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and get it, and practically the only expense involved is the 
cost of collecting and transpor une i oases As will be seen 
later, the process of prepar in use is ver y simple, 
and most of the work can be done by volunteer workers. 
What does the sphagnum look like? How can you recognize it 
when you see it? 
To begin with, the sphagnum is a sort of moss. But do not 
confuse the true mosses with the so-called ‘‘sea mosses.” These 
are more correctly called sea-weeds: they are not mosses at all 
The true mosses are comparatively small, leafy plants, seldom 
more than a few inches in height y grow in all s f 
places: in dry, exposed crevices of rocks, on the f trees, on 
the ground in swa d moist woods, and even in the er 
water. 
But they never grow in salt water. To an ordinary observer, 
perhaps, the mosses are conspicuous chiefly on account o 
great masses of vegetation which they commonly form. The 
sphagnums include some of our largest and most conspicuous 
The sphagnum differs from other kinds of moss in a number of 
important respects. 
First of all, a sphagnum Lng seldom exhibits the deep leaf- 
green color of an ordinary moss. en wet, it commonly is 
pale green; when dry, it m a almost white. Very ae 
the green is hidden eee ein by pigments of various 
‘when they are fresh. In nature, their mass effect is very striking, 
and they are of great help when it comes to recognizing material in 
the field 
But color al is hardly a sufficient test. Other distinguishing 
marks are afforded by the neaietes of the branches and of the 
1 y' mine a single sphagnum plant, you will see, 
branches are not borne singly, but in ae ters of from three to 
six. o other moss produces its branches in clusters, after the 
