How to Do Chemical Tricks — Curious Change of Colors, The Protean Lights, To Change the Colors of Flowers, Changes of the Poppy, Changes of the Rose

Curious Change of Colors.

Let there be no other light than a taper in the room; then put on a pair of dark-green spectacles, and having closed one eye view the taper with the other.

Suddenly remove the spectacles and the taper will assume a bright red appearance; but if the spectacles be instantly replaced, the eye will be unable to distinguish anything for a second or two.

The order of colors will therefore be as follows: green, red, green, black.

The Protean Light.

Soak a cotton wick in a strong solution of salt and water, dry it, place it in a spirit lamp, and when lit it will give a bright yellow light for a long time.

If you look through a piece of blue glass at the flame, it will lose all its yellow light and you will only perceive feeble violet rays.

If before the blue glass you place a pale yellow glass, the lamp will be absolutely invisible, though a candle may be distinctly seen through the same glasses.

To Change the Colors of Flowers.

Hold over a lighted match a purple columbine or a blue larkspur, and it will change first to pink and then to black.

The yellow of other flowers held as above will continue unchanged.

Thus, the purple tint will instantly disappear from a heart’s-ease, but the yellow will remain; and the yellow of a wall-flower will continue the same, though the brown streak will be discharged.

If a scarlet, crimson, or maroon dahlia be tried, the color will change to yellow, a fact known to gardeners, who by this mode variegate their growing dahlias.

Changes of the Poppy.

Some flowers which are red, become blue by merely bruising them.

Thus, if the petals of the common corn-poppy be rubbed upon white paper, they will stain it purple, which may be made green by washing it over with a strong solution of potash in water.

Put poppy petals into very dilute muriatic acid, and the infusion will be of a florid red color; by adding a little chalk, it will become the color of port wine; and this tint, by the addition of potash may be changed to green or yellow.

Changes of the Rose.

Hold a red rose over the blue flame of a common match and the color will be discharged wherever the fume touches the leaves of the flower, so as to render it beautifully variegated, or entirely white.

If it be then dipped into water, the redness, after a time, will be restored.