4 DANDY BOOK OB 



in pools among the rocks, where the finest specimens may 

 be found. It should be noticed whether they were found 

 growing from, or attached to the rocks, or whether they 

 were accidentally left there by the falling tide. Specimens 

 which are found attached to the rocks will almost invariably 

 be the most perfect ; and care should be taken to obtain the 

 entire plant, raising with it the tendrils by which it holds 

 to the stone. "When gathered, the sooner they are laid out 

 the better. Miss Grifford * gives the following instructions : 

 — " First wash the sea- weed in fresh water, f then take a 

 plate, or dish [the larger the better] ; cut your paper to the 

 size required, place it in the plate with fresh water, and 

 spread out the plant with a good- size camel-hair pencil in 

 a natural form (picking out with the pin gives the sea- weed 

 an unnatural appearance, and destroys the characteristic 

 fall of the branches, which should be carefully avoided) ; 

 then gently raise the paper with the specimen out of the 

 water, placing it in a slanting position for a few moments, 

 so as to allow the superabundant water to run off; after 

 which place it in the press. The press is made with either 

 three pieces of board or pasteboard. Lay on the first board 

 two sheets of blotting-paper ; on that lay your specimens ; 

 place straight and smooth over them a piece of old muslin, 

 fine cambric, or linen ; then some more blotting-paper, and 

 place another board on the top of that, and continue in the 

 same way. The blotting-paper and the muslin should be 

 carefully removed and dried every day, and then replaced ; 

 at the same time those specimens that are sufficiently dried 

 may be taken away. Nothing now remains but to write on 

 each the name, date, and locality. You can either gum the 

 specimens in a scrap-book, or fix them in, as drawings are 



* " The Marine Botanist." 



f Our own experience leads us to believe that clean salt-water, 

 where this can be obtained, is much the best. We have found that 

 the plants lose colour by being immersed in fresh water, even for a 

 short time. Water and salt is better than fresh water. 



