30 BRITISH SEA-WEEDS. 



the removal of all awkward or imperfect branches. This 

 done, it should be transferred into a deep dish full of 

 water, wherein a piece of paper of the requisite size has 

 been previously placed. The operator should then sup- 

 port the paper in the water with his left hand, while 

 with his right he carefully spreads the floating specimen 

 over it, so as to exhibit the plant to the best advantage. 

 Some species have a natural aptitude to lie flat, and with 

 these the action of the water, aided by a little judicious 

 manoeuvring, will effect all that is required. Others 

 are not so kindly, and call for the exercise of more or 

 less skill, patience, and perseverance. Their branches 

 and branchlets must be picked out and placed in position 

 one by one with a fine knitting-needle, or some similar 

 instrument ; or, if they be very delicate, with the feather 

 part of a quill pen or a camel's-hair brush. When the 

 plant is properly spread on the paper, both should be 

 very carefully removed from the dish and placed on some 

 inclined surface for a few minutes, to allow the water to 

 drain from them ; but they must not be permitted to be- 

 come too dry before they are put to press, or the paper 

 will be apt to shrink unevenly. 



The pressure must be proportioned to the size and 

 texture of the specimens, and should be applied rather 

 gradually. The best portable press that I am acquainted 

 with consists of two pairs of beech- wood or mahogany 

 bars, fitted with thumb-screws at both ends, and a few 

 planed deal boards, rather less than half an inch thick, 

 and about eighteen inches long by a foot broad. The 

 bars should be made of well-seasoned wood, so that they 

 may not readily warp, and should be sufficiently strong 

 to bear the very considerable strain to which they will 

 be subjected. The screws should be well finished, such 



