The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-10-24

wanted something TO put the pots on
SO a pedestal was made of a pine box,
painted cream color, with a border Of
narrow black lines. On this | put the
Hoyas, one in each corner, IN tacked
their branches to the wall. | like
Hoyas and wish they Were more cul-
tivated. They are much prettier than
| English Ivy to train up the walls. 1T
delights in a soil of chip dirt and the
leaves should be occasionally washed
in warm soap-suds. l now wanted
some bronzes and Parian figures. AS
these were expensive, L bought a num-
Der of plaster figures. some made
into bronzes by painting a greenish-
gray or brown. When dry, varnish
with bronze-powder, ground on a mar
bic slab with gum-water or grind
tin. sift fine. Mix with a solution of
~isinglass, which is then applied with a
brush. Furnishing gives a brilliant
luster. To initiate the film of carbon
ate of copper on real bronze apply sal
ammonia with vinegar.
Some of the figures | m~arbleiZed. A
wash was made of plaster of Paris,
soaked in a strong solution of alum.
Bake this in an oven and then grind to
a powder. Mix a little in water.
Spread evenly and quickly over the
figure. This is a thin wash, setting
like a coat Of marble, taking a high
polish. Sometimes l had to try the
second coat. Frank being an adept at
fret, saving, | was provided with a
number of pretty brackets. These
were fastened in the n of the
room and under the pictures. On these
| placed my marbles and bronzes, and
they We're as handsome as the ''rale
thing and cost very little. The con-
servatory of which L have spoken was
separated from the room by large
glass doors and was arch-shaped at the
top of the entrance. On each side of
the door was placed a pot full of large
English Ivies. which were trained to
the top of the arch, making the n
trance a wreath of living green. Di-
rectly over the door was q stuffed
white dove. On each side and a little
below was a marble bust of Flora, on a
walnut bracket. AS | am yet a novice
in horticulture, my collection of plants
consisted of the more common kinds.
For climbers | used Smilax. Cobea,
T~ropRolum, Lobbiaum, Madeira Vine,
and Ivies. For flowers | found | sue
ceeded best with Carnations, Callas,
Abutilon, Geranium, both double and
single, Bouvardias. Chinese 2 imroses,
Heliotropes. and Roses. For the leaf
or foliage plants, the Dracaena, PLEA,
Ferns, Palms, Camellias, Azaleas,
Orange and Lemon trees, together
with the various kinds of Begonias. In
the center of the conservatory stands
an aquarium and fountain.
The book case filled with my favOrite
authors, the piano placed in its corner.
the Swiss clock and vases arranged on
the mantle, and my room was finished.
Such a bright. pretty ROOM, too. And
the carpet was the only thing that cost
much.
For the dining-room | bought a black
walnut table. buffet. and leather Gov
cred chairs. The walls for thirty
inches above the base board were
papered with a "grained" black walnut
and oak paper. This was beaded with
a walnut moulding. Above this |
used a pale green satin paper the Dor.
der a dark green velvet. AS | could
not afford a carpet, the floor was paint
ed in oak and walnut strips. 4 rug
made of several widths of notified oak
carpet with a wide green border. The
curtains were unbleached cotton tlan-
mel, the fuzzy" side turned out, the
top laid over in Il deep valance. This
was edged with a stripOf figured green
chlntz. The sides had a narrow strip
of the same. The lambrequin for the
mantel was of oak color, cut in deep
~scallops, each scallop pinked on the
edge. | then made of braid, by taking
green wOrSted, from The lightest to
the darkest shade Give shades does
very welD, arranging these according
TO the shades. Sew on to a flat braid,
cut into strips, double, and make into
leaves. A vine of these leaves, with
chain stitch stems, runs around the
edge of the l~ambrequin. l o took
the old lounge | had brought from the
attic, covered it with unbleached mus
lin, and trimmed it with a strip of
green chintz. A couple of easy chairs
were made to match, and really looked
quite handsome. For a plant-stand |
took an old music-stool, ripped Oft the
plush cover, and screwed an old round
chopping bowl on the top. This was
painted black and the edge concealed
by a lambrequin to match the mantle.
The bowl was filled with earth and
planted with Hyacinth and CrOcus
bulbs. The space between these was
filled with moss. A grapevine made
a handle, which was wreathed with
Ivy. In the centre l hung a tiny globe
of goldfish. Apretty floral ornament
of mine, which was much admired,
was easily made. One of my marble
{plaster) figures had its brains scooped
out a glass dish cemented to the head.
The figure was then set in a tray,
| which was filled with sand and heaped
up against the figure. The sand was
covered with moss, the edge covered
with SmilaS. A tiny mirror lay in
front of the figure, wreathed with
Smilax, and a Geranium flower or two.
The dish above is filled with outflow
ers and vines droop over the edge. A
couple of pottery vases, in the antique
style, were bronzed and placed on the
mantel window-boXes fastened to the