d as specimens. The plants should be placed between a large
supply of newspapers, or, better still, untarred building-felt, while
drying. A weight of from 40 to 80 pounds is needed to produce the
requisite pressure. The weight is placed upon a board covering the pile
of plants and paper. On account of the size of many leaves and
flower-clusters, these pressed specimens of trees should not be shorter
than from 12 to 15 inches, and even a length of 18 inches is an
advantage. The pads or newspapers should be about 12 by 18 inches. A
transfer of the plants into dry pads each day for a few days will hasten
the drying and increase the beauty of the specimens. The specimens of
twigs can be mounted on cardboard by being partly pasted and partly
secured by narrow strips of gummed cloth placed across the heavier
portions. The cardboard should be uniform in size. One of the regular
sizes of Bristol-board is 22 by 28 inches; this will cut into four
pieces 11 by 14. Specimens not over 15 inches in length can readily be
mounted on these, and for most collectors this might be a very
convenient size. Another regular size is 22 by 32 inches, cutting well
into pieces 11 by 16. Specimens 15 to 18 inches long can be mounted on
these.

Some kinds of Evergreens, the Spruces especially, tend to shed their
leaves after pressing. Such kinds can in most cases be made to form good
specimens without pressing. Fasten the fresh specimens on pillars of
plaster in boxes or frames 2 to 3 inches deep, so that they touch
nothing but the column of plaster. Mix calcined plaster in water (as
plasterers do), and build up a column high enough to support the branch.
Place the specimen on the top of the pillar already formed, and pour
over the whole some quite thin plaster till a rounded top is formed
completely fastening the specimen. If the leaves are not touched at all,
after they are dry, they will hang on for a long time, making specimens
that will show the tree characteristics better than pressed specimens
possibly could.

CHAPTER VII.

_Figures to be used in Botanical Description._

[Illustration: Fig. 17.]

[Illustration: Fig. 18.]

[Illustration: Fig. 19.]

[Illustration: Fig. 20.]

[Illustration: Fig. 21.]

[Illustration: Fig. 22.]

[Illustration: Fig. 23.]

[Illustration: Fig. 24.]

[Illustration: Fig. 25.]

[Illustration: Fig. 26.]

[Illustration: Fig. 27.]

[Illustration: Fig. 28.]

[Illustration: Fig. 29.]

[Illus