184 HORTICULTURIST'S RULE-BOOK. 



Care should be taken that the flowers are cut in dry weather, 

 and that while lying in the sand no part of a flower shall touch 

 another part, as this always spoils the color and causes decay. 

 Sand should be filled in between all the parts of the flower; 

 therefore it is necessary to insert the double flowers in an erect 

 position, in order to fill the sand between the petals, while most 

 of the single flowers must be put in with the stalks upwards. 



POINTING PLANTS. 1. First, lightly oil one side of paper, 

 then fold in four, so that the oil may filter through the pores, 

 and the plant may not come into direct contact with the liquid. 

 The plant is placed between the leaves of the second folding, 

 and in this position pressed (through other paper) all over with 

 the hand, so as to make a small quantity of oil adhere to its 

 surface. Then it is taken out and placed between two sheets of 

 white paper for two impressions, and the plant is pressed as 

 before. Sprinkle over the invisible image remaining on the 

 paper a quantity of black lead or charcoal, and distribute it in 

 all directions ; the image then appears in all its parts. With an 

 assortment of colors the natural colors of plants may be repro- 

 duced. To obtain fixity, rosin is previously added to the black 

 lead in equal parts. Expose to heat sufficient to melt the rosin. 



2. The best paper to use is ordinary wove paper, without 

 watermarks ; if it can be afforded, use thin drawing-paper. 

 First select the leaves, then carefully press and dry them. If 

 they be placed in a plant-press, care must be taken not to put 

 too great pressure on the specimens at first, or they will be 

 spoiled for printing. An old book is the best for drying the 

 samples to be used. Take printers' or proof ink, and a small 

 leather dabber ; work a bit of ink about the size of a pea on a 

 small piece of slate or glass, with the dabber, until it is perfectly 

 smooth. A drop or two of linseed oil will assist the operation. 

 Then give the leaf a thin coating, being careful to spread it 

 equally ; now lay the leaf ink downwards on a sheet of paper 

 and place it between the leaves of an old book, which must then 

 be subjected to a moderate pressure in a copying-press, or 

 passed between the rollers of awringing-machine. Impressions 

 can be taken with greater rapidity by laying the book on the 



