New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-12-12
Ferns, and their Winter Arrangement.

Very pretty hanging baskets may be ar
ranged with pressed ferns and autumn
leaves. The ferns as soon as gathered
should be placed between the leaves of an
atlas, or some other book of convenient
size, for conveyance home. The DELAY of a
few hours will deprive them of much OF
their beauty. The maiden hair fern is ex.
quisite in its grace when freshly gathered
but from its lack of transparent effect is
not 80 available for winter decorations as
the more common varieties. Ferns family
tinged by the pencil of autumn, with pale
brown or soft yellow, or that have banched
to cool wilderness, combine pleasantly with
such as are still brightly green.
Leaves should be dipped in the LIQUID oh.
tanned by melting the paraffine candles in
common use. Thus treated, they retain
their brilliancy and fexibility, and the
harsh, disagreeable effect resulting from
the use OF rosin or varnish, is avoided. This
plan also does away with the need of press.
ing-a tedious process with thick, succulent
leaves, and requiring repeated examinations
OF them, as we'll as changes of place in the
books in which they are kept.
For the proposed basket, a wire founds-
ton is best The ordinary circular wire
covers, sold at the hardware shops, have
depth enough to answer the purpose very
we'll. The interstices may be filled in with
clusters from the pretty wreath of the
ground pine. Ferns or trailing vines will
conceal the wires by which the basket is
suspended. The leaves of the creeping
blackberry vine, the ewberry," as it Is
called at the South, are of rich glossy
green, and the plant is as graceful as the
admired Hartford Fern" of the green
house. The Opaque tint of the maiden
hair fern is well relieved by the grace of
such varieties as may be chosen to give
the lighter effects desired for The centre and
summit of this winter bouquet. A few
leaves of fiery scarlet, from the oaks, the
lustrous yellow of the beach, or possibly
the priced gifts of the rare Gingko tree,
with its fan-shaped leaves of rich lemon
hue, will deepen the tones of the picture.
The light materials of such basket are
sensitive to every current of air (but are
also secure, it the stems of the plants are
set In clump OF dry mOss). and its ferns or
grasses wave as If at home, in their own
woods and fields. The colored "everlast.
ing flowers" of the garden and the spiritual
wilderness of the beautiful immortelles of
our meadows. may be added to the winter
stores, and afford a change in the coutents
of the basket or vase.
Another receptacle for leaves and flowers
may be obtained by choosing wire founda-
ton, and sewing on clusters of the gray
moss that is fast growing on the north side
OF old fences. Twigs of dead wood, over.
grown with the same or q similar moss,
may be added to give more picturesque
outline. Or the wild tangIe of the South.
ern moss may be used. The basket can
be filled with large messy branches,
mixed with sprays of autumn leaves;
or the glowing berries of the black
alder will lend their transient bright.
ness rs an effective contrast to the feathery
lightness of the wild clematis. OF the black.
berry vines, when autumn-tinged with deep
red, supply the most appropriate relief for
the COOL tints OF the moses. The branches
of the huckleberry, if one can SO mass them
az to kindle the dull fire of their rich garnet
hues, will, when placed with the gray moss,
produce the same harmony Of coloring
which we observe on the autumn hill sides,
where nature has set her bright tints
soil. y,
A fern ball is made of sponge thickly
set with pressed ferns and hung by an in
visible cord or wire. in window. If it is
suspended between parted lace curtains,
the effect is very pretty. Swaying in every
chance breeze, TRANSPORTED in the red or
golden lights of sunset, or towering in airy
tracery OF shadow against white ground,
the exquisite vanishing grace Of the ferns ia
eloquent of the summer hours that are past,
and OF those that are 10 come.
But the beauty Of all these arran gemeuts
OF the spoils of summer and autumn ia but
short lived, and they must be often re-
nswed, # we are to keep faith in them.
With little care and attention one NAV
enjoy succession Of dainty effects. There
10 no need that the fine gold of the beech
Leaves e should way dim, or that the crimson
Of the oaks should fade. Of ali the more
delicate household caree, there ia none in
which . more judicious vigilance Is requi.
site, than in the disposal of plants, or in our
other appeals to nature to spare little of
her abundance Of color and grace to enrich
our homes. A slight delay may impair all
your plans. and Q very little neglect will
make your thing Of beauty . rsproach for