early. Children call it " violets," which it somewhat resem- 

 bles. In the early part of the spring the face of the flower is 

 nearly white. Then comes a very delicate rosy tint ; later, 

 the rose tint is mixed with a soft light blue, and the inter- 

 mingling colors run through all the shades of purple, until the 

 flower glows with the intensest dark blue of the sky. At this 

 time the anthers of full size form a rim of pure white dots, 

 laid on the petals, and contrasting splendidly with their blue, 

 completing the most glorious gem ever created. 



How to Keep Flowers for Future Examination. 



Those who wish to learn something about flowers always 

 save them by drying. In this way you have your flowers in 

 the winter season, so little changed as to look very much like 

 the living plants. 



The simplest way is this : Save a lot of newspapers ; fold 

 them once, making two sheets ; fold them again, making four 

 sheets. If the paper is large, you can fold again, making one 

 drier of eight sheets. Having, in this way, made a lot of dry- 

 ing-pads, you are ready to press a flower, say a wild rose. 

 Get two little boards, each the size of your pads ; also two or 

 three bricks. 



Place on a table one of the boards ; on it put two of the 

 pads. Then take your rose, pull off any dead leaves or dead 

 stems, and also a few of the buds and flowers. Leave only so 

 many as you think will have plenty of room without lapping 

 over each other. Now lay the stem on the pad so as to show 

 the rose's buds and leaves prettily in their natural position. 

 If a leaf is curled or doubled, smooth it out. But do not move 

 anything, unless you think it will look better by the move. 



Next, lay several driers carefully on the specimen. If you 

 have but one flower, you now put on the other board ; but if 

 you have a second flower to press, lay it on the last drier and 

 arrange as you did your rose. Then lay on it several driers. 

 If you have a third flower, work in the same way with it. 

 You will now have a little bundle ; put your second board on 

 top of the bundle ; lay on it a couple of bricks or something 



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