6 



preg^' 'i^ ' O'fi^hed, two drie^rs are laid on some level surface, 

 as a floor or table, and upon these the first plant is laid, being 

 lifted' from the press upon its collecting sheet, the plant it- 

 self nbt being handled. Over the plant is then placed a sheet 

 of the collecting paper, and upon this two more driers and 

 then another plant, building up the pile in this way as high 

 as desired. If this work has been properly performed, each 

 plant will now be lying upon a sheet of white paper, coi^ered 

 by a sheet of similar material and separated from the next 

 plant by two driers. Upon this pile sufficient weight should 

 be placed to insure that the plants will dry perfectly flat. If 

 it is desired to re-arrange any of the plants upon their col- 

 lecting' sheets, or to straighten out leaves, petals, etc., it should 

 be done while putting the' plants in press. When the^ process 

 of drying has once begun, the plants should no{' be^ disturbed. 



In twelve hours after the plants have been put in. press, 

 the weights should be removed, a supply of fresh ' driers ob- 

 tained, and the plants still in their white papers transferred 

 to the fresh driers, building up the pi|e as before. The driers 

 first used will be found to be quite moist and must be dried 

 either by sunlight or artificial heat before they can be used 

 again'. In the process of drying a set of plants, the driers 

 must be changed several times, but the same white papers 

 aro used throughout and the plants never removed from 

 ^liem. Some collectors do not use a sheet of the thin paper 

 to cover each plant, but it is best 'to do so, as otherwise many 

 plants will stick to the driers. .The second change of driers 

 may come twenty-four hours after the first, the process de- 

 scribed above being repeated. Usually one or more changes 

 follow at intervals, being governed by the condition of the 

 plants. When the plants appear fairly dry, they may be left 

 tinder heavy pressure for some days more, when they will be 

 ready for moiihtinof. 



To mr:ny' collectors the frequent changing of driers here 

 advocated may seem a sheer waste of time, but after having 

 examined a hundred thousand specimens made by a varietv 

 ' of 'collectors, good, bad and indifferent, I repeat with em- 

 phasis that the more frequently the driers are changed, es- 

 pecially dtirirg the first two days of drying, the better will be 



