The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-05
NEW STUDY OF WILD FLOWERS.

During thu past few weeks an original
process has reen discovered which will. II
fully developed. open up n new and highly
interesting department OF research in the
study of the wild flora peculiar TO New
England. The idea originated in the
brain of one of New York's m5st promi-
nont society woman. anu during the short
time which has elapsed since she made
known her discovery 20 ono of her friends.
il has met with universal appreciation
by those who are interested in tho study Of
American flora.
Mrs. Cornelius Van Brunt and her hus-
hand, both of whom are well known in
the social world of New YORK, are both
enthusiastic lovers of flowers. For long
time previous Mrs. Van Brunt has made
an especial study Of the flowers native 10
her own state, and has come To be re-
parded as practical authority upon all
questions relative to the wild flowers of
New York.
The method commonly employed in
photographing a flower is TO form The
negative in precisely the same manner in
which one would go to work to photo
graph log cabin or steamb boat The
"stereoptioon studies" which have been
commonly used, reproduce pictures with
great deal of exactness, it Is true. but
OF the slide may occasi6 nally pe varied
with q bit of blue sky or the dark green
of the ocean, but aside from this, there IL
total absence OF the natural tint OF the
object. 1t has remained for woman, who
by tbs way, Is neither college graduate
nor one who has devoted her life to the
especiai study Of the peculiar properties
Of negatives to perfect and fully develop
scheme for illustrating flowers with
such life likeness that the observer fancies
ho can almost per ceive the blossom grow.
Mrs. Van Brunt as has been stated,
has been interested for long time in tho
art of floral photography. From this
work in which she attained large meas
ure of success, she was induced Co make
the attempt to color the original n eRatives
in such n manner as 10 exactly reproduce
every tint and hue Of the flower rs IL
appears in full bloom, or in the opening
bud.
There Is nothing which can contribute
more toward making tho study of botany
entertaining ana attractive than this
process, IL successfully carried out, and
Mrs Van Brunt has proved by her ax-
perence that the idea Is Intensely practi-
cal. It Is an unfortunate fact that the
average text book upon even elementary
botany is sin9uiarIy dry and prosaic.
These abound in lengthy Latin names
and uninteIestinc comments and diserta-
tions upon the relation OF oalyx TO corolla
and such matter There can be no moro
interesting or attractive study than bot
any, II 10 is presented in the proper light,
and It's beauties can onlv DO shown either
by original specimens in their own
beauty. or exact representations OF them
on the slides
An excellent flower slide requires az
an excellent original. that it be micro
copically perfect. III the flower be many
times magniiled on the canvas, it should
still be equally beautiful the enlarge
mont, Il enyth M only serving To bring 10
light new beauties too line 30 have boon
noticed hitherto. The Transparent aniline
tint of the slide should carry out and
perfectly express the effect Of nature.
white the pecuiiarities from a botanical
standpoint tho history Of tho plant and
tho olden time legerds connected with it
viii unquestionably be remem bered.
Mrs. Cnrornolius Van Brunt saws her
self in commenting on her discovery:
"It can TO reauily appreciated that n
class of lesrners will enjoy seeing their
wood anu ncquaiutances and friends pre-
sented TO them bodily, 6s lt were, on the
screen rathor than tho bare reproduction
OF book illustration IN black and white.
People al over tho uation ought 90 have
n fair knowledge OF the flowers In their
own locality, the fact that they do not Is
fully demonstrated ~ tho scarcity OF
herbacious pnd botanical gardens.
There is no better way ~ teaching. nor
moro attractive one .ban to instruct and
appeai to the eve. hence viii bo readily
s,en the great value OF slides finished Ia
Ito national cocrs OF tho originals to hc
used N botanical le estures IN our schools
and COLLEGES, as well as tofore the gen
eral public. Not only the flower Gs
W hole has been thus represented but Mr..
Van Brunt has also met with cOniderablo
success In the representation and enlarge