A very interesting way of studying Ferns is that of collecting the fronds of the species which the hunter may come across. This is a pursuit to which no sort of objection can be taken, for, of course, the plant itself is not in any way disturbed, and is not in the least likely to suffer from having one or two of its fronds removed. In a general way the fronds are best collected during the summer and autumn, when they will, of course, be well developed. It is much more difficult to secure perfect fronds than may be generally supposed, and even with the common species a number of plants may have to be examined ere specimens without blemish of some kind or another can be obtained. Seeing that the position and shape of the sori play such an important part in classification, the fronds should be secured when the patches of spore cases are developed. On the other hand, these should not be quite ripe, or they will be likely to burst in the process of drying, and the real character of the sori will not be very apparent. When they are gathered the fronds should be placed at once in a vasculum, or a long tin box, and must be kept there until the time for pressing arrives. Naturally it is a good plan to treat the fronds as soon as possible, though in a closed tin box they will keep for some days without withering. If properly dried and pressed, it is possible to preserve the Fern fronds with a great deal of their natural colour. Botanical drying paper should be employed, and, of course, if desired an orthodox press may be used; but this is not really necessary. The cheapest plan is to secure two boards of wood of a size to cover the sheets of drying paper, which are placed between the boards. If the paper is about twelve by eighteen inches this will accommodate moderate examples of most of the fronds. Of course, special arrangements will have to be made for extremely large leaves. It is not a bad plan to have two straps with buckles so as to keep the boards together, and prevent them from moving when the Fern fronds are in position. In the first place, two or three thicknesses of the paper should be spread on one of the boards. Now take the same number of sheets, and start to place these over the frond. Starting at the tip of the leaf the divisions should be carefully spread out in such a way that the frond as a whole is well displayed. To keep the frond in position it may be useful to put a book on the paper as it is spread out. A number of fronds may be accommodated between the two boards in this way, but it is important to have two or three pieces of the drying paper between each specimen. When all the fronds have been spread out in the manner indicated the uppermost board is put on the top of the layers of paper, and by means of the straps the pieces of wood are drawn together. A very small amount of pressure should be employed in the first instance, and a few light books on the topmost board will be all-sufficient.