18 



QUALITY OF THE PAPEE. 



difficult to describe, but which the operator will soon 

 find out, as he proceeds, and learn to appreciate them 

 accordingly. 



As a preliminary step, it is scarcely necessary to ob- 

 serve that a sufficient quantity of paper should be pre- 

 viously provided, on which the plants are to be laid out, 

 and are finally to remain. Now, the quality of the paper 

 is a matter of considerable importance : it requires to be 

 judiciously selected, for the purpose intended ; for it fre- 

 quently happens that a great error is committed in this 

 respect, not only by the novice, but also by the more ex- 

 perienced algologist, in using paper of a thin and inferior 

 quality, which very much injures the appearance of the 

 specimens. There are some species in particular, that 

 contract so much in drying, as to pucker the edges of 

 the paper if it is not sufficiently thick ; and these are then 

 seen to considerable disadvantage. After trying various 

 sorts of paper, I now use only one kind, which, after long 

 practice, I have found to be better adapted than any 

 other, with the exception of drawing-paper, for the dis- 

 play of marine Algse. This is what the stationers term 

 a thick printing demy. 



This paper, it it is proper to mention, should weigh 

 about thirty-four or thirty-five pounds a ream, sup- 

 posing it to possess the ordinary dimensions of that 

 description of paper when folded once, viz*, about 17 J 

 inches by 11. Having chosen a paper of this kind, 



