Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-12-19
indoer Decoration for Winter.
RY MARY A. Z. WAGER FlsEER.

l have been in the woods to-day to
gather my supply Of ripe ferns aud
trailing vines for winter bouquets and
decorations. l use the word ripe"
to designate the pale yellow. or wood
color through which the fern passes
from its green to its decaye condi-
tion. The transition time is not long,
and unless the fern beds iare watched,
the delicate tips of the fronds are
withered and LOST, But to,day they
were perfect. the great plots Of them
looking like spaces planted with pale.
soft plumes. Green ferns are ex're-
mely fine, when nicely pr, ssed. but to,
some purposes the riie ones are in-
fiuitely beyond them in beauty.
Having filled a large mark t basket
with the delicate beauties, l hastened
home and at once put them to press
For this purpose, as well as for all
similar ones. L use newspapers of d
uniform size; if the paper is quyrto in
form, cut it in half, which leaves
two pages folded together to place on
the top of each layer of leaves. If the
end of the leaf stalk is crooked or un
wieldly from Stiffness. l clip it off,
then strip off any withered or decayed
portions of the frond and 1t usually
happens that the lower leaflets are
withered by the time the end ones are
ripe-lay the fronds smoothly on the
paper, giving each one so much room
that none of the delicate tips is inter
ter-d with, or likely to be trayed from
the outside OF the press, so on until all
are placed. On the top ! put per-
tectly fiat board. little longer and
wider than are the papers, and on top
of this. roll pair OF dumb b, lis
weighing 50 pounds. Al the expira
ton Of three or four days, l shall re-
move the weights in order to transfer
the ferns to fresh, dry paper for final
press. l shall find the leaves som"-
what discelored, and must exercise
care IL lifting them from their places
They are left in press until November,
when put my library in its winter
dress For the pale ferns, I line a
small straw basket with paper Ga round
paper>bcx in lieu of a basket will
serve) fill it with dry sand; into this
bed OF sand the fern stems are stuck,
not 700 many, as ferns do not look
well crowded. OF course some taste
must be exel cised in the arrangement,
placing the tallest ferns in the middle
and smaller ohces placed ab"ut the
edge 80 as to slightly tall over the
edge of the basket. But the basket,
il neatly done, will be exquisite be
You'd all expectation to the new be-
holder, and one that. if refurnished
once month with fresh ferns, will
never weary OF tire the eye. The cen
tire OF table is the pr,ttiest place
for such an ornament.
For wall decorations. I find that
pressed vines, such as the running
blackberry, and 6ve-fngvred (Ameri-
can) ivy. gathered after the leaves
have Redeemed, serve admirably. For
vines, as well as autumn leaves of all
kinds, very heavy press is needed.
Bright foliage should always be gath.
cred while still on the tree, and not
after the leaves have fallen. Do not
break off the leaves, but put twigs aud
small. stemmed branches with the
leaves attached, in the press. carefully
disposipg the leaves to tiatness have
never yet used hot iron. or wax. OF
varnish, applied to leaves, with any
success equal to the simple press,
changing the papers from three to five
times So treated, the leaves retain
their color. and remain uncurled tor
months on the wall, even in a con
stantly heated room.
Last fall, having room, the walls
Of which we're elaringly white and
smooth, (done in what is termed 'hard
finish, y l experimental with presse J,
small, green ferns and autumn leaves,
vines, etc. These, applied to the wall
with a solution of gum arabic, were
arranged so as to form vne-like
appearance. about window casing, fire.
board, etc The effect was so bright
and pretty, as to win from not few
visitors an expression Of belief that
the decoration was real painting on the
wall. When the warm summer days
again came, although the werk still re-
maiqed in a good state, Ishad it re-
moved; stiff brush and warm water
soou removing all trace of ornamen~
tation, leaving the wall clean and
white as before. When walls are
covered with light, or neutral shade
Of paper, the leaves may be deity at
tached to tiny thread, of wire. and
the entire ceiling be bordered with
them, few pins adjusted at intervals,
holding the wire in place. l have also
seen rooms prettily decorated with
clumps of leaves fastened around
white painted door and window castings
pins doing the duty Of nails; similar
clumps being also fastened to the
cords of picture frames. ....rf,
W here one has a smoothly finished
or painted wall tor background, th'
task OF applying the leaves with mu
ciiage Is easily and quickly accom-
pllsbed, the chiefest difficulty being in
the arrangement, as it requires some
degree of artistic skill No splendid
piece Of furniture, or fine work of art :,
could have given my room the look OF
picturesque and attractive brightness
that did the fern and autumn leaves,
which, cost no money. The pleasure
they gave me, could not be estimated
for when Anaximander came home at
night from his Office, he would re.
mark. time after time, the whole.
winter through, looking about him