340 On Preserving Organic Specimens, 
ing wax to the outer surface of the glass. It was exposed to air 
and sunshine in’a high and sheltered situation. After the lapse 
of two or three days, the outer-specimen had obviously begun to 
lose its color, and was inclining to yellow, while the enclosed spe- 
cimen, equally exposed to light, still retained its vivid green and 
apparent freshness. The outer specimen continued to fade until 
it became nearly decolored ; but the enclosed one suffered not. the 
slightest change in appearance. 
It is not essential that the specimen 1 should be dried previously 
to being thus enclosed. By increasing the quantity of lime to 
three or four times the weight of the substance to be desiccated, 
aspecimen just plucked may be carefully arranged beneath the 
glass—it may be then. subjected for a couple of days to a few 
pounds of pressure, may bé sealed up and never afterwards re- 
moved. 'The degree of perfection with which the most delicate 
tints of flowers can thus be preserved, is incapable of being sur- 
passed. In the space of two or three days, the specimen generally 
becomes more thoroughly “% than it is a to render it 
by bibulous paper. 
Upon carefully surrounding fresh specimens of Asclepias Dra- 
keana* and Rosa Gallica, with fine powder of quick lime, in a 
close tin box, complete esiccation was accomplished in a single 
day ; and I was agreeably surprised in finding, that the lime had. 
not in the least modified any of the colors. The flowers were 
taken out of their natural shape and color, but stiff and brittle 
m dryness. It is sometimes rather difficult, however, to re- 
move all the lime from some. portions of the flowers. Probably it 
would be best to fill the interior of deep flowers ‘with fine clean 
sand, before burying them in the powder of lime. In this way, 
fruits, fungi, insects, small fish, and even reptiles, may be rar 5 
ally eanbalmed. 
In common herbals the flower is rudely crushed ; the ‘inte 
ant organs from which generic characters are drew: are deform- 
ed, displaced, and often incorporated into a seemingly homoge- 
neous mass; and the fine colors, if they do not become even com- 
pletely faded, are never preserved for any great length of time with- 
out Seterioration, Large specimens exhibiting the stem, branches, 
leaves, and mode of inflorescence, me well enough be — in 
“ Undescribed. Rowan alia ‘and crimson: <tescitigi 
