OF DRYING AND PRESERVING FERNS. 197 
taking especial care that none of the scales be 
removed. Colour is a grand desideratum, and can 
only be retained by the use of the Botanical Paper. 
I have taken great pains to introduce this paper 
_ among botanists, and have invariably found them 
delighted with the result. Indeed, I do not hesitate 
to say, that before this paper was made there were no 
well-preserved collections of ferns, and now there are 
very few badly preserved. ‘There should be a suffi- 
ciency of paper used to avoid too frequent changing ; 
at least three or four thicknesses of paper between the 
fronds. I have always found it desirable to make the | 
first pressure a very light one, and of short duration, 
because any alteration in the arrangement of the 
- divisions of the fronds are readily accomplished whilst 
still flaccid, but not afterwards. No change takes 
place in the most delicate tints, if two sets of paper 
are used, one drying while the other is in the press. 
‘The press commonly sold for copying letters is the 
best I have yet met with for pressing ferns. As a ee 
- substitute for this, and as being more portable, two : 
elm or beech boards, three-fourths of an inch thick, 
cut to the size of the paper you prefer, and bound 
