166 
OF THE FERNS AND FLOWERING PLANTS. 
first laid, absorb their moisture so rapidly as to require 
frequent renewing. The oftener this can be done during 
the first few days the better: indeed, the student should 
bear in mind, that whatever trouble he gives himself in 
this respect will be amply rewarded by the beauty and 
durability of his specimens; whereas a neglect of this 
precaution will as surely meet with its penalty in their 
discoloration and ultimate destruction by mildew and the 
ravages of insects. 
The changing of the paper may be accomplished in the 
following manner : — Let the bundle of plants be laid on a 
table, and, on the operator’s left hand, a pile of fresh dry 
packets. Now let the topmost layer be lifted off the plants,, 
a blunt needle being brought into play where any part of 
the latter is found to adhere. On the specimen thus ex- 
posed, let a packet of dry paper be laid ; then let both 
it and the packet on which the plant lies be slowly raised 
up, the same precautions being taken with regard to any 
adherent parts of the next underlying plant. The two 
packets, with the intermediate specimen, being now turned 
over, the dry one will of course be the lowest. The damp 
paper must next be taken off and replaced by a fresh packet. 
Proceeding in this manner a large pile may gradually be 
renewed by simply laying a dry packet on each plant suc- 
cessively, and turning it over on to the one which preceded 
it ; and thus the whole work may be accomplished without 
injury or disturbance to the tenderest or most delicate speci- 
men. Last of all, the pile is covered with a final packet, 
and again submitted to the press. I need scarcely add that, 
where the stoutness of a plant calls for it, several packets of 
paper should be interposed, as was directed to be done in 
the first instance. 
During the first week the plants must be shifted daily, 
the succulent ones even oftener. After that, if they appear 
to be going on well, the changes may be irade less frequently ; 
at the same time the operator must be very careful not to 
remove the weights too quickly, or the consequences will be 
most disastrous. 
