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to prevent the plants from dropping out, and exposed to the Sun or a fire for 3 or 4 hours. During which time they Should often be turned that they may be Equally Warm'd, after which they should be piled upon each other again and remain in that State 12 or 14 hours more; then the plants may be changed again into their old Books (which in the mean time must have been dried) and again Exposed too the Sun or fire; by this time the Smaller plants and grass's will be sufficiently dried, and may be put up in Books by themselves, the Larger and more Juicey will take more time but a Repetition of the same process for a fortnight will dry almost any plant; the Books in which they are put up may be Look'd at about once a fortnight, and if they are found damp, the plants Changed into dry ones 2 or 3 Such Changes will Secure them from all future danger.
They may then be laid a plant in each leaf if the Books, or if they are Small Several; as many as will Cover the Surface of it, These Books Should be pack'd in Boxes to prevent their being bent, which would break the plants in them; any kind of paper that is tolerably Smooth will do for this purpose, but the best of all is paper which has been printed upon if it Can be procured Sufficiently Large.
Some plants there are, which are too Succoulent and Juicey to be dried in this manner, or if by great Care and patience they should be, are so much Changed and disfugured that they are of Little use. these However re few, and may be sent Easily, if each is tied up in a small linnen Bag, in which may be enclosed a leaden ticket, and put into Brandy - a Bottle of which will Contain Several: in this manner some fruits - also may be sent; such as one too soft and pulpy oe too Large for the other Method.
Thus much for the drying of Plants which is intended merely for the use of the Botanist.
The Cultivator requires to have living Plants, of each sort, that promises, any Particular Advantage, either from its usefullness, or Beauty, it may be Necessary therefore hereafter to send home either Seeds or plants of such Species as he may Require; Seeds as they are light are easily Convey'd from a Distance, and in many Cases will answer perfectly well, if gathered dried and pack'd with Care, they may be divided into two Kinds, viz: those which are Cover'd with Juicey pulp as most Kinds of Eatable fruits; and those which are by nature dry in their respective Capsules, the first are easily Managed, they may be gather'd at any time provided the fruit is Come to perfect Maturity; it must them be a little bruised and laid unpon a Cloth or other Spongy thing that will Suck up the Juice which Runs out in this manner by being Exposed too the free air in a Warm Shady place; it will in time be dried in the Same manner as the figs, Raisons, Dates, &c are which are imported here. in that manner, it may be sent each kind pack'd up in a -