OF THE FERNS AND FLOWERING PLANTS. 1G1 



wise mould and mildew will speedily develop themselves, 

 or at any rate the corollas will lose their bright tints, and 

 the leaves become spotted and black. 



As most of our readers must be aware, all these plants are 

 prepared for the herbarium, by being laid between sheets 

 of paper and placed under pressure. The choice of paper 

 for this purpose is by no means a matter of indifference, as 

 the beauty of the specimens and their ultimate preserva- 

 tion depend in a great measure on the speedy and thorough 

 extraction of the fluids contained in their tissues.* Blotting 

 paper is an excellent material ; but the quantity required 

 when the gatherings are on a large scale prevents it from 

 being ordinarily employed. On the whole, common print- 

 ing paper may be recommended with safety ; and the cheap- 

 ness and abundance of newspapers in the present day makes 

 it easily attainable in large quantities. 



Proof, however, should be made of its powers of absorp- 

 tion before being used; for some of the newspapers are 

 prepared in such a manner as to prevent them from im- 

 bibing water freely. 



One special point to be kept in view is, not to be sparing 

 of the drying material, but to have so much at hand that 

 frequent changes may be made. This is of the last im- 

 portance, as a false economy is ruinous here. 



In order to dry the sheets when they are removed from 

 the press, they must be spread out in such a manner as to 

 expose the largest possible surface to the air. But as this 

 occupies more space than most botanists can spare, the 

 following plan will be found of service : it is quite as 

 effectual, and the eye is not offended with the sight of 

 numberless papers lying in disorder about the floor of a 



* An excellent paper in appearance (I have not yet had the oppor- 

 tunity of trying it), is manufactured expressly for botanical pur- 

 poses by E. Newman, Devonshire Street, Bishopsgate, ISLE. ; and 

 is also sold by Mr. J. Smith, 42, Eathbone Place, Oxford Street. 

 —En. 



M 



