THE PREPARATION OF A COLLECTION 37 
avery convenient size. Another regular size is 22 by 82 
inches, cutting well mto pieces 11 by 16. Specimens 15 
to 18 inches long can be mounted on these. 
Some kinds of Evergreens, the Spruces especially, tend 
to shed their leaves after pressing. Such kinds can in 
most cases be made to form good specimens without 
pressing. Fasten the fresh specimens on pillars of plas- 
ter in boxes or frames 2 to 8 inches deep, so that they touch 
nothing but the column of plaster. Mix calcined plaster 
in water (as plasterers do), and build up a column high 
enough to support the branch. Place the specimen on the 
top of the pillar already formed, and pour over the whole 
some quite thin plaster till a rounded top is formed com- 
pletely fastening the specimen. If the leaves are not 
touched at all, after they are dry, they will hang on for a 
long time, making specimens that will show the tree char- 
acteristics better than pressed specimens pcssibly could. 
