The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-11-20
Preserving Grasses, Ferns, Etc.

avail themselves OF DeAhtitut DOQuetS
out # tue season of plentiful flowers;
To such allow me to suggest that lovely
grasses. ferns, etc, may be gathered;
aud dried; after which they NAV be ar
rangel in vessels etc. aud. with a little
care, last as ornaments for several
months.
1n order that grasses may retain their
bright hues without the aid of art.
they should be gathered as soon as they
mature. Usually some time during July
Gathered at that time tied mp in bunch
es and hung away in dark closet they
come forth fresh and green as when
put away. Even the fall will furnish
US with some graceful specimen grasses.
which will prove additions to our win
ter boquets. but they will not retain
the fresh green of early gathered speci-
mems. and so require coloring by dip
into the family dye. Dry them again.
and they will last green as long as
you care to keep them. Wild oats,
feather grass, and all their various spec
les are quite Ornamental in winter. and
mingled with everlasting flowers vie
with their more perishable sisters.
whose giories are on the wane. Aero
liDiums, Ksanthemum. the white. vel
low aud crims,n uelecbrysums are
among the beautiful everlasting flow.
ers; and il other shades are desired, the
white flowers can he coiored with the
family dyes. These everlasting flow
.rs should be gathered before they
open f.lly-soon rs the outer leaves
open rar'iilly-pick with long stems.
tie in lunches aud hang away to dry.
flowers downwards Thus treated the
stems are straight and more easily used
A fault with many cultivators is to
allow these flowers to remain too long
upon their roots, before gathering. SO
that their beauty is marred. AS thest
dried boquets arc apt to get dusty
from sweeping Of carpet. etc, unles-
covered with cases. they can bs fresh
ened and cleaned by dipping in fresh
water, carefully sl,skin, them and
hanging away to dry, after which they
can be reaIranged.
Many persons like to have grasses,
etc. crystalized. This can be easily
done by d.s>olving alum in boiling
water at the rate Of one pound Of alan,
to one quart of water, allow the solu-
ton to cool. somew bat. aud suspend the
grasses etc.. therein;as it cools, crystals
gather. Grasses can be colortd by ad-
ding the desired shade to the aium
water. A few crystAlizcd grasses etc..
mingled in dried bcquet light mp and
make quite an addition.
Ferns are much sought after for
decorating purposes. The many spec
les and varieties with their feathery
plumes. pinnatcd leares. towering
stems and graceful forms are ever
among the beautiful. In contra lis
,inction to the grasses they best retain
their colors when gathered late-they
need to be fully matured, tough ard
leathery, having the sap condensed in
their leaves. The climbing fern
makes one of the most lovely decora-
tions for walls and pictures, also for
fastc ming to window shades and cur
tains. Gather them late aud with .
hot ssdiron press them out smooth-do
not have the iron so hot as to discolor
and laid away a few days before us
ing, we have hsd them retain their
freshness into January and Februsry;
dipped in the family dyes they will re-
tain their color indefinitely. Maiden
Hair, most lovely fern. needs to be
pr, ssed between paper and allowed to
dry, then dipped into the family dye,
when il will retain its beauty = long
time, and add much to the attractive
ness OF winter boquets. Our climbing
fern may be strais htened and smoothed
ont aud pressed between the leaves OF
some large book or newspapers may
be used, but are less convenient shan
bound volumes, after being arranged.
eyery leat straight and smooth. they
should BE- placed on . board and an
other placed over them aud weighted
down by placing some heavy weight
on them. Ii is well to open and air
them occasianly. But we prefer to
press the climbing fern with the iron
As being the least Troublesome. aud
leaving them smnothcd. when done. Ms
we'll "a soonest over with,
Autumn leaves. small branches OF
sumac: mosses, etc, make haadsone
ornaments. ard by vanishing tue
i~aves with map varnish. col,r'ug the
mo.ses with the family dyes. We have
variety in forms and cnlors, which. II
tss,efully arranged. supplies an o'ns
meut which one may veil be rrcu
Of, especially if gathered. arranged. etc.
=