130 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



With regard to Mr. Howitt's note, we are quite at one in regard 

 to the difficulty of deahng with some species of that genus. The 

 boundaries and species, particularly in the Renantherae, being 

 frequently hazy, it is in the first place absolutely necessary to 

 be sure of our type or " ideal " plant, and then one must take a 

 philosophical view of the relations of the related forms or 

 varieties we submit for inclusion with the type. 



HINTS ON DRYING FLOWERS. 



The following article from the pen of the Rev. F. H. Woods, 

 The Vicarage, Chalfont St. Peter, Bucks, England, appeared in 

 the September number of Science Gossip, and as it appears to 

 contain some valuable hints on a difficult subject is reprinted 

 for the benefit of those who may not have seen the original. He 

 says : — 



" Amateurs and even skilled botanists are often much 

 disappointed at the shrivelled and discoloured appearance 

 of their specimens. Experience, however, shows that, with 

 proper means and sufficient care, both defects may generally 

 be avoided. The secret of success lies principally in three 

 things: — (i) Ventilation, with some degree of heat if possible; 

 (2) the use oi absorbent cotton-wool; (3) the use of acids when 

 necessary. 



" The first is pretty well known and practised by botanists, 

 who use various sorts of ventilating appliances ; but a daily or 

 twice daily change of papers thoroughly dried in the sun or 

 before a hot fire is all that is really necessary. In the case of 

 succulent flowers, like Blue-bells (wild Hyacinth), it is advan- 

 tageous to place the specimens, properly protected, for a while, 

 or even altogether, in the sun. By this method such leaves as 

 those of Blue-bells may be made to preserve their colour. 



"Very few specimens can be dried satisfactorily without the 

 use of absorbent cotton-wool. This should be placed on both 

 the leaves and the flowers. It prevents them from shrivelling 

 and goes far towards preserving the colour of both. When used, 

 too great pressure is not needed, and is indeed harmful. Speci- 

 mens should on no account be bruised. Flower-presses of the 

 clothes press type are an abomination. With cotton wool, 

 specially prepared drying paper is quite unnecessary. There is 

 nothing better than newspaper, foreign newspaper especially — the 

 worse in quality the better for the purpose. Some flowers are too 

 delicate for this method. I have obtained excellent results with 

 Oxalis acelosella, by placing it between sheets of tissue paper, 

 with just a suspicion of cotton-wool on the petals only. This 

 plan is the best also with delicate ferns, which dry so rapidly that 



