Retaining the Colour in Dried Flowers.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 218, 3 September 1887, Page 6

Retaining the Colour in Dried Flowers.

Those who visited the International Exhibition of 1862 will remember, in the eastern annexe, two or three trays o^ natural flowers in which the shape, as wel| as the colour, was well retained. These were produced by a German artist, named Schwartz, and were considered so successful that a trade was established at Erfurt and in other towns, having for its object the substitution of real for artificial flowers. Whether fho ».ide is still prospering, or win ' - its success was but temporary, do not know; but the following details of the mode employed cannot fail to be of interest. The flowers which it is intended to preserve should be gathered when fully developed, but before they show any ten dency to shed their petals ; they must be quite dry— that is to &ay, no dew or rain must be on them— and to ensure this, it is advisable to keep them for a few hours in a room, with the very extremity of their stalks in water. A box is then taken, constructed for the purpose, having a movable bottom and a framework of wire at various intervals, on which the flowers rest. Ihe bottom is filled with fine white sand, and when the blossoms are placed in the required positions on the framework, white sand u carefully sifted over them through a fine sieve, until the box is qrite full. It is then closed, and placed in a stove raised to a moderate temperature; after a short period it is taken out, and the bottom removed, when the sand falls tlnoucrh, leaving the flowers in the frame. It is best to have only one stage in each box, as when more are used the pressure upon the blossoms is not so equal, and they have thus a greater risk of shrhelling. The sand must be carefully washed, sifted, and dried before it is used again. Even on this system, however, certain plants will lose their colours, and, although white, blue, and yellow blossoms are pretty sure to turn out satisfactorily, those of more delicate tints, such aa rose or volet, cannot always be depended upon, although they sometimes retain their colours.

"During the short time that Loid Byron was in Parliament, a petition, setting forth oho wretched condition of the Irish peasantry, was one evening presented, and very coldly received by the "hereditary legislative wisdom." " Ah," said Lord Byron, "what a misfortune it was for the Irish that they were not born black ! They would then have had plenty of friends in both Houses.'