Year: 1876

HOME FLORIST.


Long Bros, Buffalo, N. Y, send out tspeci-
men pages from treatise on the cultivation,
ETC., of flowers and ornamental
plants, and with leaf containing the follow
ing directions tor drying leaves and flowers,
which our lady readers will appreciate:


TO be able to preserve beautiful flowers
and leaves for years, by means of drying
them, is very desirable for the botanist, as
well as alllovers ofplants and flowers. A col
lection of dried specimens that have been
fixed to sheets of fine white paper is called a
Herbarium, and where the names, place and
time Of collection Of each is given, and all
are Systematically arranged under their gem
eral orders, ETC., il becomes very interesting.
The materials used for drying fresh or green
specimens are simply q soft, unsized paper,
such as will absorb moisture quite readily,
and press of some sort. What is known
as blotting paper would be the best kind of
paper for the purpose, but something much
cheaper will answer very we'll. Most kinds
Of paper used for newspaper printing are
good. Touch the tongue to it and if the
moisture left on the surface is quickly alb
sorbed, then it will answer OF coure the
sooner it shows itself to be absorbed, the
better is the paper. The paper should be
cut into sheets sufficiently small to handle
well, and the greater part Of these may be
made into driers, consisting of dozen or so
sheets held together with stitch or two OF
thread. The specimens to be dried should
not be long picked from the plant before
placing them to press between the driers
The pressure may be applied by regular
screw press, or BY simply placing weights
on the matter to be pressed when all isready.
IA pressure Of fsty pounds would do for
small operations. BY having it too heavy
the more dalieat te parts Of leaves or How
ers will become bruised. First, lay down
one of the paper d,siers, on top of which
place single loose sheet. On this the leaves
or flowers to be preserved should be placed.
If the specimens to be preserved are small,
number may be laid on one sheet. Then
lay another loose sheet directly ON the speci-
mems, and on this another Clrier, continrl-
ing in that manner until one-half the driers
are used, and then apply the pressure. The
object of all this is to have the paper absorb
all the moisture in the leaves ss quickly as
possible. After six or ten hours the press
should be opened and the specimens taken
out and placed between tie driers which
have not been used. The single sheet next
to the specimens above and below may, for
convenience in handling, remain in the new
making up Of a form for pressing, especial
ly if the specimens be small and consequent
ly difficult to handle individually in their
partially dried condition. The driers taken
out will befound to be quite damp and
should be hung up to become thoroughly
dried for use again. After the specimens
have been pressed for twelve hours the see
ond time, then they should again be taken
out and placed between the first driers,
which ought to be dry by this time. After
one, two or three more pressures, always
the newly dried driers for the
lamp ones taken out, at each change, the
pecimens will be found sufficiently dry.
Then they can be fixed in the Herbarium
With the aid of little glue or mucilage.


Color ARRANGEMENT.-Af few simple rules