PRESERVED FLOWERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 838, 20 December 1867, Page 16

PRESERVED FLOWERS.

(Englishwoman's Magazine for August.)

The preservation of flowers in their natural forms and colors, is an entirely new industry that Las arisen in Germany. Erfurt, the abode of nurserymen and florists, excels in manufacturing bouquets, wreaths, floral decorations for rooms, dinner tables, &c, made of such flowers, and our information is gained from sources supplied by the artists of that city. First get a basket full of fine sand, wash it till all the soluble particles are gone. You will know when this condition is reached by the water looking quite clear as you pour it off ; when you are quite sure of the fact, pour the sand on stones or boards placed aslant, so that the water can run off, and let it dry either in the sun or by the lire — it nmst be dry, perfectly dry. Then pass the sanrl tlirough a !>i«ve, so that all dusty particles disappear* from it, as tliure are always some which washing and drying cannot remove. Then pass it through a, coarse seive, so as to get rid of too large grains. When that is done, your sand should present a mass of fine particles, of nearly equal size, as is, for instance, the so-called silver sand used for writing. Keep the sand in a very dry, and, if possible, in a warm place, that no vitalising quality may remain in it.

For the flowers, cut them in a fully developed state, -taking care that they are not even moist with dew, rain, &c. If. you cannot obtain them in any other than a damp condition, which is to be regretted, then the following proceeding will have to be taken to make them dry : — Taking one or two flowers at a time, put them into a glass, into -which, pour just enough water that the ends can stand in it ; the flower will then dry, and will suck up water enough not to fade.

Now get a box or a pot, or anything large enough to receive your flower or flowers ; pour sand enough into it so that they will stand by themselves, their stems imbedded in the sand. And now for that part of the work which calls for skill and delicate fingering ; don't be afraid ; for practice renders it a comparatively easy matter. You have to' fill up the "box above the level of the flowers with sand, so that the flowers are completely imbedded in. it. By means of a tube, or a funnel, &r a sieve, just as you may find best after one or two attempts, you will be able to accomplish it in such a way that every particle of the flower rests in sand, and that your filling up shall not havecrumpled or displaced the smallest petal. Of course, this portion of the preparation, can only be done slowly by a beginner. , And now take care not to shake your box, else the flowers inside may be injured. Carry it to a place both dry and warm, so that all the moisture in the flower may pass into the sand, which, being porous, is in turn acted upon, and will let the moisture pass entirely out, and thus evaporate. Avoid, however, positive heat, or the colors of the flower will fade ; whilst at too low a temperaj ture, the moisture in the flower will not dry quicldy enough, and so rot it. The i warmth should, as a general thing, never exceed one hundred degrees. When you are sure that your flowers have fully dried — a fact a very little practice in touching the box will teach you — the thing is done. Open the box, and, holding it in a slan+ing direction, let i so much sand run out that you can lift the flowers by the stems ; by turning it on its side and almost upsidedown, shaking it gently, and if necessary, blowing on it, all the sand will run out, and you have i the flowers in their perfect forms, a little I brittle to be sure, in such a dry state as this, and therefore requiring careful handling. Bui a few days' exposure to the atmosphere will have imparted moisture enough to the flowers to make them l considerably less brittle. The reason why the larger grains o£ sand are got rid of is that they would press unequally and spoil the flower, which afterwards would retain all the marks of such pressure ; the dusty particles of the sand are also removed, becavise they, as well as the soluble particles removed by washing, would adhere to the hairy and velvety parts of the flower, so as never to b« got rid of, and would materially impair the original beauty. For the same reason, glabrous flowers are not fit " subjects." The very newest discovery, however, about this business is, that this mode of preserving flowers in their natural state is quite an old affair, long forgotten, and resuscitated by tho increasing demand for bouquets. There is nothing new under the sun. But there is much that is beautiful that we discover not.

The man who is always as cool as a cucumber, must, we think, be about as "green." A sick jtan was congratulated on his re« covery by the assurance that God had safelybrought Lira through it. "Well," replied he, " may bo he did, but I am, certain th« ■ doctor will charge, nxe for it."