PRESERVING FLOWERS. 635 



known and admired. It requires only the ordinary culture of 

 border plants. The roots should be divided every third year. 

 If planted in the autumn, it will blossom the following spring, 

 producing a very delicate, reddish pink flower, blossoming from 

 May to July. 



Madeira-vine. A tuberous-rooted climber, sometimes called 

 "Mignonette-vine." It produces beautiful, glossy green leaves, 

 with a fragrant white blossom. It is a rapid grower, and from 

 a few tubers vines will be produced sufficient to cover one side 

 of a cottage. The tubers are tender, and must be protected 

 from frost. 



PRESERVING NATURAL FLOWERS. 



This is an art that has long been known, and the process has 

 been recently revived by the people of Germany, and is known as 

 the sand and the sulphur process. Procure a very fine quality of 

 sand, and wash it clean ; dry well and bake thoroughly. While 

 it is warm, take an ounce of mutton tallow to twelve pounds of 

 sand ; scrape the tallow and scatter it over the sand, stirring it 

 as it melts. The tallow prevents the sand from sticking to the 

 flowers. Cut several holes through the bottom of a small box, 

 over which paste paper to prevent the sand from escaping. Sift 

 sand into the bottom of the box until it is about half an inch 

 deep, using a fine sieve.- Upon this carefully place a layer of 

 flowers, and sift in sand enough to cover them. Jar the box a lit- 

 tle, to settle the sand into and around the flowers. Add another 

 layer of flowers, and cover them with sand as before ; continuing 

 this operation till the box is full. Place the cover on tight, and 

 put the box in a place where it will be kept at a steady tempera- 

 ture of about 80. In about four days, if kept at a steady tem- 

 perature, the flowers will be dry, and can be removed by punctur- 

 ing the paper placed over the holes cut through the bottom of the 

 box, and allowing the sand to run out. At first the flowers will 

 be too brittle to be handled, and the box should be left in a 

 damp place for a few hours ; then they will be ready for use. 



Secure a box that can be made air-tight. Then fasten small 

 strips of wood inside the box, on opposite sides, near the top, and 

 place rods across upon which to hang the bunches of flowers. 

 For ventilation, bore a hole on one side near the bottom, into 



