xxiv 



RULES FOR PRESERVING, ETC. 



fresh water, and were you to attempt to lay it out therein, you would see all the 

 fine tips of the branches breaking off under your brush, till it became comparatively 

 quite stunted. So also P.fihrata (Fig. 113), P. violacea (Fig. 119), and P. Jihrillosa 

 (Fig. 123). But this last is almost worse, for it decomposes so rapidly under any 

 circumstances, that only laying it out at once saves it from destruction. The 

 Grlffitlisias (Plates LIII., LIV., LV.) are nearly as bad. What they do is to crack 

 and let out all their fine pink colouring-matter, so that, although they do not rot 

 in pieces like the more fragile Pohjsiphonias, they leave you nothing but their faded 

 forms to remind you of your mistake. And much the same may be said of Cal- 

 litliamnion Borrei^i (Fig. 272), Wrangelia multifida (Fig. 219), Gloiosijphonia capillaris 

 (Fig. 219), which also decomposes; and Nemaleon muUifiduni (Fig. 217), &c. Nay, 

 even the common Ceramium rubrum (Fig. 212), if long soaked, will serve you the 

 same trick, while Nitophyllmn versicolor (Fig. 181) changes from rose-colour to 

 orange. And there are other species similarly effected, all of which should, by rights, 

 be laid out in their native element, and attended to as soon as possible. 



The necessity of washing the general collection in sea-water is therefore obvious. 

 The almost certain result of plunging a dozen plants at random into the other is, 

 that before ten minutes are over some of them would perish, discolouring the whole 

 mass of water and injuring any delicate companions. 



It must be borne in mind, that as the above list does not comprehend all ,the 

 fragile plants, the collector will do well to make experiments upon those with which 

 he is not acquainted; and if he loses a few plants by a few mistakes at first, do 

 not let him grudge them. The lesson of knowing better next time is a good thing 

 in exchange. 



On the other hand, there are certain plants whicli improve by being steeped for 

 some time in water from the well. Of this sort are Dasya coccinea (Fig. 135), 

 Flocamiuni coccineum (Fig. 178), and Laureiicia ohtusa (Fig. 132,) provided that they 

 are still the brownish-red tint of complete freshness when you begin upon them. 

 If from exposure on the shore, or in yoar basket, they have , already turned the 

 beautiful cochineal colour you wish them to be, the object of soaking them is effected. 

 The next process will be decomposition and fading, so lay them out while they are 

 pretty, in whichever water you have at hand. 



And the operation is the same in both cases. Put dish No. 2 on one side, and 

 place dish No. 3 before you. Pour into it whichever water your plant requires, and 

 lift your plant in from dish No. 2. Then take a piece of the ready-cut paper, of 

 the size that will allow you a handsome margin round it, and slip it into the water 

 underneath the plant, keeping just hold of it on one corner with your left hand. 

 Then with the porcupine's quill or camel's-hair brush in your right hand, help the 

 plant to arrange itself gracefully on the paper, and when you are satisfied with its 

 position, begin drawing it carefully and gently out, taking care that it is properly 

 displayed, and brushing away any atoms of dirt that may appear on the water. It 

 will be, of course, during this operation in a more or less sloping position, for the 

 shallowest dishes have sides; and you will have to take care, especially if it be a 

 gelatinous plant, that it does not slip away suddenly, and rush back into the dish. 

 But a little practice soon enables the disciple to manage this part of the business. 

 Like bringing a trout to land, it has its difficulties; but if you love your plant as 



