Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-10-26
FLOWERS AND TREES.
Reliable Directions for Preserving Them
In Good Condition.

IN GOOu COnultioh'
Gather the flowers only on dry, sunny
days, when as free from atmospheric
moisture as possible. As most wild
flowers and all delicate ferns droop and
wither il carried in the hand. the best
plan is to place them one by one be-
tween 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 n basket or botanical
ease they will keep fresh for some
hours, but as soon as possible they
should be placed in water and allowed
to stand in moderately warm room
for an hour or two before being press
ed, in order to dry off any moisture they
may have contracted against the moss
The reason for being particularly care
full as to their dryness is, that upon that
largely depends their retaining their
color. II pressed when damp they in
variably become discolored, or have a
faded appearance. Those in the book
may be left there for an hour or two, #
not convenient to attend 10 them at
once, but the sooner they are put into
blotting-paper the better. Arrange
carefully, and regulate the pressure ac-
cording to color and texture. Ferns
can not be too firmly pressed, and yel-
low and purple flowers also stand great
pressure; but red or yellow+intel
leaves, such as those of the wild gtrani-
um, and all flowers of succulent texture,
require to be more lightly pressed, 9th
erwise they loss 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 a 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 uppernost,
then carefully removing that Should
any leaf or blossom be inclined to adj
here to the paper, slight tap on the
back will generally suffice to loosen it
if not, it must be removed with the fin
gers. Then place two dry sheets above
and one underneath that upon whicl
the flowers are. On changing q seconC
time, one over and one under will SUI
flee. Primroses, violets, wood sorre
and several other delicate flowers ant
all very fragile ferns such rs the youn.
fronds of the oak and beech, form al
exception to this rule, and must not b.
, removed from the first sheet upol
which they are laid down until they ar
perfectly dry; otherwise they will cur
, up, and twill be found impossible to la,
. them fiat again. Two dry sheets may
however, be laid above and one under
meath the sheet they are on. Moss,
pressed immed ately in the moist stat
it usually is in when gathered, need no
! be changed from the papers in which
is first laid. But if allowed to dry, an
then re-wet for pressing, it must be pr
into dry papers next day. Any thicl
n ish paper will do to press it in. TIL
a press consists of two pieces of .har
Il wood. two or three dozen pieces of m |
board, cut to the same size, or q fra
q ton less, and an unlimited supply I
q white blott'ng paper. There is no ar
probable advantage gained by usin
T botanical paper, and blotting paper
= more readily obtained. Before usin?
4 the paper should be carefully dried
y the sun or before fire, but not use
y whilst still hot. Each layer of flower
VI