Show find method of saving beauty beamy delicately tinted flowers may be preserved in natural colors washington A process by which the most delicately tinted wildflower or rainbow hued crustacean may be preserved indefinitely in its natural color has been developed by an agricultural department scientist in in washington 1 D C and specimens are now on display at the national museum this preservation method created by G R fessenden specialist in plant preservation is the first time the fugitive colors in nature have been preserved according to dr waldo schmitt head curator of biology at the museum until edw now scientists using alcohol as a preservative have contended with faded yellowed and often distorted specimens many of which would disintegrate at the slightest jar there was no way to depict faithfully the color of a flower the effects of plant diseases or the ravages of pests because the ordinary preserved specimen is brown or discolored color photographs or paintings were the only means of reproducing natures colors stay fresh looking preserved by the fessenden process a cross section of a strawberry remains red and fresh looking autumn leaves retain their incomparable colors a tiny brightly colored hermit crab looks just as it did when picked up at the seashore in 1939 and a plague ravaged alfalfa leaf shows its wounds in meticulous detail in clear plastic cases safe from dust mildew insects or mechanical injury the process begins with the use of a mild preservative in concentrated form mr fessenden explained pla ined the fresh specimen may either be treated by putting it into the preserving fluid while still fresh or it may be pressed carefully and dried before the preservative is applied it is cured preferably under refrigeration so plant enzymes may bs be rendered inactive the specimen is then dehydrated by the use of a or drying agent to remove any remaining water then it is put into its final mount by en casing it between plates of moisture resistant plastic keep indefinitely indications are says mr fessenden who began work on the process in in 1928 that when sealed into the plastic in such a way that all free moisture is excluded preserved specimens will retain their appearance indefinitely under indoor lighting conditions the success of the fessenden method opens many possibilities for the future science professors may demonstrate to their students by actual example the f findings of the past county agents may show farmers precisely how to recognize the beginnings of costly and dangerous crop plagues in time to ave avert rt them A rare or unique orchid or even a goldfish may be preserved in its original beauty for posterity A poison ivy leaf preserved in its disarmingly bright garb will serve to educate nature lovers who unwittingly gather the treacherous foliage to enhance their wild bouquets |