Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-12
Hints to Amateur Botanists offered
by the Smithsonian Institution.
WHAT SPECIMENS TO COLLECT
Gentle Maidens in Pursuit Of Seaweeds-Fresh
Water Weeds-Going After Land Plants
The Tools One Needs-Portfoliosa and Press
Collecting Fungi-vegetable Parasites.
Written for The Evening Star.
T THIS SEASON OF THE YEAR RO-

sounding sea ana GatDcr sea Weeds LOT pressing.
Harvests Of beautiful specimens are afforded
by tangled masses of eel grass thrown up on
| the beach by storms, or they may be probably
| gathered between tides from uncovered rocks
and in the tide pools. A gentle maiden's
hands. however, are i'll adapted to the rougher
work of this sort, and the algg hunting
| virgin who is not foolish provides herself with
a shallow net six or eight inches in diameter
| on the end of a stout rod.
TREATMENT OF THE WEEDS.
If the seaweeds are Of ieshy or Shiny
growth they should be exposed TO the air for a
while before ore tries to mount them. 1t
would be well worth while for the shore-haunt-
ing maiden to know in De tail how to preserve
these interesting water plants. So, fair lady,
having fetched your specimens home III pail
of sea water or a wide-mouthed bottle wash them
first in sea water Fresh water will not do.
For this purpose float the plants in basin Of
sea water. Place under the floating vegetable
card or paper of the requisite size on which
the plant is to be mounted. See that the paper
or card is uniformly wet and as clean as lis
practicable. Raise up the card with the plant
on 1t ard distribute and arrange the branches
in az natural and separate manner as may be,
the purpose being best accomplished by the
water as it flows off from the card in raising it
out OF the sop. Let each specimen dri p mo-
ment, then press it under light weight 5ctween
newspapers or sheets of absorbent paper.
FRESH WATER ALGE.
1t is worth mentioning, by the way, that
fresh water algG are quite as interesting rs the
weeds of the sea and NAV be preserved in
similar manner. One finds them in ponds.
quiet or sluggish waters, cascades ravines,
shaded and dripping rocks, shallow. quiet
angles of lakes and even IN rapd-running
brooks and rivers. A dip net is the best thing
with which to collect them. Among the most
interesting Of these aquatic forms are the little
vegetables called ''dcsmids," which are SO
beautiful under the microscope. They are
found IN abundance In pure water, such as
pools fed By springs and clear ponds. Myriads
| OF them may be got by rubbing them off from
the stems and leaves of larger water plants.
PROPER METHODS FOR COLLECTING LAND PLANTS.
To instruct people in the proper methods
for collecting land plants well as water
plants the Smithsonian has this week issued
most interesting pamphlet on the subject. To
begin with, the pamphlet informs the amateur
| botanist as to the tools and apparatus re-
CURED. One needs in pursuing this gentle
Industry strong pocket knife. which is useful
| In great variety of ways, such cutting
branches OF trees, trimming specimens re-
moving fungi and lichens from bark and even
for digging up small plants. For digging.
But the first thing to be decided upon is the
receptacle which is to hold the plants while
they are being gathered. Experience has
shown that portfolio of some form Is most
| serviceable and admits OF being used under
greater variety of conditions and for greater
diversity of objects than any other form of
receptacle. A great many notifications of the
portfolio have been used ard recommended by
various botanists, but the simpler it is the
more satisfactory it will usually prove to be.
HOW TO MAKE THE PORTFOLIO.
A very serviceable and convenient portfolio
may be made by taking two pieces of thick
pasteboard, twelve inches wide and eighteen
inches long. and fastening them together by
| running two strings or straps through the
bottom and TOP. These strings or straps should
| be long enough to tie or buckle at the top
| to apply slight pressure to the contained
| plants end also to prevent the plants from
| falling out. BY this process the thickness OF
Strong rubber bands may be used in place Of
| leather straps. The covers of an old book,
| when Of suitable size may be made into a
| portfolio that will do good service.
THE PAPER OF THE INSIDE.
Having made the portfolio, it should be filled
with four or five quires of light but strong pa
| per. which may be fastened into the covers or
left loose. 1t is not desirable that this paper be
| absorbent, for the object is to keep the plants
as fresh as possible until they Can be arranged
and put in the press. which may often be several
| hours after they were collected. No attempt
| need be made to keep portfolio neat, especi-
ally within. BY the time it has been well filled
a few times with moist plants and muddy roots
all the fancy paper that is put into II will have
| lost its charm. Any paper that IL put into it is
| destined 10 get wet ami torn and to require re-
| newal several times season. and ii should
| therefore be cheap. Moderately thick and firm
| MANILA paper Is recommended
| The plant collector ought to have a special
instrument for gathering water plants which
| he raaflet with tho lnp Is Ion, nm
| rod with a gang of iron hooks near the end is
, the best thing for the purpose. The amateur
! should also be provided with pair OF thick,
heavy gloves, for use in getting cacti and other
thorny and spiny growths.
| THE PRESS REQUIRED.
| The next important thing is press for the
plants collected. which is best made out of two
inch planks, each a foot wide by foo: and
"a half long. with LAYERS of blotting or other al
| sorbent paper between. Such paper can be
| got cheaply from any dealer i'll botanical MT
| terial. the stuff used being the same as is en-
| ployed for putting under carpets. between
! each two sheets of this bibuiOus paper are
placed two sheets o. thin white paper and 'twixt
these latter the specimens are laid.
TO COLLECT PLANTS PROPERLY
is an art. 1t is not sufficient to break off a slip
from tree or bush in order to secure salts
factory specimen. Every part of plant has
| character OF Us own. ne leaves or most herbs
| vary in form at different points Of the stem.
Even the dead leaves ~ the base are distnc tive
\ and should be preserved. No par: of u plant il
| more characteristic than its root. Therefore
| wherever it is possible both root and stem
| should be secured. Unfortunately with big
plants this is hardly practicable, and 30 the
| various parts Of the herb or shrub arc mounted
| together as effectively possible -iiowcrs
fruit. leaves and 30 on-so as 10 give, thus COM
bined, picture OF the growth as found i'll ma
| ture.
1t is well incidentally to carry note book
along and iot down with relation to each gpeci-
| men obtained certain obser 81. lions which ca n
| not well he entrusted TO memory, such as the
| coiors of blossoms Unnecessarily ice;iagl, the
| character of the soil and the insects found
| about. Nearly all bO.anists. of course. tn Ike q
pride in securing good specimens. As fast as
between the leaves OF the portfolio, never put
ting two different plants in the same Enclosure,
lest they stick together.
HOW To PUT THE PLANTS IN THE PRESS.
| The next operation is to put the plants in the
press already described. They are carefully
placed between the layers of thin white paper,
| the leaves and flowers spread out in the shape
| they are destined to retain, and finally the two
| fiat boards are strapped together hard enough
| to give the requisite degree OF pressure After
twelve hours they should be unstrapped, 80 as
| to take out the pieces of b!otting paper and
| put in fresh. The same operation ought to be
| performed at the end of twenty-Gour hours
| after which ii should be repeated every day for