72 il-fr. English on Preservation of Plants. 



paper ; press in the usual way, shifting if necessary until 

 dry. Before mounting, place the specimens between papers 

 on a board, and " iron " with a moderately warm laundry 

 iron to drive off the superfluous petroleum. Keep under 

 pressure until cool, and then mount for the herbarium in 

 the usual way. 



2nd. — In endeavouring to preserve colours, some strange 

 anomalies are observed. Two flowers from different 

 species, but apx^arently identical in colour, do not show the 

 same result. This is a point most deserving of attention. 

 The yellow and purple Pansies I exhibit were dried in the 

 press, "ironed" with a warm iron, immersed in petroleum, 

 pressed and '' ironed " again. On the other hand, the 

 specimens of Crocus were immersed at once in the petro- 

 leum. The difference in the results is very noticeable. 



Of course time alone can test the permanency of the 

 colours ; but should any of our members think the process 

 worth a trial, I shall be very pleased to hear from them, 

 and exchange ideas on the subject. 



J. E. 



Aioril Mth, 1880. 



II. 



{Bead September 25th, 1880.) 



At the April meeting I introduced the subject of preserving 

 plants with their natural colours by using petroleum. I 

 soon found it to be a question whether petroleum alone 

 gave sufficient residue on evaporation to effect the purpose 

 in view. I tried various methods to remedy this defect, by 

 adding gmn resins, solid paraffin, and other substances, 

 but with no good result. It w^ould be useless to enumerate 

 the failures I have experienced since I took the subject in 

 hand. I worked on smoothly for some time, until new 

 flowers came into blossom, such as Galium, Melaminjrum. 

 These plants, in drying, became quite black, and I was 

 obliged to make further trials. 



