DRYING. 
y 
long, or the specimen large, they may be bent so as to 
lie in a smaller space than they otherwise could ; and if 
dried in a certain position, will retain the form easily. 
It is best at first to make the pressure, lightly, so as 
to alter the form of the plant if needful before it is 
completely dried, then increase the pressure day by 
day until the specimens are ready to remove. Ferns 
dry quickly and easily, and may, without injury, be 
kept in the drying-paper for some time. When, how¬ 
ever, they are removed to put down finally, they 
should be secured by little thin strips of gummed 
paper, which is best prepared beforehand by covering 
a sheet of note-paper -with a strong solution of gum, 
which, when dry, may be kept for a long time ready 
for use. The thinner the slips are cut the better, so 
as to hold the parts of the plant in their right posi¬ 
tion. This plan is preferable to gumming the whole 
plant, or portions of it, as the little slips can at any 
time be removed with a penknife without injuring the 
paper or book in which they are fixed, should there 
be occasion to remove the specimen. In drying your 
ferns, be careful to change the blotting-paper two or 
three times a week, so as to remove any dampness, 
and dry your paper in the sun or before the fire very 
often. It is best to have two sets of paper, so that 
one can be dried while the other is in use. Any 
ordinary fern will be fit to put into the folio in two 
or three weeks at most. 
In describing the forms of British ferns in this 
