The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1886-09-09
FLOWERS AND TREES.
telIable Directions for Preserving TheT
In Good Condition.

telIable Directions for Preserving Them
In Good Condition.
Gather the flowers only on dry, sunny
lays. when as free from atmospheric
moisture as possible. As most wild
lowers and all delicate ferns droep and
Either il carried in the hand. the best
,lan is to place them one by one be
ween the leaves of book as soon as
gathered If book has not been pro-
vided for the purpose place the flowers
between layers Of moss. damp round
the stems. but dry round the blossoms.
Carried thus in a basket or botanical
case they will keep fresh for some
hours, but as soon as possible they
should be placed in water and allowed
% stand in moderately warm room
for an hour or two before being press
sd, in order to dry off any moisture they
NAV have contracted against the moss.
The reason for being particularly care
ul a. TO their drvness is, that upon that
largely depe ndS their retaining their
color If pressed when damp they in
variablv become discOlored. or have a
faded appearance. Those in the book
NAV be left there for an hour or two, If
not convenient to attend 10 them at
Dnce. but the sooner they are put into
olotting-paper the better. Arrange
carefully, and regulate the pressure ac-
eording to color and texture Ferns
can not he too firmly pressed. and vel
low and purple flowers also stand great
pressure; bat red or yellow-tinted
leaves, such as those of the wild geranj-
um. and all flowers of succulent texture.
require to b. more lightly pressed. 9TH
erwiS, they lose their color Most
flowers and ferns are the better for
having the blotting paper changed at
least twice during the eight or ten DAYS
required for pressing them perfectly.
This Is best done by placing dry sheet
above them, taking hold Of it and the
sheet upon which they are lying, turn
ing over quickly the Two thus held, so
bringing the damp sheet uppcrmOst.
then carefully removing that. Should
any leaf or blossom b. inclined TO adj
here to the paper, 4 slight tap on the
back will generally suffice to loosen 1t;
if not. it must I've removed with the fin
gers. Then place two dry sheets above
and one underneath that upon which
the flowers are. On changing a second
time. one over and one under viii suf-
fee Primroses. violets, wood sorrel
and several other delicate flowers and
ali very fragile ferns such a the yOHnG
frondS of the oak and beech. form an
exception to this rule. and must not be
removed from the first sheet upon
which they are laid down until they are
perfectly dry: otherwise they will curl
up. and twill be found impossible to lay
them flat again. Two dry sheets NAV.
however. be laid above and one under
meath the sheet they are on. Moss. if
pressed Immediately in the moist state
it usually i in when gathered, need not
be changed from the papers in which it
is first laid. But if allowed to dry. and
then re-wet for pressing. il must be put
into dry papers next day. Amy thick
ish paper will do TO press it in. The
press consists of two pieces Of hard
wood. two or three dozen pieces Of N IL
board, cut to the same size. or frac-
ton less. and an unlimited supply of
white blottng paper There is no APP
probable advantage gained by using
botanical paper, and blotting paper Is
more readily obtained. Before using,
the paper should be carefully dried in
the sun or before a fire. but not used
whilst still hot. Each layer of flowers
or leaves should have from four to six
thicknesses of paper, and then be
placed between two pieces of mill
board. Two strong leather straps, con-
nected for convenience sake by q
handle, like rag straps. give the neces-
sary pressure. If still a greater de-
gree than they give when drawn as
tightly as poss bic is desired two
wedges may be inserted between the
strap and the wood. When removed
from the press. the flowers and leaves
should be kept in a book for awhile be-
fore being exposed to the air.-London
queen.