AND PRESERVING PLANTS. 
121 
on a double thickness of newspaper, which can then be rolled up, 
they will carry well, and will, if necessary, keep for days. They 
must of course be kept moderately moist, but should not be allowed 
to get sodden. 
There are few plants of which more beautiful specimens can be 
made than Characese, if carefully treated; and, on the other hand, 
there are few which present a more forlorn and draggled appearance 
when badly dried. The Nitellese should always be " floated out " in 
the same way as Algse ; that is, a sheet of paper placed in a vessel of 
water, and a root or small tuft of the plant (after having been 
washed) placed on it, and arranged as naturally as possible with the 
fingers or some sharp instrument. The shallow "baths" used by 
photographers are excellent for the purpose ; but an oblong, white 
enamelled-iron tray about 2 inches deep is equally serviceable and 
more portable. Failing either of these, a large dish or basin may be 
vised. A sheet of perforated zinc laid under the paper will be found 
of great assistance in removing the specimens from the water. Good, 
firm white printing-paper should be used for floating the specimens 
on. In the case of dioecious species the sexes should not be mixed, 
but either placed on separate sheets of paper, or perhaps preferably a 
specimen of each placed side by side on the same sheet. 
When the specimen has been removed from the w^ater, it should be 
drained, and a piece of thin calico or linen (previously washed so 
as to have no " dressing") should be placed over it, to prevent its 
adhering to the drying-paper. The calico should be removed when 
the drying-paper is first changed. With the very gelatinous species 
waxed paper should be substituted for calico. 
Most of the Characese can be put into press without " floating out," 
and for these a doubled sheet of thinner paper is usually sufficient, 
but the calico should always be used. Characese require considerable 
pressure. A few good fruiting whorls should be kept in a test-tube 
of spirit or other preservative for examination. 
Algm. 
In collecting sea-weeds, the best kind of receptacle is an ordinary 
sponge-bag. Glass bottles are dangerous companions between tide- 
