290 Education through Nature 



ance when dried. The dryers are then piled up one 

 on top of the other, and are finally placed between 

 two boards of the same size as the dryers. Consid- 

 erable pressure is then produced, either by a heavy 

 weight, such as a large stone, or better by a stout cord 

 or rope wound around projecting cleats fastened to 

 the boards. Such convenient portable hand-presses 

 can also be purchased for $2 (see below). 



The dryers should be changed at first once a day to 

 preserve the natural color. If the dryers are allowed 

 to remain moist, the specimen it apt to turn brown. 

 For mounting specimens good stiff white paper should 

 be used. It can be obtained from dealers at a small 

 cost (see below). The specimen, when thoroughly 

 dried and pressed, is placed on the mounting paper 

 and fastened by means of glue, or better, narrow 

 strips of white court-plaster. Some taste should be 

 used in placing the specimen on the sheet and in making 

 the sticking strips as inconspicuous as possible. A 

 label bearing the owner's name, printed at the top, is 

 placed in the right hand-lower corner, the edges coin- 

 ciding with the edge of the sheet. On this is neatly 

 written, in pen and ink, the date of collection, the local- 

 ity, kind of soil, the scientific and common name. A 

 convenient size for these labels is 3^ by i inches. 

 Printers usually charge about 15 cts. per hundred for 

 them. 



All specimens belonging to the same genus (or order) 

 are then placed into covers of strong Manilla paper 

 with the genus or order written in the right lower cor- 

 ner. Finally, these are placed in portfolios manufac- 

 tured expressly for that purpose. They can be had 

 from dealers at prices ranging from 35 cts. to $i. 



ANIMALS. 



For collecting animals, a small leather grip, contain- 

 ing bottles of various sizes partly filled with alcohol, 



