PHANTOM FLOWERS. 31 



proportion of the chloride of lime may be doubled, but 

 the delicate leaves, and especially the Ferns, will be 

 destroyed if the solution be made too strong. 



Labarraque's preparation of chloride of soda acts 

 gently and more slowly, and being free from the 

 caustic properties of the Hme, is less likely to attack 

 and corrode the delicate framework of the leaves. 

 The quantity of this solution to be added to water, 

 must be double that of the first named preparation. 

 It will whiten the flowers, Ferns, and more tender of 

 the seed-vessels, but it is not strong enough to act on 

 those which are coarser and more ligneous. There is 

 great difficulty, however, in procuring this preparation 

 of the required freshness and strength, as its bleaching 

 properties depend entirely on the amount of chlorine 

 contained in it ; and this being a very volatile gas, it 

 is readily lost by keeping a length of time, even when 

 carefully corked and sealed. 



The best preparation for this purpose, is that made 

 expressly for use in whitening these skeleton leaves, 

 &c., and may always be had of J. E. Tilton & Co., 

 or their agents. One bottle of this wiU whiten a large 

 number of leaves, without injuring the fibre, or making 

 them brittle, as is the case with the chloride of lime. 

 The proper proportion for mixing will be about half a 



