AND LAYING OUT SEA-WEEDS. 
XXV 
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 line plants must be 
arranged in separate bundles, 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. 
Now a few words upon special plants. The “ tough, leathery,” olive ones, Sargassum, 
Cystoseira^ 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, may be fastened down by glue; the finer by gum tiagacanth 
paste; or by washing both specimen and paper over with skimmed milk, applied by a varnish 
brush. 
Delesseria (now WormsTcioldia) sanguinea (Fig. 169), preserves its colour better when the 
wet blotting-papers are changed very quickly. 
Mesogloia vermicularis (Fig. 55), and virescens (Fig. 57), Gloiosiplionia capillaris (Fig. 219), 
Porphyra laciniata^ and any very gelatinous plants, should never have their muslin removed 
under any of the changes of the blotting-papers: not, in short, till they are completely dry. 
Several of the thin flat expansions, as the Rhodymenias, Nitophyllums^ Iridoea^ Rhodopliyllis , 
Callophyllis, Kallymenias, Halymenia, Ulva^ &c., contract so much in drying, that ample 
allowance should be made for it, by laying them very easily on the paper — never stretching 
them to anything like their full wet length. Otherwise, when dried, they will crack in all 
directions. Rough-dried specimens require the same treatment as fresh ones, except that they 
will need soaking to induce them to expand. The coarse olive plants should never be left 
soaking with finer ones, as they give out a slimy juice. 
Codium hursa (Fig. 284) is a specialty, and must be specially treated. It is a thick lump, 
and must be pressed alone and very gradually, or the frond will crack and burst ; the pressure 
being increased day by day as the lump subsides. It may be made quite flat at last, but time 
* 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. 
d 
