THE perishability of flowers is a great hindrance to their more general use as articles of personal adornment, or for home decorations. Many times are miserable counterfeits of silk, cambric and paper substituted for the real presentment, because even the most hardy soon wither when subjected to much handling, or to a close atmosphere. And then flowers cost so much - every blossom represents a great deal of time and money, even if we raise them ourselves - that few persons can afford the indulgence very often of such short-lived ornaments. If, like pictures, they held up their bright faces week after week, and month after month, with no diminution of their attractions, the expense would not deserve a moment's thought. But, when beside this, we incur the sadness of witnessing their rapid decay, we are apt to reflect a good while before putting them to such use.

Flowers, we all know, do not sequester their charms for the sole benefit of the individual who possesses them, even during their brief existence, so when on extraordinary occasions, by dint of economy in other matters, we do gratify our companions as well as self by surroundings of floral beauty, we would fain retain a souvenir of the event, as many a heap of shrivelled and brown petals, just ready to drop to dust, that once wore fresh and fair, hoarded carefully among valued relics, can attest. Again, when love and friendship find most fitting expression through the voiceless lips of flowers, how reluctantly they are yielded to decay - how much is done to lengthen to the utmost their fleeting lives; and when all traces of life have left them, how, like so many mummies, they lie in their lonely sarcophagus - the time-stained and tattered letters that accompanied them. And when the myrtles and white lilies of death that have lain in the ice-coid hand now mouldering under the daisies, made sacred by that touch, have been reverently rescued from the grave for a few brief days, how jealously are they guarded from harm, with what affectionate solicitude - almost as if they were the embodiment of the departed - expedients are resorted to for setting far-off their final relinquishment to the fate of all earthly things!

But this iron law, that, governing mortality, has laid its rigorous hand so heavily on the floral world, may, in a measure, be set at defiance; just in the prime of their loveliness, bud and blossom, leaf and tendril can be so changed in tissue, and yet retain their original appearance and individuality, as to be in a certain sense incapable of decay.

Flowers prepared in this way are in great request for floral decorations of all sorts in England, and the fashion. is already on the rise in this country. Florists have collections of dried and preserved flowers on sale, or, if a customer prefers to furnish the flowers, will get them done to their order by some person in their employ. But high prices are charged for this work, twenty-five dollars and upwards are often paid for preserving a funeral wreath. And yet it is not an expensive nor a difficult process. Any lady will find it an agreeable diversion, as fascinating as painting, and less unhealthy; while the coat of materials, not counting the price of the flowers, is trifling.

The first method of preserving flowers is by preparing them to present ft flat surface, with their colors undimmed, resembling a painting. This has been a favorite style of making funeral wreaths and bouquets durable mementoes of bereavement; and, until the last few years, the only method practiced in this country. Dried in this manner, flowers are employed in Europe for many purposes of ornamentation.

Our engraving shows a lady's fan, to be used at the theatre, or in the ball-room; when not in baud, to decorate the chimney-piece. The flowers upon this are preserved in a flat position, and are fixed with gum tragacanth to the material of the fan. The best material to arrange dried flowers on is card board. It may be covered with silver paper, or delicate black or white lace, according to fancy. To this the flowers are gummed in any design; this fan simulates a bouquet. Green leaves, except those of the laurel family, lose some of their brightness, even with the beat management, and, unless resort is made to artificial tinting of their surface, cannot be used with preserved flowers. Hence, lycopodium and moss that retain their brilliancy so long, are the verdure most frequently introduced, as little as possible being admissible. The design completed should be set in a dark, airy room to dry for a day or two; then lace of the same sort that lies beneath the flowers must be spread over them and gummed at the edges; a neat edging of the same, or a small silk fringe, being affixed in the same manner, as a finish.

The requisites for drying flowers to present this uniformly flat surface are a quantity of clean white paper, light and soft, with an undressed face (such as cheap books are made of), two covers of wire cloth (sheets two feet long and one and a half feet wide, their edges bound with a narrow strip of zinc), two stout leather straps with buckles, a paper knife, or a small wooden spatula and a camel's hair pencil.

The flowers must be freshly gathered; buds and half-blown blossoms are best. "When wide-open flowers are used it must be in the first hours of their expansion. A thick bed of smooth layers of the paper must be made, resting upon one of the covers. For small flowers, half an inch deep of the layers is sufficient; for roses, japonicas, and other large and double flowers and their buds, an inch will be needed; this is to absorb the moisture. Upon this bed lay the flowers, without crowding, in a natural position, using the paper knife and hair pencil to arrange the petals, the sepals and the stamens and pistils with great care. If possible, none but flowers of similar size and appearance should occupy these drying sheets at once ; never admit but one color at a time, else there is danger of dimness or discoloration. When all are smoothly arranged lay a bed of the same thickness of paper upon them, place the other cover, and make all tight and firm by means of the straps and their buckles. Suspend this in the sun and air - out of doors is best; if in a light breeze the drying is hastened. The smaller flowers will dry in six or eight hours of summer sunshine. The larger often require two days. They should not be removed from the drying sheets till all moisture has left them.