64 ON DRYING SPECIMENS OF FLOWERS. 



tails their diamond-like rays, and leaves them instead a lightness and 

 beauty unequalled by the most exquisite art of the painter. 



In order to prove that bubbles of water are the true cause of the 

 beauty M'hich flowers transmit, either in vivid flashes or tender tints, 

 to the human retina, we have only to take tlie dullest colour that was 

 ever mixed or painted, and filling a small glass bubble with water, let 

 the rays of the sun fall tlirongh it on the said colour, it will become 

 the brightest and most beautiful imaginable, and exactly resemble the 

 tint of flowers. The moist petal is so filled with water, that it only 

 excites our astonishment how such a thin gauze-like matter can con- 

 tain such a quantity of liquor, and yet the flower reposes on the hand 

 without wetting it. 



To show, however, that some of our flowers may owe their beauty 

 to other contrivances besides pabula filled with water, we may instance 

 a common one which adorns our fields, viz., the ranunculus or butter- 

 cup. The petals of this very pretty wild flower appear to be var- 

 nished, but, on examination, Ave find that this is owing to a white 

 powder resembling magnesia which lies between the pabulum and the 

 upper skin. " To try the effect," says Mrs. Ibbetson, whose experi- 

 ments on the physiology of plants have placed her in the first rank of 

 natural philosophers, '' I got a quantity of extremely small glass 

 bubbles containing water blown for me, and I placed them in a petal, 

 in rows ; although infinitely larger, yet they appeared to be a petal 

 greatly magnified. I covered them with a piece of gauze, painted so 

 as to resemble a flower, and tndy did it imitate the sort of briglitness 

 and brilliancy which it was intended to represent. 



ON DRYING SPECIMENS OF FLOWERS. 



BY G. GREGfON. 



To admire and produce living specimens of flowers has been a favourite 

 piirsuit of mine from childhood, and I liave less enjoyed the pleasures 

 arising from collecting, preparing, and preserving dried specimens, 

 which I have done to the extent of above four thousands. And on 

 winters' cold days and evenings I have hundreds of times had a most 

 delightful treat to look over, and admire, my lovely treasures. 



With a view to encourage the pleasing pursuit in others, I herewith 

 transmit the particulars of my method of procedure for insertion in the 

 Cabinet. 



I always gatlier my specimens when dry, whetlier in doors or 

 out. The latter, when the sun has exhaled tlie dew from them, and 

 when the flowers are in as perfect a state of full bloom as possible. I 

 provide a suitable portion of flannel, of the finest quality for small 

 specimens, and a somewhat coarser for vigorous ones. I have them 

 cut into a suitable size for tlie press. I find flannel to be very superior 

 to paper, as has been customary to use ; it absorbs the moisture better, 

 and specimens retain their colours much more intense. In placing the 

 specimens upon the flannel, I lay a few sheets of common blot paper 

 upon the press board, then a piece of flannel, over which I place a ftw 

 sheets of blot paper. Having adjusted the boards I fix them in the press 



