298 OBSERVATIONS ON DKYINO TLANTS. 



very strong, throwing up stems for bloom ; which causes them to grow 

 luxuriant, the stems become very pithy, and the sap cannot properly 

 circulate. They then turn to a whitish green, and assume an un- 

 healthy appearance, and when near blooming they droop, as if in 

 want of water. I am persuaded, that if " Iris" will take and cut 

 through the stems, he will see that they are full of pith, and quite 

 dry, being destitute of sap. If " Iris" wishes to grow for competition, 

 I should recommend him to grow oue part of his plants in a very 

 rich compost in order to get them of a very high colour. In doing 

 this, he must always expect to find some that run to one colour ; but 

 if he grows one or two of each kind on a bed that is of a poorish, but 

 light soil, and if they should chance to run by being grown too rich, 

 and in that case if any die by being so treated, he will see that he has 

 saved the other which was grown on poor soil. Such is the way ex- 

 tensive cultivators of the Carnation do, or they would soon lose the 

 greater part of their best sorts. It is to be regretted that those kinds 

 that are of a high colour, are most subject to run — such as Cartwright's 

 Rainbow, pink bizarre ; Walmsley's William the Fourth, scarlet 

 bizarre; Taylor's Festival, scarlet flake ; Bellerophon, purple flake; 

 Tyso's Princess Victoria, rose flake ; and Martin's Prince George of 

 Cumberland, red picotee. Such as the above, and all that are of a 

 high colour, similar to those named, should not be grown in too rich 

 a soil. 



ARTICLE VII. 



OBSERVATIONS ON DRYING AND PRESERVING SPECIMENS 



OF FLOWERS. 



BY FLORA. 



One of the most interesting and pleasing attentions given to flowers, 

 is that of drying and preserving specimens, and to a person anxious 

 to become perfectly acquainted with botany they are found of much 

 more avail than the most elaborate descriptions he can meet with. 

 It is unnecessary, however, to enumerate all the advantages result- 

 ing from the possession of a collection of preserved plants, as they 

 can be fully appreciated only by a person having made some advance- 

 ment in the study of Botany, and who by them is enabled instantly 

 to compare plants with each other, or with the descriptions of other 

 botanists, and to them he can at all times refer, either for refreshing 



