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MEMORANDA. 341
Mr. Ralph Tate's ' Flora of the Shetland Isles.' Mr. Acland believes
that it was gathered in the latter islands, and that Euphrada Odontites,
L., of which there were specimens, was also collected there; this is
not included in Mr, Tate's paper. As E. obscurum has not been re-
corded from either group, it seems worth making a note of.
Royal Merbarium, Kew, W.
MEMORANDA.
James Beitten.
Deied FioWEHS.—We have been favoured by Mrs. Scrivenor, of Alvingham
Kectory, Louth, Lincolnshire, with the sight of a group of flowers in which the
colours have been exquisitely kept ; and we should be glad to receive some
dried HeUotropes, Forget-me-nots, and other Boraginea, in which the colour
is preserved with difficulty, as we do not find any of these plants amongst the
group. As the process by wliich Mrs. Scrivenor has achieved her object may
interest some of our readers, we subjoin a detailed description of it :— "A great
mistake usually made by those wlio attempt drying flowers is to look upon
weight and pressure as an essential part of the process. This is the chief Cause
of failure. To keep the colour in a flower, we should not take all the pains we
can to squeeze out the juices in which that colour resides. All our efi'orts,
then, must be given to retain the colour by drying up thejuices, and no more
pressure must be used than will be required to heep thefiower flat. The flowers
for drying must be free from all damp and dew. If it is possible, they should
have had not less than seven or eight hours' sun upon them. Cut those only
which have just arrived at the full perfection of their bloom ;
if at all past it,
and beginning to fade, the drying pi'ocess will fail to preserve their colour.
Do not hold them when cut in your hands, but throw them as they are gathered
into a large handkerchief lightly, so that they may not press one upon
another. If the flowers are at all bruised or broken, it would be best to discard
them at once, as tlie juice would escape through the injured part. When
you have gathered your flowers, take them from their foliage, leaving the stalk
hght a candle, and hold the flower-
to each flower from one to two inches long ;
stalks one by one in the flame, until about a quarter of an inch is quite burnt
this prevents the juice from escaping. Some flowers of a very bright red, purple,
or magenta hue,—such as some of the Cinerarias, Pyretlirums, and those of a
fleshy texture, sucli as the Dielytria,—require to have their stalks dipped from
ten to twenty minutes in a weak solution of water and muriate of lime in crys-
tals before burning ; while very fleshy green leaves should have their stalks
first put in a solution of saltpetre and water. Provide yourself with some
blotting-pads. The size sold for 4c^. or Qd. per quire will be found most con-
;