202 METHOD OF DRYING AND PRESERVING SPECIMENS OF FLOWERS. 



nine weeks after, I have a beautiful show of flowers on the secondary- 

 shoots induced by cutting-in, as stated. About the middle of June I 

 cut back some other shoots which are pushing freely ; and now 

 (July 15th) I have shortened others. I feel assured that these later- 

 produced shoots will furnish a display of flowers also, the first shortened 

 ones doing so in so brief a period. By this simple process flowers may 

 be had from the middle of May to November upon the same Rose. 



This will be of advantage to persons not having much room to grow 

 many varieties in, as well as to have an extensive blooming season of 

 early summer favourites. There are a number of most beautiful early- 

 blooming climbing Roses, as the Garland, Reine de France, &c, that 

 by this simple process can be had in bloom from April to the end of 

 summer. 



The more the Roses bloom, the increase of rich food must be pro- 

 portionately supplied by manure, manure water, &c. 



A SIMPLE METHOD OF DRYING AND PRESERVING 

 SPECIMENS OF FLOWERS, &c. 



BY MB. H. STILWELL, OF PINE APPLE-PLACE NURSERY, LONDON. 



The apparatus required is several quires of good red blotting-paper, 

 divided into parcels of three or four sheets each, and cut across the 

 middle so as to make them oblong. Cut several sheets up the back 

 into half-sheets, and let there be twice as many half-sheets as parcels. 

 Five or six boards, a little larger than the paper, planed smooth on 

 each side ; common deal will do, but beech is better. The next tiling 

 is the press ; but the following will answer the same purpose. Get 

 several weights, say ten to twenty pounds each, and some knitting- 

 needles. 



The mode of procedure is as follows : — Upon one of the pieces of 

 board lay a parcel of paper, and half a sheet over it ; and on this put 

 the floral specimen you wish to dry. Cut off all superfluous leaves or 

 branches ; and if it has a thick woody stem, cut off a slice from the 

 under side ; then carefully spread the leaves and flowers in as natural 

 a position as can be, keeping any parts that would curl upwards in 

 their proper places by laying the needles across them. This being 

 done, place another half-sheet over the specimens, and upon it a parcel 

 of the paper; hold it clown with the hand, and draw out the needles at 

 the side. If you have many specimens, extend the same mode of ope- 

 ration, always laying the specimens between two half-sheets ; the reason 

 for which is, that the sheets may be removed altogether without being 

 separated, in order that the parcels may be dried by the fire. Thus 

 proceed till you have all the specimens duly placed ; then put a board 

 on the top, as at the beginning, and finally lay the weights upon the 

 top board. After a day or two take off the weights, and carefully 

 remove the half-sheets without separating them ; for if they are sepa- 

 rated, the flowers are very apt to curl inwards, if not dry. Dry the 

 parcels by fire, and replace the specimens. Repeat this process in a 

 day or two, and thus continue the method, 



