Displaying soil sample

An interesting dilemma for the more botanically minded amongst you.
A garden of tremendously historical importance is endeavouring to
preserve and display a sampling of freshly removed moist soil. Up
till now soil taken over many generations from the garden involved
have been housed in sealed glass bottles and these have shown no
sign of mold, probably because the soil was allowed to dry out in
the sealed containers.

Providing a more visitor friendly showpiece has its problems for
this museum collection. Collection managers anxious to display the
latest freshly removed soil within a modern display environment
whilst maintaining the look and feel of moist soil have hit a
problem.

Within days of removing the soil from its natural environment and
placing within a modern display case the soil has begun to be
effected by green mold. Can anyone suggest a means of displaying and
preserving the moist soil?

Mark Vine
Conservation Resources, England

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 10:15
                  Distributed: Friday, August 2, 1996
                       Message Id: cdl-10-15-009
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