COLLECTING, DRYING AND MOUNTING OF SPECINKNS 1 93 



side, make the bend, and so on. Do not forget to bring in view 

 in the first place parts presenting the differential characters of 

 the species. See that a fastigiate branch has its proper direction 

 when leaving the stem, as well as a divergent one. Do not allow 

 a left hand branch to cross the stem and crowd the right hand ones, 

 and vice versa. This would increase the bulk on the usually thickest 

 part of the plant above the ground. As hinted at above, an ideal 

 arrangement will equalize the thickness over all parts of the 

 specimen. 



Dispose all parts artfully. The lower side of a leaf ought to 

 be turned up, in order to demonstrate the appearance of this side. 

 When leaves have to be in contact with stem or branches or floral 

 parts, do always place the latter on top of the leaves. 



Plants with thick, juicy leaves like most orchids or Crassu- 

 laceae ought to receive a hasty immersion in boiling water (for 

 30-60 seconds or longer), and some common salt added to the water 

 will brighten the green color. The steaming of the parts is perhaps 

 a preferable method. Whichever process is used, the flowering 

 parts ought to be protected from the treatment. 



Use paper capable of absorbing an excess of moisture, change 

 it often and dry in the sun or in an oven. In the southern states it 

 is usual to expose the press to the sun and the hot sand, which 

 usually make a perfect work in the course of a day, but in most of 

 the other states such a method would be insufficient and would, 

 completely spoil the specimens, if these were left without further 

 attention in the press until dry. The neglect of changing paper gives 

 to the plants a resemblance of hay repeatedly soaked by rain and 

 turns them black at last. It is good that so many plants contain 

 such a moderate amount of moisture and thus are able "to press 

 themselves," if they only are thrown between two papers and get 

 a weight on them. Such plants are the redeeming feature in many 

 herbaria which else would be considered beyond help in the eyes 

 of the lover of the beautiful. 



A good specimen is apt to stay permanently with its first 

 receiver. An ugly one has often a future of extensive travelling not 

 seldom sailing around the world a few times, everywhere creating 

 disgust, dissatisfaction and disappointment. It would be of doubt- 

 ful benefit even to have fine or jail sentences imposed on its pro- 

 genitor, in order to cheek such a criminal tendency. It may cause 

 a sensation of ease and relief to its temporary possessor, when it 



