30 PHANTOM FLOWERS. 



while others prefer Labarraque's solution of chloride 

 of soda. The former should be prepared for use in 

 the following manner : Take a half pound of strong 

 chloride of lime, and place it in an earthen or other 

 pitcher. Add three pints of soft, cold water, and stir 

 carefully with an iron spoon, pressing so as to mash 

 the lumps well against the sides of the vessel. Keep it 

 covered, and allow it to stand in a cool place until the 

 lime has precipitated upon the bottom of the pitcher, 

 which wiU be done in about an hour, except a small 

 portion that may remain floating on the surface. This 

 should be removed with a spoon or skimmer, after 

 which the clear liquid should be poured off into a 

 bottle, then corked up tightly, and kept in a cool 

 place. 



When ready to commence leaf bleaching, take a 

 glass jar, such as is used for pickles or preserves, hav- 

 ing a mouth wide enough to admit the largest leaf. 

 First, select those intended to be whitened, but be care- 

 ful not to place leaves and seed-vessels in the same jar ; 

 then with soft, clear water cover the leaves in the jar, 

 and add the bleaching solution in the proportion of 

 two tablospoonfuls to a pint of water. The jar should 

 be covered tightly, and set in a warm place. When 

 coarse seed-vessels and stems are to be bleached, this 



