portions. 



On returning from a botanizing ramble, 

 remove the spoils at once from the tin case, 

 and dry them under pressure. For this 

 purpose drying-paper is wanted. Blotting 

 or other bibulous paper is best, but old 

 newspapers form a cheap and efficient sub- 

 stitute. Take a specimen, clean it, free it 

 from earth, and cut off withered leaves, etc. 

 Lay it on a sheet of drying-paper, and spread 

 it as flat as possible. Place another sheet 

 of drying-paper above the plant, and lay the 

 whole between two smooth, flat boards. 

 Then put a weight on the top a pile of 

 books is as good as anything. Too heavy 

 pressure is a mistake. Change the drying- 

 papers from time to time, until all the 

 moisture is. expelled from the specimen. If 

 the colours of flowers are to be preserved, 

 it is necessary to use heat before they are 



