COLLECTING ECONOMIC PLANT DATA 



15 



gency, a pulp-paper magazine carried under the arm can serve to press 

 a few small specimens. When no collecting case is at hand and the 

 specimens must be carried a considerable distance before being pressed, 

 the plants can be kept from wilting by wrapping them in waterproof 

 paper, wet newspapers, or wet cloth. 



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Figure 3. — Collecting case (portfolio). 



For large-scale operations the collecting case should be of simple 

 design and sturdy construction. For reasons to be explained presently, 

 it should measure about 12 by 17 inches. The one illustrated (fig. 3) is 

 made of slightly flexible, wooden slats, fastened together with brass nails. 

 At the bottom, the pieces of punched leather fitted with small tongue 

 buckles permit extension of the case to accommodate the contents. A 

 heavier strap and a tongue buckle can be used at the top for closing the 

 case, but to facilitate the constant opening and closing it is better to 

 insert a small metal knob at the top of the opposite frame as a substitute 

 for the buckle. Applying pressure on the filled case will allow a hole in 

 the strap to engage the knob. The case is carried easily by means of the 

 hand strap at the top. For covering long distances afoot, and when the 

 press is full, the case can be carried more conveniently on the back by 

 slipping the pickax through the hand strap, with the handle of the pickax 

 passing over the shoulder to the front to be partly supported with the 

 hand. 



A simpler, but less serviceable, case can be made from two pieces of 

 plywood, or heavy cardboard, with holes at the bottom through which 



