THE LADIES’ MAGAZINE OF GARDENING. 
135 
stop d. The lever e being placed in one of the four apertures prepared 
for its reception and pressed down, it has the effect of winding the cord 
around the arms of the barrel; and the end of the cord being tied in a 
loop, and put over the head of the stout screw any degree of pressure 
may be produced. The end of the stop d is armed with brass, and it is 
at the other end hinged to the top board. a, «, a, represent four thin 
pine boards, used to separate the plants in different stages of dryness. 
In point of usefulness and convenience this press possesses many advan¬ 
tages over all the methods of drying plants now in common use. The 
elasticity of the cord used with it causes it to follow any shrinkage that 
may take place in the plants ; while at the same time the degree of pres¬ 
sure it is capable of renders such an occurrence rare. It is very portable, 
as it may be moved from one part of the house to another without the 
least disarrangement of its contents, an advantage of consequence over the 
use of boards and weights ; and while thus secure, it may be opened for ex¬ 
amination and reclosed as readily as the weights could be removed, and in 
much less time than would be consumed in opening and refixing the boards 
with straps and buckles, in the way they are generally secured by travelling 
collectors, for preserving their plants. It also may be made of any 
required size or lightness. The system adopted for drying plants will 
