THE VICTORIAN- NATCKALIST. 119 



preservation of flowers, other than the orthodox one, you will 

 find a short summary in the " Penny Handbook of Flowering 

 Plants," by James Britten, F.L.S., Botanical Department, 

 British Museum. 



It will there be seen that the subject has by no means been 

 overlooked, although I am not aware that any particular method 

 has as yet come into general use. A process has lately been 

 patented ■ for " Improvements in preparing and preserving 

 natural flowers, plants, and leaves for ornamental and decorative 

 purposes," but, for scientific purposes, there is still room for 

 experiment and improvement. 



In this paper I propose giving (with illustrative examples) 

 the results of various experiments, framed with a view to test 

 the relative efficiency of methods already proposed, as well as, 

 if possible, to hit upon others serving the purpose better. It 

 will then be possible to recommend some definite method as 

 worthy of adoption, so that practical results may be -expected to 

 follow. 



The various methods may be conveniently arranged and dis- 

 cussed under two heads : — 



1. Methods for retaining colour alone. 



2. Methods for retaining colour and shape. 



First — The preservation of colour in flowering specimens 

 dried in the ordinary (flattened) way has been variously 

 attempted. The methods depend either upon the application 

 of some re-agent which fixes the colour and renders it fast ; or 

 upon the application of heat in some form. With regard to the 

 latter, Mr. Britten remarks — " We have seen very pretty groups 

 of flowers in which the colour has been fairly well preserved, 

 and have found upon inquiry, that the specimens have been 

 ironed with a heated flat-iron, the larger and thicker flowers 

 having been picked to pieces, the parts treated separately, and 

 put together again. This treatment suits blue flowers especially 

 well, but quite spoils red ones ; these latter it is recommended 

 to wash with muriatic acid diluted in spirits of wine (one part 

 of the former to three of the latter) to fix their colour. Care 

 must always be taken not to bruise the petals, especially in 

 white flowers, as, if this happens, discoloration is certain to 

 result." 



As it is well known that rapidity of drying tends to preserve 

 colour, pressing flowers with a heated iron between brown paper, 

 in some cases, produces the desired effect. 



Of the re-agents which have been tried with some degree of 

 success, the following may be mentioned : — 



(a.) Weak solution of alum brushed over the petals. 



{b.) Petroleum or kerosene used in the above manner, or the 



