23 



HOW SPECIMENS ARE TO EE MANAGED 



care, however, that every particle of cream or butter is 

 first removed. 



The milk is to be applied with a tolerably-sized, flat, 

 camel's-hair pencil or varnish-brush, all over the paper 

 and the specimen, as softly as possible : after which 

 pieces of muslin or calico are to be spread over it, 

 and, lastly, layers of drying-paper. It is then to be 

 subjected to gentle pressure for twenty-four hours, when 

 the muslin may be removed, and the plant, for the last 

 time, submitted to considerable pressure for a few days. 



The more robust species, such as the Fucoideas, Cys- 

 toseirae, &c, require a different application to fasten them 

 to the paper. When this is necessary, I invariably use 

 [a solution of isinglass,* which should be kept in a glass- 

 stoppered bottle ; and, when wanted for use, the bottle 

 is to be placed in any convenient vessel containing hot 

 water, to render it fluid, taking care to remove the stop- 

 per beforehand. This solution is to be applied also, 



* Take a quarter of an ounce of isinglass, and an ounce 

 and a half of water, and put the same into a wide-mouthed 

 bottle ; place it in a water-bath, and, when thoroughly dis- 

 solved, add one ounce of rectified spirits of wine, heated 

 nearly to the same temperature ; stir the whole well toge- 

 ther; and, when cold, keep it well stopped till it is required 

 for use. This preparation I have used for many years, and 

 have found it far preferable to gum-water, which, after a 

 time, is apt to crack, and peel off, besides leaving a glossy 

 mark wherever it is applied. 



