1882] . Correspondence , 431 
narcissus was placed in a mixed solution of eosine and alkaline 
blue, and the flower then actually performed an analysis, the blue 
appearing in all its brightness at the edges of the segments of 
the perianth, and the eosine in unchanged pinkness at its base. 
This experiment was repeated many times, and always with the 
same beautiful result. 
The experiments having been carried thus far with the anilines, 
it was determined to try whether absorption would also take 
place with animal and vegetable colouring-matters. 
Solutions were made of indigo and cochineal, the latter in two 
forms, viz., aqueous solution of the crushed inseCts, and also 
ammoniacal solution of pure carmine. The indigo was absorbed 
very slowly, following the venation of the leaves in the manner 
of the majority of the anilines absorbed : it exhibited, however, 
one marked peculiarity, viz., that of fading in about twenty-four 
hours, and not, like the anilines, lasting during the life of the 
flower. Cochineal was absorbed in both forms, in each case fol- 
lowing the venation of the petals ; the colour collected at the 
edges as with alkaline blue, but to a more marked extent, espe- 
cially in the case of carmine, which in every case gave colour 
save to the edges of the petals. The solution of carmine was 
perfectly clear when the flowers were placed in it, but in less 
than twenty-four hours it became turbid, although the same 
solution, under the same circumstances, would remain — -if flowers 
were not placed in it — clear for three days. 
The dyes experimented with were found to differ not only in 
time and manner of absorption, but also in a very marked degree 
in the influence they exercised on the life of the flower, — car- 
mine, cochineal, alkaline blue, and methyl green being apparently 
quite innocuous, but aniline black and eosine being distinctly 
injurious, the flowers fading very rapidly after their absorption. 
This would appear specially curious as regards eosine, for not 
only is it used in small quantities in confectionery, but rabbits 
may be fed continually, and will fatten on food highly charged 
with it. Nevertheless to flowers it would appear poisonous. 
Both the single and double narcissi have been used for these 
experiments (the double narcissi absorb much more rapidly than 
the single), also the ox-eye daisy, pinks, and sweet pea ; and it 
has been found that not only do the segments of the perianth 
absorb colour, but also the corona of narcissi, the stem and 
calyx in peas and pinks, and sometimes also the stamens. Of 
absorption by the stamens, which occurs less frequently, the 
white pink is an instance. 
If cuts be made partly across the petals, and the flower be 
then placed in the dye, the colour will pass up by the side of the 
cut, and then spread in the upper part of the petal over the cut. 
This is fully shown in the sweet pea, in which flower the veins 
are completely coloured over the incision ; but in the daisy the 
colour returns by one or two veins only, leaving a white space 
