21 



The locality should be given in such a way as to be at least 

 approximately noted on a good map. 



Drying. — To preserve plants for permanent collections, the 

 collector should endeavour to thoroughly dry the specimens in 

 such a manner that the natural pose and colours of the plant are 

 preserved as far as possible, and sufficient pressure should be 

 applied to prevent them from shrivelling or curling up whilst 

 drying. For this purpose a quantity of stout, moderately absorbent 

 paper of ordinary demy size (17 in. by 10) when folded, and two 

 or more stout frames of wire grating of the size of the paper are 

 required, or the frames may be of wood lattice-work, made of 

 strips of wood | in. thick, crossing each other at right angles and 

 nailed together. 



To form the press, first make the pressing paper up into pads of 

 two or three folded sheets placed inside one another. Place a pad 

 upon one of the wire or wooden frames, arrange upon the pad 

 (not between its folds) the specimen to be dried, or as many 

 specimens as the size of the pad will permit, side by side, never 

 one upon another, then arrange pads and specimens in alternating 

 layers. Care should be taken to turn some of the leaves of the 

 specimens to show the undersurface, and also, when possible, to 

 spread out the parts of some of the flowers. In the case of plants 

 with very delicate petals it is desirable to dry some of the flowers 

 separately and place them in a capsule bearing the same number 

 as the corresponding complete specimens. Upon the top of the 

 pile thus formed place another wire or wooden frame, and apply 

 pressure. A heavy weight may be used for this purpose, but it is 

 far better to use a pair of strong leather straps. With the latter 

 method the bundle can be placed at any angle to the sun's rays, 

 or be swung in the open air, so that the wind can carry off the 

 moisture. The perfection of a npecimen depends upon the 

 rapidity with which it is dried. During the rainy season in the 

 tropics it is often necessary to dry the plants near a fire. The 

 paper pads will require changing with more or less frequency, 

 according to the nature of the plant, and the damp pads must be 

 spread out to dry. Grasses, sedges, many ferns, mosses, and many 

 cryptogamic plants are easily and quickly dried, and give very 

 little trouble. Water plants should be changed into dry pads 

 about two hours after being placed in the press, when three-fourths 

 of the water about them will be absorbed by the pads between 

 which they were first placed, and they then dry quickly and with 

 less liability to be destroyed by mildew. Succulent plants, or 

 those with thick or more or less fleshy stems or leaves, often 

 require changing every day ; but experience is the only guide in 

 such cases. Plants with thick fleshy stems, like Cacti and some 

 Euphorbias, should be prepared for pressing, as follows : — First 

 cut a few thin transverse slices of the stem to show its form, press 

 these separately, and under considerable pressure to prevent 

 distortion ; next make a thin longitudinal section, which should 

 include two opposite angles with their spines, &c, if such arc 

 present ; the cut-off sides should also be preserved with as much 

 as possible of their pulp cut away. Thick stems of Orchids or 

 other plants should also be cut in half longitudinally. Plants 

 with tuberous or bulbous roots should have a central longitudinal 



