106 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



their permanent positions, care must be taken to put every pinna and 

 pinnule in its proper place, as the aspect acquired by the frond at that 

 particular period will be permanently maintained when dry. It is also most 

 important, for the purpose of identification, that, according to their size, 

 either one or several pinnules should, in preparing them for drying, be 

 turned upwards, so as to show the mode of fructification. This will be found 

 of very great importance when the specimens are required for reference, as 

 it will often save the risk of breaking them through manipulation, while it 

 will in no wise affect or spoil their appearance. For the same reason, when 

 dealing with species whose barren and fertile fronds are totally different, it is 

 also necessary to dry one of each, representing the entire development of the 

 plant ; if of large size, however, such as those of certain Tree Ferns, Marattias, 

 and Davallias, portions of these same organs varying in size, but sufficiently 

 important to show the distinctive characters, may effectually replace them. 

 In the case of Ferns with fronds having their under side covered with farinose 

 powder, such as Gymnogrammes, Nothochlaenas, and Cheilanthes, it will be 

 found very useful to put between the pinnas additional strips of paper, which 

 will prevent them from sticking together, and which may be removed when 

 the subjects are dry. 



Until the fronds are perfectly dry, the paper in which they are laid should 

 be changed every two or three days, and the damp sheets be replaced by 

 others, either new, or previously dried, and well aired ; this is of the utmost 

 importance. Care must also be taken to see that they occupy exactly the 

 same position after each successive shifting. 



When the fronds are perfectly dry, but not until then, they should be 

 mounted on cardboard ; their points, as well as the extremities of their pinnaB, 

 should be fastened by means of a little gum, which is unnoticed, and gives 

 the fronds a more natural appearance than can be obtained by any of the 

 other means generally in practice — such as narrow strips of paper, cotton, 

 &c, all of which contrivances destroy the natural effects of the fronds 

 thus operated upon. Each specimen should, moreover, be accompanied by 

 a label, on which should appear, not only the generic and specific names, but 

 also the synonyms, if any ; the habitat or country of which the species is a 

 native, and the medium height of the plant — not in its wild state, but under 

 cultivation. All these details, being the work or the results of the owner's 



