1886. | BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 141 
best collected late in the fall, during the winter, or in early spring. The Jun- 
germannix about the time, or a little before, they send up their eee All 
are best collected before they shed their spores.”—-EUGENE A. 
I began by using a portfolio, but soon came to the conclusion that it took 
too much of the field time to prepare each specimen for pressing, and often 
they were not in a proper condition as regards moisture, being either too dry 
or too moist. A vasculum is too heavy, especially for mountain excursions. So 
I made an inexpensive knapsack which I have found very serviceable. It is 
made of carriage cloth, with a flap which buttons in front. To the back are 
attached loops, so that it can be suspended from the shoulders by a strap. 
Plenty of newspaper aicehs be taken and each species wrapped separately. 
This bag when packed full will not weigh much more than the ordinary vas- 
culum. Do not break the specimens into too small fragments.—CLARA E. 
CUMMINGS 
CHARAS OR SToNEWoRTS (CHARACE%).—The vias growing wholly 
under water, are generally overlooked by collectors. Som species grow in 
quite shallow water (if protected from waves) and may be Poached easily by 
the hand from a boat, or by wading. Others grow in water from ten to twenty 
feet deep, and can only be obtained by dredgin 
For this purpose a dredge made as icliows & is recommended: An iron rod 
ps of an inch in diameter and about 12 inches long, bent to form a small ring 
at one end, passes through and carries, below its center, a disk of lead about 
3 inches in diameter. This 
disk holds embedded in it 12 
REDGE FOR CHARACE#. the rod strikes the bottom 
first. The lead should be heavier on the side towards the hooks, so that the 
dredge will fall with the hooks downward. 
This dredge was recommended to me by Prof. Nordstedt and may be made 
much smaller if desired. It will bring up immense quantities of material in 
good condition. 
The plants should be gathered when in fruit and laid out erie’ upon 
paper and dried. The more delicate species m must be floated out like alge and 
protected by coarse cloth to prevent adhesion to both u upper me acs papers, 
as they are apt to be infested by glutinous alge. ost specimens are in condi- 
tion in August and September, but a few are in fruit in the spring. 
forms that are covered by calcareous deposits, and which become very 
brittle, must be kept from breaking, either by glueing to stiff paper, or by pack- 
ing in bundles protected by stiff boards.—T. F. ALLEN. 
