[August, I860.] 225 



ON PEESERVINCx NEWLY-COLLECTED FLOWERS. 



A Simple Method of Preserving Gathered Flowers for a longer 

 period than usual, without changing the water in which they 

 were first placed. By Mrs. Merrifield. 



Accident lias made me acquainted with a simple^ and appa- 

 rently effective^ method of preserving cut or gathered flowers as 

 long as they continue in bloom^ without changing the water in 

 which they have been placed. 



As the process, — the word is too dignified to express so simple 

 an operation, but, as no other suggests itself, it must stand, — as 

 the process, then, is not only adapted for the drawing-room, but 

 must be exceedingly useful to the botanist, who can thus pre- 

 serve his specimens until he has time to examine them, or can 

 watch the flowering of particular plants, I shall feel great plea- 

 sure in making it known through the medium of the pages of the 

 ' Phytologist.' 



Obliged, by considerations of health, to leave for a few weeks 

 my residence by the seaside, and thus lay aside for a short time 

 my favourite study of marine Algee, I took advantage of the 

 opportunity offfered by an inland locality abounding in fresh- 

 water streams, to commence an acquaintance with fresh-water 

 Algse. These, as they were brought home, were washed. After 

 selecting some specimens for drying, the rest were placed in 

 soup- or dinner-plates (being in lodgings, I had no choice of 

 vessels) for the purpose of examination and observation. 



With the weeds I frequently brought home, for the pure plea- 

 sure of looking at them, some of our beautiful spring flowers. 

 And here the want of the conveniences which I should have had 

 at home, led to the discovery which I have now to mention. To 

 preserve the flowers as long as T could, I put them into the same 

 plates as the Algae, taking care to immerse the ends of the stalks, 

 and to keep them disentangled from the weeds. 



The drooping flowers soon began to revive, and in a short time 

 regained their freshness and crispness, which they retained per- 

 fectly until the petals had attained their full development, and 

 dropped off" one by one, the stem and leaves remaining quite 

 fresh. I have thus kept the Wood Anemone and other spring 



N. S. VOL. IV. 2 G 



