The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-10-17

and sszps you Liis 4. -
Kyou have skeletonized leayes you wll aEd
that many Of them, sspecdally those of ~
English ivy, have lost then stems. so thatt
will be necessary TO resort to artificial means
! in order to supply them.
The most simple plan, and the most natural,
is to make the stems of embroidery or spooi
cotton. and stiffen them with white gum
arabic dissolved in a little water, 30 as to be
quite thick When the cotton or thread IN dry
and stiff, portions may be cut the required
length and fastened with the gum arabic on
the under side of the leaf. II neatly done II
will be dificult to detect the artiice tits best
to have these new stems Of sufficient lengths 80
as TO form branches (if necessary or they may
be cut of if too long. Delicate leaves, or course
REQUIRE finer thread or cotton, while the stems
of large leaves must be made of coarser ma
terial.
The reason that have mentioned the leaves
so frequently and have spoken or supplying
their stems. etc., is because sometime Will
keep my promise of telling you how to skele,
tonize and bleach the leaves, and you VIII
already have the information concerning their
arrangement
If YOU have a low, broad shade under which
to arrange your bouquet ii may be done by
fastening the stems with a little of the gum
arabic into hole made in the middle of the
cushion, allowing them to bend over little,
using large leaves az a beginning, and filling III
with smaller ones. The large ferns look better
near the bottom or directly on the velvet, as
they are inclined to curl
II your shade is tall it will be necessary to
arrange the bouquet higher. This may be
done by using a piece OF white sllk-wrapped
bonnet-wire as foundation, the upper end
being covered with piece OF white wax. The
leaves may then be grouped around the wire
and tied with white cotton, placing the smaller
leaves at the top, and adding the larger ones
for the middle of the bouquet. The large ones
will then droop over gracefully when the shade
is placed over them. When the central stand
of wire has been covered about two thirds Of its
length, gum the lower end, and insert it firmly
into the base, having made an opening through
the cushion into the wood of the stand This
will hold ii firm. p.
The prettiest way TO arrange a bouquet, ac-
cording to my idea, is to cut the velvet the size
of the stand, glue it on smoothly, then have
vase or basket of glass or Parian marble, fill
with white sand, and glue on to the center of
the stand; then fill it with the ferns and leaves.
vase with small opening is best, as the
stems will be held more securely.
Ii you have any leaves, a pretty wreath may
be formed OF them around the base of the vase,
the smaller leaves being placed at the end of
the spray.
Do not fasten the shade down, but when the
bouquet is finished, place piece of chenille
around the outside of the shade near its base,
both for ornament and to protect the bouquet
from dust.
Still another way to arrange these leaves and
ferns is to place them in frame under con-
vex glass, using black or blue velvet as back
ground. Arrange them with their stems down
ward, as in an ordinary bouquet. KITTIE.
CHICAGO, Ill.