26 SEA MOSSES. 



Those that are not perfectly dry should be put back 

 in the press with dry papers and cloths for another 

 day's stay. 



When the plant is perfectly dry, and removed 

 from the press, you should, before putting it away and 

 forgetting these facts, write on the back of the paper 

 the exact date and place of collecting. 



People often ask me what I iise to make the plants 

 stick so firmly to the paper, supposing, evidently that 

 it is necessary to have some kind of gum or mucilage 

 for that purpose. I have to answer that I have for 

 most of them to use nothing whatever; that there is 

 sufficient gelatinous matter in the body of the plant to 

 make it perfectly adhere to the paper without other 

 aid. And the reason for putting the muslin over the 

 plants in the process of pressing and drjring, is that 

 they may not stick to the drying paper which is laid 

 above them, the muslin not adhering to the plants at 

 all, except in some few fases. • 



But a considerable number of the "Sea Mosses" 

 do not adhere to paper well. They either have not 

 gelatinous matter enough in them, or will not give 

 it out to glue their bodies to the paper. Various 

 devices are resorted to in these cases. Sometimes 

 the plant, after being dried in the press in the usual way, 

 is simply strapped down with slips of gummed paper. 



