100 
HINTS tO TRAVELLERS. 
better if these are of copper), the interstices should be ratber less ihafi 
three-quarters of an inch, at all events not more. Their use is to allow 
the air to circulate through the pile of plants that are being dried. One 
should be inserted at each interval of about two inches (counting the 
drying paper and the plants laid out for drying), and when this is done 
the parcel may with advantage be exposed to the sun or placed near a fire, 
as the case may be. In dry warm climates, the majority of plants may be 
dried in the course of a few days, and will be fit to pack up, without any 
need of changing the drying paper in which they were originally placed; 
but in damp weather, and in regard to plants of thick fleshy foliage, it is 
usually necessary to change the paper more than once before the specimens 
are thoroughly dry. 
The pile of paper, with plants between each five or six thicknesses of 
paper, and gratings at intervals of about two inches, should be squeezed 
GRATING SEEN FROM ABOVE. 
between the outer (iron) gratings by means of two strong straps. Too 
much pressure is not desirable. For a pile ten or twelve inches thick, 
the parcel may be pulled nearly as tight as a moderate man can do 
it; but in proportion as the thickness is less, the pressure should be 
moderated. 
Plants with fleshy leaves are very difficult to dry well. The best way 
is to dip them in water quite boiling for a minute or less, then to lay 
them between a few sheets of drying paper with slight pressure, merely 
to remove the exterior moisture, and then place them (when externally 
dry) in the drying press. Plants collected in rain should be treated in a 
similar way to remove outer moisture before it is attempted to dry them. 
4. When once dry, plants may be packed away between paper of almost 
any kind. Old newspapers answer very well. The only precaution 
needed is to preserve them from insecta 
tr-Em-Tj 
GRATING SEEN FROM THE EDGE. 
r mar 
rrl ruuun 
f niLLii : 
IT" II 11 H"Ti li T 
. .DC 
. 
TTT O 11 IL 
1 II II II 
! 'I H H H H- 
1 II II II 
£jJ LL.II II 1! 1] 
