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16 Colours of Flowers. The fugitive property of some colours 
is well known; and in no way better exemplified than as they 
naturally exist in Flowers. The fume arising from a common 
sulphur match, which is, in fact, sulpluiric acid, will change pur- 
ple and crimson colours to pink. The blue, in combination 
with red, is readily discharged; indeed, a pink or purple flower 
might be completely bleached by holding it in the fumes of 
sulphur. Thus, roses and dahlias have been made to assume a 
variegated and very novel appearance. The blue of Conime- 
lina tuberosa is more permanent, as are yellows and greens. 
Bright pink stripes and veins may be produced on the dark 
purple petals of panseys, dahlias, and other dark-coloured flow- 
ers, with a camel hair pencil and oil of vitriol, to yield a rather 
pleasing effect. Such lines should not be drawn to the edge of 
the petal, or a little injur}' will soon be evident; nor should they 
be strong, nor near together, as they quickly spread. These 
])layful deceptions may yield occasional amusement, but it would 
be neither good taste, nor good feeling, to permit a friend to quit 
our society under any false impression occasioned by such arts. 
Knowledge of this sort is ])rincipally valuable by exhibiting the 
visible chemical action of one ingredient on another, and by 
awakening the mind to what is, and may be, done. Various silk 
and cotton articles, having a coloured ground, and white pat- 
tern, are first dyed of one uniform colour; and their white pat- 
terns given by the application of a liquid, to discharge part of 
their ground colour. The liquid so employed is, not unffe- 
(piently, injurious to the fabric of these articles, which will ac- 
count for the j)remature decay, particularly of some sorts, of 
printed cottons. 
17 Onions of Large Size. When the beds are formed, by the 
usual method, trample them heavily, and roll them finnly. On 
this compact surface sow the seed, and cover it the usual depth, 
with a rich compost. The bulbs, instead of sinking, will spread 
superficially to a good size, and ripen earlier. 
18 Preserving Apples. A method of preserving apples, which 
will be useful to many persons, independently of the superior 
freshness of the fruit so kept, appears in the London Horticul- 
tural Transactions, and also in the Gardener’s IVIagazine. It 
is by burying them, nearly as potatoes. Dig a pit of two feet 
deep, in a dry situation, of sufficient extent to contain the 
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