42 
HISTORY OF BRITISH FERNS. 
ble, in the tufts as they grow, preserving the whole mass 
of fronds, with the stem and roots, the fronds being spread 
out in an easy and graceful form, and as far as possible 
kept quite flat, but not formally “ laid out” so as to destroy 
any peculiarity of habit which the species may possess. 
If entire tufts cannot be obtained, and single fronds 
have to be substituted, they should be taken quite to the 
base, and must be removed from the stem with care, so 
that the scales, or hairs, or farinose powder, which may be 
present on the stalk, may be preserved equally with the 
frond itself. 
Of larger-growing species, single fronds only are manage¬ 
able, and these, when of larger size than the folios in which 
the specimens are to be kept, must be folded to somewhat- 
less than the length of the papers, whilst yet fresh. 
Of the gigantic species, portions only of the fronds, cor¬ 
responding in size with the paper to be used, can be pre¬ 
served ; but all of our native species, except in cases of 
extreme luxuriance, may, we believe, with a little judg¬ 
ment in the selection of specimens, be folded so as to allow 
of their being preserved in ordinary folios measuring 
eighteen inches by twelve inches, or thereabouts. 
It is sometimes recommended to select specimens with 
