xxvi 



EULES FOR PRESERVING^ ETC. 



three days, as is most convenient, by which time they will appear perfectly dry. 

 Nevertheless, it is no bad plan to change them once again, putting them now in 

 single sheets of blotting-paper. Then replace them between the boards, and then — 

 forget them, if possible; for the longer they remain in press the firncier they will be, 

 and the less liable to curl. 



Thus much for the process generally; but one or two remarks must still be made. 

 Very coarse and very delicate plants must not be mixed in the same bundle. The 

 former need strong pressure to get them tolerably flab. Fucits (now Facodium nodo- 

 sum) nodosus (Fig. 13), for instance, with its large thick air-vessels, would ruin 

 several layers of delicate plants, as its impression could not fail to be forced through 

 the damp blotting-paper. The same remark applies to the roots of plants, which 

 are fatal to their neighbours when pressed in. It is always desirable to possess the 

 root, but let it be trimmed and subdued as much as possible, and where inveterately 

 troublesome, kept at the outer edge of the sheet. Coarse and fine plants must be 

 arranged in separate bandies, therefore, and placed in a different press, or with a 

 dividing board between, and roots must be made as little offensive as possible. 



Again: as to the recommendation of blotting — rather than botanical drying — paper 

 as a soaking medium; this is made on account of the much smoother surface it 

 possesses. The inequalities of botanical drying-paper always become more or less 

 impressed upon the damp sea-weed papers on which they lie, and as this is inevitable 

 even under moderate pressure, and is decidedly disfiguring, blotting-paper is much 

 to be preferred. 



Then, in speaking of the laying-out paper, let me protest warmly against the use of 

 anything blue-tinted, however good otherwise it may be. A rose-coloured sea-weed on 

 blue writing-paper loses half its beauty, as the general effect produced to the eye is a 

 muddled lilac hue. Indeed, on the perfect whiteness of the paper employed, half the 

 perfection of the specimen depends, for it can only be seen properly on such. The fine- 

 grained white "medium" cartridge-paper spoken of is sufficiently good. But better 

 still, and very reasonable in price, is to be had at Saltcoats, in Ayrshire,* if the sending 

 to a distance be no objection. At any rate, the paper used must be smooth and milk- 

 white, if the specimens are to be displayed to their best advantage. 



In all cases pieces of each plant should be dried on small plates of mica, about 

 three inches by one; and these preserved in the collection with the sjDecim.ens on 

 paper, that they may be ready for examination under the microscope. A drop of 

 water will revive them at any time, and when dry again they may be replaced. 

 This rule of course applies to the finer plants only. 



Now for a few words upon special plants. The "tough, leathery," olive ones, 

 Sargassum, Cgstoseira, Fucus, &c., should be soaked for an hour or two in hot water 

 before being laid out and pressed, as they are thereby rendered more pliable. They may 

 be fastened to their papers at last with gum, as they do not adhere naturally. Most of 

 the finer plants adhere naturally, but the coarser ones, which do not, ma^^ be fastened 

 down by glue; the finer by gum tragacanth paste; or by washing both specimen and 

 paper over with shimmed milk, applied by a varnish brush. 



* Of Mr. Arthur Guthrie, Bookseller, Saltcoats, Ardrossan, Ayrshire. It was kept by 

 him cut in three useful sizes, under the direction of the late Dr. Landsborough, and is still 

 kept for sale. 



