Collecting and Preserving. 165 



Preserving and Printing of Flowers and Plants, continued, 

 moved to cold water. It is also well to add a little charcoal or 

 ammonia to the water in which flowers are standing. 



If salt is added to the water in which cut-flowers are kept, it 

 will delay wilting and decay. 



PRINTING PLANTS. i. First, lightly oil one side of the 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 sur- 

 face. 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, resin is previously added to the 

 black-lead in equal parts. Expose to the heat sufficient to 

 melt the resin. 



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

 water-marks ; 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 printer's or proof ink, and a 

 small leather dabber ; work a bit of ink about the size of a 

 pea, on a small piece ot 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 care- 

 ful to spread it equally ; then 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 a ringing 

 machine. Impressions can be taken with greater rapidity by 



