AND LAYING OUT SEA-WEEDS. 
xxni 
from destruction. The Griffithsias (Plates LIII., LIV., LV.) are nearly as bad. What they 
do is to crack and let out all their fine pink colouring-matter, so that, although they do not rot 
in pieces like the more fragile Polysiphonias^ they leave you nothing but their faded forms to 
remind you of your mistake. And much the same may be said of Gallithamnion Borreri 
(Fig. 272), Wrangelia multifida (Fig. 249), Gloiosiphonia capillaris (Fig. 219), which also 
decomposes ; and Nemaleon multijidum (Fig. 217), &c. Nay, even the common Ceramium 
ruhrum (Fig. 242), if long soaked, will serve you the same trick, while Nitophyllum versicolor 
(Fig. 181) changes from rose-colour to orange. And there are other species similarly affected, 
all of which should, by rights, be laid out in their native element, and attended to as soon as 
possible. 
The necessity of washing the general collection in sea-water is therefore obvious. The 
almost certain result of plunging a dozen plants at random into the other is, that before ten 
minutes are over some of them would perish, discolouring the whole mass of water and injuring 
any delicate companions. 
It must be borne in mind, that as the above list does not comprehend all the fragile plants, 
the collector will do well to make experiments upon those with which he is not acquainted ; 
and if he loses a few plants by a few mistakes at first, do not let him grudge them. The 
lesson of knowing better next time is a good thing in exchange. 
On the other hand, there are certain plants which improve by being steeped for some time 
in water from the well. Of this sort are Dasya coccinea (Fig. 135), Plocamium coccineum 
(Fig. 178), and Laurencia ohtusa (Fig. 132), provided that they are still the brownish-red tint 
of complete freshness when you begin upon them. If from exposure on the shore, or in your 
basket, they have already turned the beautiful cochineal colour you wish: them to be, the object 
of soaking them is effected. The next process will be decomposition and fading, so lay them 
out while they are pretty, in Whichever water you have at hand. 
And the operation is the same in both cases. Put dish No. 2 on one side, and place dish 
No. 3 before you. Pour into it whichever water your plant requires, and lift your plant in 
from dish No. 2. Then take a piece of the ready-cut paper, of the size that will allow you a 
handsome margin round it, and slip it into the water underneath the plant, keeping just hold 
of it on one corner with your left hand. Then with the porcupine’s quill or camel’s-hair brush 
in your right hand, help the plant to arrange itself gracefully on the paper, and when you are 
satisfied with its position, begin drawing it carefully and gently out, taking care that it is 
properly displayed, and brushing away any atoms of dirt that may appear on the water. It 
will be, of course, during this operation in a more or less sloping position, for the shallowest 
dishes have sides ; and you will have to take care, especially if it be a gelatinous plant, that it 
does not slip away suddenly, and rush back into the dish. But a little practice soon enables 
the disciple to manage this part of the business. Like bringing a trout to land, it has its 
difficulties ; but if you love your plant as Izaac Walton would have Piscator do his fish, you will 
bring him to at last. Here, however, I must mention a rather new device for rendering this 
part of the laying-out process much easier. It is the use of a very thin plate of zinc, perfo- 
rated with small holes; which, being placed in your dish — one end supported by the ledge, the 
other plunged in the water — forms an inclined plane, over which it is comparatively very easy 
to draw out the paper with the plant upon it. The material may be bought at a trifle per 
yard at any wire or metal shop, and you can have it cut to what size you please. Of course 
