140 BOTANICAL GAZETTE. [ June, 
most important part of the process, and so I repeat, « complete change of driers 
should be made within two or three hours after the specimens are placed between 
them, and while the specimens are still moist. A neglect to do this in time 
will be very apt to cause the plants to adhere to the sheets, and produce those 
miserable specimens so common with hasty and slovenly collectors. After this 
no further change is necessary, as the specimens and papers will dry themselves 
thoronghly within a day or two. I prefer, however, to remove the specimens 
the next sn into the preserving sheets, or they may be mounted at once if 
thought best 
In the case of the more delicate species, such as P. Vaseyi, P. pusillus, P. 
hybridus, etc. (including Zannichellia), the specimens should first be floated in 
water upon card-board in the same manner as the coarser plants. Indeed, all 
the finer leaved forms will furnish much handsomer specimens if pains are 
taken to spread the branches and leaves under water upon sheets of white paper. 
Naias and Ruppia are to be treated like the coarser species of Potamogeton. 
The two marine genera, Zostera and Phyllospadix, are best collected when in 
flower and fruit. Some of the specimens should be prepared with the spadix 
drawn partly out of _ so as to show the inflorescence distinctly. 
The above directions are applicable to all other delicate aquatics, such as 
Isoetes, Schollera st Callies and more or less to Elatine, Utricularia, ete. 
—Tuomas Morone (iyi 
To get aquatic plants from the water (root and all, if necessary, for lower 
leaves are often required, as well as underground stems), I have a hook, or 
blade, made something like a “ bush-hook,” used by farmers to cut off small 
shrubs when clearing land. Any blacksmith can make one, and the cost is but 
a few cents. It is about eight inches long, with one cutting edge. The eye is 
about } inch in diameter, so as to receive a handle stiff enough for work. This 
blade is carried in the tin collecting box to the place of work, with a gimlet, 
two or three screws, and a small screw-driver, such as go with sewing machines. 
With a pocket knife a stick six or eight feet long is ent. inserted in the eye, 
which is drilled on one side to receive a screw. If the wood is hard, a hole 
made by the gimlet enables the screw to be forced in, and one is ready for work, 
to reach out and haul in specimens, or to dig in the ground. When done for 
the day, the screw is withdrawn and the handle thrown away.—E. J. Hr. 
Mosses (Muscr).—Mosses can be put into envelopes, or each specimen 
folded up separately in paper, and carried in a plant portfolio or other suitable 
receptacle. Where it is an object to preserve the spores for microscopical ex- 
amination, these should at once be wrapped in waxed paper. The specimens 
should be removed from the envelopes or wrappers, in which they were col- 
lect pressed, in the same manner as phanerogams. Aquatic species, like 
Fontinalis, Sphagna, etc., may be spread out on the floor of a shady attic until 
freed of their die pdeRaces moisture to some extent, then transferred to driers. 
_ The following are notes from the late Mr. C. F. Austin in regard to the. 
collection of mosses: “ Mosses should be collected as soon as, or a little before, 
the capsule matures, while the operculum is still present, Some species seldom or 
never fruit with us; these should not be neglected. Hepatice in general are 
