INTRODUCTION. 29 



such like plants, may be so treated, by first shaking 

 the water out of them and then thoroughly mingling 

 them with dry sea sand, and drying them rough in the 

 usual way. She says, the sand will adhere to the 

 most delicate fibres and ramuli of the plant, in such 

 a way, as to keep them separate and prevent their 

 getting glued together. Then, when they are after- 

 wards soaked out, the sand will be disengaged and 

 the plant left as good as ever it was. Perhaps I 

 ought to suggest that " soaking out " should always 

 be done with salt water, unless you know you 

 have only those plants that fresh water will not hurt. 

 When I have had specimens of the " Rockwecd " or 

 **Kelp" sent me "rough dried," I have found it 

 best to prepare them for mounting, not by immers- 

 ing them in water, and so getting a great quantity 

 of moisture into them, which would have to be ex- 

 pelled afterwards with no little trouble, but by wrap- 

 ping them about with wet towels ; from these they 

 would imbibe enough dampness to be manageable, 

 but not enough to make them troublesome. 



Before taking leave of this part of my subject, I 

 must permit myself to add a word in regard to a 

 point which botanists commonly think too Httle about, 

 viz : the display of taste in the mounting of their 

 plants. To the mere botanist, a plant is a specimen. 



