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COLLECTING AND PRESSING FERNS. 



S FEW THINGS are prettier or more interesting than nicely pressed and 

 mounted ferns, and their colle6tion involves no very great trouble, it may be 

 well to give a few directions on the subject. Fronds that have no fructifi- 

 cation are of little value as specimens, unless they are of kinds that have 

 separate barren and fertile fronds, in which case both will be wanted, and 

 when mounted, should 'be placed side by side. In collecting them, you will 

 want some sheets of blotting paper, the softer the better. These should be 

 placed between rather hard stiff surfaces, such, for instance, as an old writing-case or 

 blotting-book. This will answer the purpose of those who merely collect a few fronds 

 for amusement, or for some ornamental purpose ; but those who wish to make a proper 

 collection, for botanical purposes, will like to have something better, yet, at the same 

 time, not too weighty to carry about. A good article for their use may be made as 

 follows : — Get two pieces of thin board about eighteen inches long by twelve inches wide, 

 and, at about three inches from both ends, nail strips across them an inch wide by three 

 quarters of an inch thick. These should be placed exactly opposite to each other on 

 both boards, and their ends should project an inch or so beyond the boards. Lay the 

 boards face to face, with a few sheets of blotting paper between them, and couple each 

 pair of the projecting ends of the cross strips together with a strong elastic band. As 

 you gather your fronds, lay them carefully between the sheets of the blotting paper, 

 taking care that they lie flat, without any of their points or edges doubled under, and 

 then shut up the press, and replace the elastic bands. The bands will keep the speci- 

 mens pressed flat, and prevent their getting curled, as they become soft and limp in 

 their first stage of drying. On reaching home, you should put them in a stronger 

 press made of stouter boards, say, an inch thick and rather larger. You can either 



