OPEN LETTERS. 
MOUNTING PLANTS FOR USE IN POPULAR LECTURES. 
To the Editors of the Botanical Gazette: \n winter, at our State Agri- 
cultural College, some one of the botanical department is often required to 
instruct students whp elect short courses in grasses, clovers, other forage 
crops, or weeds. In like manner these subjects are often presented at farm- 
ers’ institutes and agricultural fairs. Bunches or bundles of these plants are 
too easily damaged by handling tobe of much service. I have found the fol- 
lowing scheme for exhibiting plants on such occasions eminently satisfactory. 
ure some wire screen thirty inches wide and five or six feet long, 
having about four wires to the inch; fasten on one side numerous stout strips 
of wood an inch or more in thickness. Make a mate to this and we have a 
press of heroic size. With large driers and thin sheets grasses and other 
plants are pressed at full length. Procure some rather firm and tough 
manilla paper two feet wide and perhaps three feetlong. For longer plants a 
sheet can be spliced by pasting a piece of the paper across a seam on the 
back. These manilla sheets of suitable length are then bound with brown or 
black muslin or other material neatly pasted over the edges and ends. This 
makes the sheets stiffer and protects the edges in transportation. The speci- 
mens are placed in suitable position and sewed fast with carpet thread of a 
dull green color, and where the leaves are broad fish glue is also used. Over 
the long stitches on the back side paper is pasted, a /a buttons ina dry goods 
store, to prevent the plants from working loose in case a thread is broken. 
Sew or paste on a large card containing name of plant and a few other 
items of importance. Two of Dennison’s No. 12 spring hooks clasp the top 
of a sheet and hold it to a cord or thin strip of wood strung about ahallat 
gos height. 
re buck kle 
next the specimens. These staples serve to hold 
abouta bundle. To Eee from asia rain wrap the ‘bundle of speci- ao 
mens with oilcloth b binding i 
o 
A large kerri case is sR into Ss wha these aos sheets are _ 
shoved — each sheet having a bingine on each edge. Of eee eapenns = 
tthe 
have at lesaer orn < : ¥ Rear 
. frame is made consisting of sides only 
ae half- inch tesseood es or sie nailed ¢ to three crosspieces, one by two and one- 
half inches. Near the end of each strip is a wire sane ae on the side 
