The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-08-23
How to Prese rye Natural Flowers with
sulphur.

This process is a simple one. The only
articles necessary for this operation are
close box, a pan for the sulphur, and guam
tity of sti"h sulphur.
Collect enough flowers to fill half.peck
basket, then obtain square wooden box
Zone of those in which tea is packed Is adj
mirable for the purpose, being light, close
and of convenient size); across the top of
this-on the inside of course tack two mar.
row strips of wood on opposite sides, upon
which rest rods or strips for the punches of |
flowers to hang from. The box must be |
air-tight but as the burning sulphur would |
very quickly consume the oxygen of the al;
contained in it,and the fire be extiuguished, |
it is necessary to have hole or two bored,
or small door cut in the lower part of one
side, which may be closed or opened at
pleasure-the former by means of plugs fit
ted to them, the latter with hinge, or a
pair of them.
Arrange the flowers in loose clusters of
from two to a dozen, according to size two
dahlias, passion flowers or callas, four half
blown roses or two or three full blown, q
spray or two of fuchsias or larkspur pinks
or lantanas, one or two camelias, dozen
forget.me.nots or lilies-of-t the valley, mig
nonette and so on, according to size har q
each cluster as tied upon the rods, mot touch
ing each other. There will be room for
about four rows. In an iron pan put a shov-
ell partly full of clear live Goals, spreading
them over the bottom place it on the bot.
tom of the box, sprinkle over the whole sur
face about two ounces of crushed sulphur
slide the lid into place, and the process is
well commenced. The opening, whether
hole or little door, is kept open for few
minutes, until, glaneng in, you find all pro-
crossing favorably-no fame, but abundance
of sulphur fumes then close up air-tish'
throw heavy blanket or piece of thick
carpet ovei tuckng it closely beneath the
box, and leave unmoested for twenty tvu
hours, when, if all has gone well,' your
flowers will appear quite perfect in form, hut
bleached to dull creamy white shade
This, upon exposing them to pure air in
I dry place, they gradually lose and assume
f their natural tints, though not 40 inteI,A in
| shade as previous to the bleaching process
a If preferred, they may be touched up with
$ water color, and made to appear as if -,
4 plucked
!. 1t is absolutely necessary in this process,
f to have the box air-tight, and to effec, hi.
g we paste muslin all over the edges and cor
r ners, and often after closing the lid pou
: little liquid plaster of Paris around tn,
-. edges.
= The little door mentioned is made by saw
d ing out a piece on one side of the box, fit
: ting it carefully, and putting two small hin
e ges on the lower part, so as to allow it to fal
IS back when unlocked, for the upper edg
j. should be furnished with hook made /
e fasten into the box, thus holding it suugly
d in place.
q When the sulphur is once we'll ignite,
l. the case must be kept as closely as possible
4, as upon this depends the success of the ope
g ration. The room in which the box is place
,r must be dry, as a damp atmosphere is unfs
lie vorable to the bleaching process.
lie Flowers thus preserved, if tastefully a
lie ranged under a shade or in a recess fran
to will retain their perfection of form and co
or for any length of time.--Harper's Bazd