22 FERNS OF .KENTUCKY. 
tween the papers, and, if too large for the sheets, fold it 
gracefully, so as to show the under side of the frond, thus 
serving the double purpose of getting a large plant within 
the papers, and of showing the fruit-dots, which charac- 
terize the genus. (Plate XLVI.) 
On reaching home, after an excursion, unfasten the 
boards at once, change the paper, and straighten out all 
the irregularly folded fronds, while they are yet pliant. 
Then place the plants under heavy pressure by means of 
a screw-press, or weights; repeat the process of changing 
the papers and examining the plants for several days, until 
they are thoroughly dried. Flowering-plants are much more 
difficult to manage. ‘The quicker ferns are dried the bet- 
ter. After being thoroughly dried, they are to be named, 
and placed permanently upon a large sheet of white 
paper, sixteen and a half by eleven and a half inches. 
The plant, placed at the center, is either fastened down 
with fine white glue, or allowed to lie loosely on the paper, 
to be made secure afterward with narrow strips of paper 
across the stem in several places, glued at the ends. This . 
must be done carefully, so as not to allow the strips to mar 
the beauty of the plant. We have seen a fine collection 
of California ferns, mounted in this way by a lady, which 
not only displayed good taste, but produced a very beauti- 
ful effect. In the right-hand corner a label is generally 
fixed, giving the name of the plant, when and where col- 
lected, and the name of the collector. (Plate IV.) The 
sheet containing the specimen is next to be placed within 
the genus cover. Thus, Asplenium ebeneum, Asplenium 
Trichomanes, Asplenium Ruta-muraria, etc., representing 
separate species, are to be placed in the same genus 
cover. 
