258 HINTS ON HERBORIZING. 
of very large herbs, the upper portion and a lower leaf must sut 
fice, and of shrubs and trees a branchlet. Specimens of most 
herbs may contain both flowers and fruit, but of most shrubs and — 
trees the flowers are to be collected early in the season andthe — 
fruit with mature leaves later. Sedges should be collected only — 
_ in mature fruit. l i 
Specimens are usually brought home either loose in a tight tin 
box or pressed flat in folded sheets of thin paper carried in a stout 
portfolio : but good specimens are more easily prepared by using 
a portable press. This consists of two light but strong boards 
half an inch thick, fifteen and a half inches long, and ten md 
a half inches wide; this size will prevent specimens from being ; 
made too large or unnecessarily small. Between these plao : 
a pile of driers of the same length and width, each consisting of 
a sheet of rag paper folded in quarto with a folded sheet of tet 
paper inside to hold the specimens till dry. Straw paper, howe 
thin, should never be used. The whole is to be bound toge : 
with a stout strap, and may have an oil-cloth cover. Arrange © 
each specimen naturally, showing both sides of leaves and hove ; 
and fold down the upper half of the drier carefully upon it, gi : 
that the leaves, etc., lie smoothly; carelessness in preparmg : 
specimen is unpardonable, for it may be destined to be p' i : 
for centuries. Next morning transfer the sheets of specimens ms 
the house press, for which there should be provided a great u 1 
_ ber of driers, about twelve by eighteen inches in size. The a 
kind of drying paper may not easily be obtained, but nevp q 
answer very well. The press should be divided by boards ' e 
/sections, ticketing each to show whether it is to. be chans” 
next day or the day after, and assort the specimens pee 
Do not take out the specimens till perfectly dry ; and, if P 
driers are at hand, transfer the specimens when nearly 
another press, and let them remain a week or two; ev this à A 
and sedges, and many other plants, may be tr ansferred a strips 
the first change. Build up the piles compactly, with th ore a 
around the edges, so that all may receive uniform pe on to 
the fifty to seventy-five pounds of weights to be P pandi 
Succulent plants may be dried quickly by placims nat a i 
-separate press near a stove; the heat may be so gre# pe taket u 
' specimen at top will dry in a day, but care should aa = 
remove them as soon as dry. Besides Monocotyledons a 
Ñ 
Sage 
3 
