170 
OF THE FERNS AND FLOWERING PLANTS. 
parations, and yet every one of them is dried in the manner 
I have just been describing. The truth is, that every mode 
of preparation depends greatly upon the foresight, the 
patience, and the handiness of the operator ; and impatient, 
unskilful workers will make a failure with even the best of 
means at their command. 
An arrangement advocated by Auerswald has much to 
recommend it. I cannot speak of it from my own experienc j, 
but I feel bound to mention it for the benefit of those who 
make long botanical excursions, and collect large quantities 
of plants, as it is likely to save them both time and labour. 
In the ordinary method of drying, where the sheets are 
placed between two boards, the upper and lower sides not 
being exposed to a current of air, the moisture can escape 
only through the open edges of the paper. The conse- 
quence is, that a large quantity of paper is wanted, and 
a good deal of time is consumed in the preparation. 
Auerswald’ s object is to economise both these important 
requisites — time and material ; and he accomplishes it in 
this manner : — Instead of two solid boards he provides 
himself with a couple of iron frames of a size to suit the 
paper ; they should be light and thin, but at the same time 
strong enough to allow of being strapped tightly together 
without bending : wire netting is stretched across them, and 
on each of their longer sides two loops are fastened for the 
leather straps to pass through. In the middle of one of 
the shorter sides a ring is attached for the convenience of 
carrying the parcel, or in order to suspend it in the open 
air and sunshine. 
Now, as the moisture contained in the plants can readily 
escape on every side, it stands to reason that the work is 
done much more quickly, and the traveller is saved both 
the time consumed in shifting his plants, and also the heavy 
load, which he must otherwise carry about with him. 
Doubtless many succulent plants will not come out so well 
under these circumstances as they would with the con- 
