The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-08-06
Cheap Rustic AdOrnmentS.

There are many women who sigh for
pretty things, outward adornments for their
front door-yards, lawns, and gardens, and
they almost break the tenth commandment
while gazing at the lovely rustic work or
marble vases, ETC., possessed by their more
fortunate neighbOrs.
1t is for these that we desire to write
these lines. and to assure them that, II they
can use the saw, hammer, and palnt-brush,
they need not envy the surroundings OF
the rich and the great. From the COM
monest materials, with the aid OF these
implements and several varieties OF climb
ing vines, they can construct hanging
baskets, vases, pyramids, etc, TO their
hearts content, which will be quite as or
namental as any that can be purchased at
the stores, and more highly priced, be-
cause they are made, as it were, out OF
nothing, and are the product OF their own
handiwOrk.
Every woman who lives in the country,
where the woods are filled with beautiful
vines, moses, and ferns, and every dell
is tremulous with lovely grasses, can sur
round herself with treasures of living
green. We could show you in front of our
piazza a graceful pyramid of three tiers,
adorned with moneywOrt, tradescantia,
and Jill go over the ground" whose
! beauty attracts every passer-by.
Would you like to possess one?
Then learn its secrets.
1t is composed of three old tin milk
pans, battered and worn, and so filled with
! holes that the tinman pronounced them
past cure. The holes in the bottom were
a recommendation for the purpose l de-
sired to use them. If there had not been
bountiful supply, should have punched
more, so as to secure good drainage.
A few cents worth of green paint trans
formed the rusty outsides of the pans into
a pleasing aspect. The pans were of diff
| ferent siz' s; the smallest, of course, must
form the apex of the pyramid. A little
thicket of woods opposite the house fur
nished small tree, about as large around
as mans wrist. This was cut OFF so as
to furnish stick five feet in length. A
large hole was then broken out from
the center of two pans, and they were
slipped on to the stick at regular inter
walls. The upper pan being nailed flrmly
to the smooth top of the stick, the lower
end of it was sharpened to point, so as
to be driven into the ground at least six
| inches. Two strong iron spikes were
hammered into the stick just below each
of the two pans, so that they could rest
upon it about three inches on each side.
This supports them, so that no weight can
overthrow them.
The pans were then filled with good
rich soil, layer an inch in depth of bits
of charcoal being placed at the bottom OF
them, to keep them sweet. In this the
vines were planted, and now they testoon
the sides with more beautiful drapery
than money can purchase; while the
whole cost of the pyramid did not exceed
ten cents. On two large sections OF a
tree, with the bark left on, are placed two
wooden bowls. also painted green and
filled with various vines, while Varle-
gated geranium is placed in the center OF
each. These sections of wood are planted
i'm the ground and present the appearance
of stumps.
An old fig-drum or salt-box can be
converted into lovely hanging-basket by
drilling holes in three places, to pass wires
through, and then mailing upon the out
side strips of bark, pine cones, or dry
moses; and you will possess rustic
basket which can be suspended from the
trees, or porch, or piazza, and will grow
in beauty daily. If you are so fortunate
as to live in the vicinity of a saw-mill or
tannery, you can easily procure messy
oak or hemlock bark. and these, mingled
with the pliable stems of wild grape vines
will afford you rustic work which Will be
the admiration of every one.
Take any old shallow box of the dimen-
sions you may desire, or make one that
flares out at the sides. and cover it with
strips of the bark. joined neatly and
tightly nailed on. Finish the top with q
strip of bark around the edge, and glue
on moss here and there to give 1t pretty
effect. Then use the grape-vines for han
dies. twisting two or three of them to
gether, and you will have handle Of
Natures own handiwork, over which you
can Irvine vines, while in the box can be
planted all kinds of basket plants-such
as ivy geraniums, variegated sweet ays'
sum, tradescantia, moneywort, tropeo'
lums, etc.
Window-boxes can be made to fit into
any window in this manner. and WheI
filled with charcoal at the bottom and
rich sandy loan and planted with bedding
out plants or annuais-like asters or bal
sams-they are lovely ornament fol
months to come.
Beautiful hanging-baskets can also be
,aade out of the bark and gIape-vines
taking square bit of the bark for the bot
tom of the basket, and building up th'
sides. log-cabin fashion, out of the pieces
of gTape-vines, sawed into equal lengths
md fastened strongly at the end with wir'