DIRECTIONS, ETC. 125 



day, GOlbs. afterwards. A screw press is more con- 

 venient. As the moisture of plants should be carried 

 off as quickly as possible (in order to preserve their 

 colors,) remove them from under pressure, in a day or 

 two ; carefully take away all the papers, &c., except 

 the blotting-papers between which the specimens are 

 placed : put these in a warm air to dry, whilst the re- 

 moved papers, &c. are dryed in the sun, or by the fire. 

 When dry and warm, place them in the same order as 

 before put all under heavier pressure for a few days, 

 when (if not succulent) they will be dry. 



Flowers of different colors, require different treat- 

 ment, to preserve their colors. 



Blue flowers, must be dried with heat ; either under 

 a case of hot sand, before a fire ; with a hot iron ; or 

 in a cool oven. 



Ked flowers are injured by heat : they require to be 

 washed with muriatic acid, diluted in spirits of wine, 

 to fix their color. One part of acid, to three parts of 

 spirit, is about the proportion. The best brush to ap- 

 ply this mixture with, is the head of a thistle when in 

 seed, as the acid destroys a hair-pencil, and injures 

 whatever it touches, (except glass or china,) therefore 

 should be used with great care. 



Many Yellow flowers turn green ; even after they 



