A MANUAL OF BOTANY 



79 



Namk 



Nativk IIomk 



Pakt U«ki) 



For what Used 



25. Some Practical AppticATioxs of Flowers 



1. The iiroduction of honefj. Examine such flowers as 

 white and sweet clovers, heartsease, buckwheat, bass wood, 

 and other plants from the nectar of which the bees make 

 honey. Examine, if possible, honey made from any of them. 

 What is honey ? 



2. The production of perfumes. Take any very fragrant 

 flower, as certain roses, collect a quantity of perfectly fresh 

 ones in a clean jar, suspend a small fine sponge saturated 

 with pure olive oil, and close tightly. Press out the oil 

 after twenty-four hours and observe its odor. Try other 

 methods, as saturation with alcohol and heating gently to 

 drive it off, through a tube leading into weak alcohol, or 

 pure oil. Test for odor. The results will be imperfect, but 

 you can make a perfume. Find out what flowers are used 

 in large amounts for this industry. 



3. The production of drugs. Cover English marigold 

 {calendula), chamomile, or dry arnica flowers with 70% 

 alcohol, and allow to remain for a week. Observe the 

 change in color and odor, also taste of the alcohol. You are 

 making drugs in a crude way. 



4. Quickly dry rose i)etals, violets, or other fragrant 

 flowers and observe qualities of the dried products. 



5. Gently cook violets in sugar syrup until thoroughly 

 saturated ; strain and dry. You have a candied flower. 



6. Buy a little crocus saffron, and extract color with 

 dilute alcohol. Some flowers are used for dyes. 



7. Cut flowers. Examine a number of florists' sliow 

 windows, and make a list of the flowers most commonly 



