The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-10-15

4
be packed into every nreyice whore the
] ferns are to grow
A very pretty fernkfy may be made OF
an old tin tray. Paitt it ttSst with water
proof paint, then make foundation of
gravel, charcoal and ci{ |ers and some
sand-not too much, weyer- Over
this put your woods cad and plant the
ferns with sheets Of soss, carefully
transplanted from the hSe where the
ferns grew, covering 80 Keep
well watered, and you hA u thing
of beauty all winter, constantIy develop
ing new beauties as tiny ferns and Food
plants spring up on the moss. -
For decorative purposes moss 81 ne
ly second to ferns, or even flowers. Hls
England it is much used for table deco
ration, and is gathered in summer and
dried for winter use. It is a mistake to
think that because moss is green il is of
one color; you will find it of every hue
bronze and emerald shining, golden
and dark purple green. The best way to
collect,it for decoration is to pull it in
large tufts, which should be we'll shaken
after reaching home and spread lightly
on newspapers for day or two, and then
again thoroughly shaken, to free them
from loose bits and from insects. To
keep it for the winter the sprays should
be dipped in water, dabbed dry on a
cloth, laid fiat between two sheets of
brown paper and Immediately ironed un-
til quite dry. The irons should be of
the neat required to smooth linen; but
do not prolong the process too much or
the moss will become brittle. This
process answers for the coarser mosses;
more delicate enes should not be ironed,
and the "maiden-hair" moss should not
be placed in water, or the golden ex-
tinguishers may wash off. Small, natur-
ally mossy twigs-ivy, oak leaves, acrons,
ichens-by occasionally being put out
to be refreshed by rain, can be made to
last for some time. The last need an oc-
brittle and powderY when too dry. The
little gypsy kettles that were so fashion
able some years ago may be made into
pretty centre-pieces by covering sticks
and kettle alike with moss. as
follows: Hold one of the sticks
IN the left hand, take turf of moss suf-
fciently large to wrap around
it in the right hand and fold
the moss around and over the end of
the stick; pass long piece of fine gar
dening wire round it. securing the end
firmly and pulling it tight, so that the
moss conceals it; wind it round once
more and then take second tuft; let the
end neatly overlap the first, and secure
it in the same way; continue until the
stick is covered, keeping the moss as
evenly and tightly rolled as possible. IF
too shaggy, trim it with the scissors.
Secure the end of the wire when finished,
and if tightly done all will remain firm.
The handle of the kettle should be done
the same way before doing the kettle.
Tn %I,1 1o++ +arf f1,a II oq
the tufts should be turned inside, under
the tin for holding the flowers, and the
first wire tied around close under the
top. A very few flowers, arranged in
wet send, will answer for filling the tin.
Flower pots may be covered in the same
way; and fiat strawberry baskets, thus
concealed, and lined with white paper,
make very pretty fruit dishes. A plateau
of moss for holding dessert dishes is also
pretty. A board Of the desired size and
shape is requisite; the edges may be cut
out for TIE dishes to fit into, or they may
stand on it. The moss should be made
as smool and even as possible, and may
be c. OF, y one or of varions hinls. The
common leather moss is perhaps the best.
If liked, border of gay lichen can sur
round il, and outside of this n second of
small leaves, trailing or ground IVY.
Borders of leaves and ferns can be made
for dishes, and wreaths OF periwinkle
runners, ivy, holly or bright autumn
leaves. Ferns can be ironed like the
moss, and will preserve their color, but
the safest plants to dry them as directed. I.
Circles or strips of thin cardboard can be
covered with leaves and ferns for sur.
rounding dishes, and single ferns ar
ranged in pattern of the cloth. Infi-
mite variety can be made by giving time
and thought TO the matter Ptit0del-
plsS0 Times.