Collecting TNINGS...HOBBY

COLLECTING THING'S...HOBBY

Have you ever thought about making a collection of something? Collecting has always been a pleasant past time for millions of children all over the world. The world is so full of interesting things that quite often children, and adults too, become interested in collecting.

What kind of things do people collect? The answer to this is 'anything and everything'; there is no rule that says a particular kind of object must not be collected. STAMPS, SHELLS, BUTTERFLIES, HATS, FEATHERS, LEAVES, STONES, MATCHBOX COVERS, ANTIQUES, PLATES, COSTUMES, CARS, MONEY, COIN and a thousand and one other things are collected by people in every corner of the world.

Some people begin a collection as a hobby; it is an enjoyable way to spend a rainy afternoon or some free time. Quite often what starts off as a hobby or pastime develops into a more serious study or even a profession. For example, a child who is interested in stamps may, in adult life, want to work with stamps. One who collects old coins may, later on, become interested in history and archaeology; a collector of flowers may become a botanist.

How does a person start a collection? This is not such an easy question as it seems. First of all you have to decide what you are going to collect. You will, of course, be influenced by a number of things. In the end,you will want to collect something that you are interested in. Your decision will depend on whetyher the things you wish to collect are available near you.

For example, it is no use collecting seashells if you live miles away from the sea, seldom visit the seaside, and know no one living near the sea who might send you seashells. It is no use collecting flowers if you seldom visit a garden or the countryside.

One of the reasons why stamp collecting was so popular is because stamps were easily obtained; most people had friends in distant places who wrote letters to them. Quite often children became interested in writing to a penfriend, a person whom they had never met and who lived in a foreign country. When an envelope with a colourful stamp arrives in the post you might say, 'What a lively stamp! It's a pity to throw it away.' That stamp then becomes the first in your collection. It is the start of a new and interesting hobby.

There are many ways of keeping a collection. Stamps may be put into an album; stones or bottles will have to be kept in cabinets or in boxes, and flowers can be pressed and pasted into a scrapbook.

Here are some tips to start a collection of flowers;

1. Never pick more flowers than you need for study.

2. Some of the things you will need:

           a. a notebook

           b. a pencil

           c. an album or scrapbook

           d. two pieces of hardboard (approx.25 cm x 20)

           e. clean newspaper

           f. a magnifying glass (useful but not essential),

3. Practise drawing so that you can copy a leaf or a flower with accuracy and speed.

Preserving flowers and leaves is quite easy. When you have picked the sample you want, place it on a sheet of newspaper. Place the newspaper on a sheet of hardboard. On top of the flower put another piece of newspaper and another piece of hardboard. Put a few heavy books on top and leave it for a few days. If the flower or the leaves are juicy you may need to change the newspaper. The flower will be ready to put into your album in about two weeks.

When the flower has been taken out of the press, place it on some clean paper. Fix it with tiny drops of glue or with strips of gummed paper. Paste the whole page in your album.

In addition to putting samples of flowers in your record book you will have to make notes about the flowers. You can record the name; when and where it was found, its size, the colour and shape, and any other detail you wish.

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