229 
out under the control of a properly organised Government 
Department which would ensure that the investigators could 
pursue their researches without interference from those inter- 
ested only in obtaining immediate practical results. 
(1). Bancroft, C. K.—Die-back fungus of Para Rubber and of Cacao. 
Bull. Nos. 9 & 14; Dept. of Agr., Fed. Malay States. 
(2). Belgrave, W. N. C.—Root disease of Plantation Rubber in Malaya. 
Agric. Bull. Fed. Malay States, Vol. iv, No. 11, Aug. 1916. 
XXIV.—THE PRESERVATION OF LEAFY TWIGS 
THE BEECH. 
L. A. Boopze. 
__As the autumn colouring of the common beech shows some 
pleasing shades, such as golden-brown and chestnut-brown, leafy 
twigs of this tree with autumn tints are sometimes used 
indoor decoration, the cut ends of the specimens being kept in 
water. After a week or two the leaves usually begin to crumple 
or to fall. Shrivelling of the leaves naturally takes place much 
sooner if the twigs are not supplied with water. 
Some commercial value might attach to the preparation of 
specimens by an easy method of treatment which would make it 
possible to keep them without water while preserving the natural 
appearance of the leaves and giving them a colour like that of 
an autumn tint. A suitable method appears to have been 
devised, since twigs of beech with brown foliage, treated so as to 
keep the leaves from shrivelling, are sometimes offered for 
sale at shops. On examining one such specimen it was found 
to have been treated with some hygroscopic substance, while the 
brown colour was due to a dye, the twig having been gathered 
when the leaves were still green. : 
Some experiments have been made with the object of finding 
an easy method of obtaining a similar result. In these experi- 
ments exleium chloride was tried as a hygroscopic agent to 
prevent withering, and the possibility of using it successfully has 
een demonstrated. 
The material experimented on consisted of large and small 
freshly cut beech twigs bearing green leaves, and was gathered 
in September, 1916. A series of experiments was made by 
placing the cut ends of the twigs in a watery solution of calcium 
chloride and leaving them for some days, the lower ends being 
trimmed every day or two, so as to present freshly cut surfaces 
to the liquid. Different strengths of solution were tried, and the 
treatment was continued for three, seven, or eleven days. 
of the specimens were exposed to bright sunlight for several hours 
during their treatment, while others were kept where only 
diffused light could reach them. 
