142 Proceedings. 



Mr. W. BROCKBANK, F.L.S., F.G.S., read a paper on 

 "The Artificial Colouration of Flowers," and exhibited a large 

 number of flowers which had been artificially coloured by 

 Mr. Win. Dorrington and himself. They had observed that 

 cut flowers, placed in a solution of aniline scarlet, absorbed 

 the colour, and became tinged thereby. Later on they 

 found that a beautiful blue was imparted to cut flowers by 

 the colour called indigo-carmine. A large number of dyes 

 were tried, and other sorts were partially successful ; but 

 none proved so good as the two above-named. They tried 

 indigo, cochineal, and sulphate of copper, with only partial 

 success. The fact, however, was easily established, viz., 

 that cut flowers can be coloured rapidly by placing them in 

 a solution of aniline colour, of about the transparency of 

 claret — also that new features of great beauty are imparted 

 to many flowers thereby. The lily of the valley flowers 

 become beautifully tinted pink in six hours. Narcissi are 

 changed from pure white to deep scarlet in twelve hours. 

 Yellow daffodils are beautifully striped and fringed with 

 dark scarlet in twelve hours. The larger subject, of how 

 this rapid change is brought about, soon attracted Mr. 

 Brockbank'S attention, and proved extremely interesting; 

 as the method thus adopted opens out modes for investigat- 

 ing and demonstrating phenomena in vegetable physiology, 

 which promise to be of great value. The cellular theory 

 of sap circulation, which is well-known to botanists, Mr. 

 BROCKBANK maintained does not account for these results. 

 He arrived at the conclusion that there is a complete vein 

 system in plants, the vein tubes being clearly seen under 

 the microscope, passing through the leaves of the plants, 

 and also through the petals and other parts of the flowers. 

 In these tubes the motion of the fluid colour could be 

 seen, and it is these veins which convey the colour. 

 In the cases of cut flowers the action is very rapid. 

 The experiments and observations in proof of this were 



