HOW TO DRY FLOWERS

Grey River Argus, 2 June 1914, Page 8

HOW TO DRY FLOWERS

THE SULPHUR METHOD. , ;Many plans have time to s time been introduced for tKe dirying of flowers- Oji the whole there is no process quite so good as that which is extensively followed in Germanyj . and consists in submitting- blossoms to the fumes of burning sulphur. All kinds of flowers are successfully. treated in this way, some go<?d sorts being anemones, roses, fuchsias, ranunculuses, tulips, narcissi, etc. On the whole, single blooms arc the best, arid, all double flowers such as/froses, must be well open, so that 'the fumes can reach every part of the petals The chest for the drying of the' flowers may be made of stout >woocl. The size "is, of ( our^e, dependent upon the kind t*f flowers to be treated It is recommended that it^shotild not be larger than nP€cp«;ary, as the fumes are more concentrated in. a small space. ] AN ESSENTIAL POINT : In many ca«;es a number of cornpara tivcly bmall chests is preferable |to one very Hige one- An essential point lin the making of the chest is that it should be rendered a!s airtight as possible. This pnd may be achieved by pasting stout paper over the cracks at the lower pa,rt of the chest tjiere is an opening made, into which, a tin tray, or a saucer can be slipped. It must be possible .to close up this opening in such a way that no fumes will escape. . , A good plan is that where the tray for, the sulphur is attached to a front portion which closes in over the open ing. Apiece of perforated tiny must be possible to close up this opening in such a way that no fumes will escape, A good pdan is that where the tray for the sulphur' is attached to- a front portion which close? in over the opening. A piece of perforated 'tin' must be arranged to place over, the-ftray or saucer to check the fumes from rising 1 up too directly to the flowers which just happen to be above the burning sulphur. The inside of the chest should be prepared in such a way that the flowers to be treated can be suspended from strips of wood across the box. These are, of course, easily supported by fcther pieces of wood, vvhich are tacked to th e side of ,the; chest. The laths should not- be too "lose together. HOW TO PROCEED. The sulphur treatment is carried out on the following lines- The flowers should be freshly gathered and-.be freefrom any external moisture. Do not crowd the blossoms, or the fumes will not reach all the petals. When the chest is full, the hd should be closed, and some heavy stones may be placed' on the top. It is also not a bad plan to cover the whole things with a damp cloth, or to pa&te strips of paper xound the joints of the lid. Some small portions" of sulphur 1 are vow placed in the tray ; these must be ignited, and then the receptable is slip, ped through the opening in the chest. It is importan. to see that th© sulphur ' i& burning well, apd in order to assist this it is sometimes a good plan tobore" a fey holes^on the opposite side of the chest. These are, of course, closed up as soon 'as the sulphur is burning freely. The cbest must now oe left in an un. disturbed state fnr twenty-four hours' ff the process has been properly car rid out the blossoms appear to btquite white. If they are uo: bleached' it is a sign that the sulphur fumes| have not been strong enough, and the whole bu^inesb must he gone through again. } The natural colour of the flowers Iwill be speedily regained if the specif mens are hung up in a col, droy place for about a day. The blo&soms will last in a .good condition." , f,or ■a- very long while if they arevkept out of strong sunshine.