Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-08-04
Phantom Bouquets.

real grace and loneliness Of these
exquisite groupings. The art OF
skeletonizing leaves was well I'M
derstood by the ancients it has re-
NAMED for the people of our own
day to develope and utilize IT. with
more pleasing results than those o.
tanned by Oriental artists, who dec
grated their choicest specimens with
gaudily painted notices and devil
ces.
The process through which the
leaves must pass is one OF c0rrup-
ton There are other methods, but
none so satisfactory as that OF slow
decay, from which the faultless
framework can be rescued, unim-
paired in texture and minjured by
chemicals. The purifying, bleach
ing, and mounting require taste skill
and delicacy Of touch that are
little short of actual genius. After
the most perfect artist has done his
| best. he has done but little; his la
| Dor has been to reveal the wonders
of the Masters Hand; mechanism
so marvellous, so intricate, so bar
monious, that human skill might
seek. and seek in vain to all cterni-
itv TO rival it. The manner Of max
inc skeleton leaves is quite general
Nv Understood IN 1ne6ry. h"O"5
the multitude Of experimenters,
many have become discouraged
through lack of definite knowledge,
and many more for the want Of
that patience and perseverance
necessary to success. Personal oX-
pertinent and practice are essential
to perfection in this art, but atten-
ton to triaes and details Is Of such
importance that no small profit Is
to be gained by following the rules
which actual experience las proved
to be good. Even then, one must
be prepared for occasional mistakes
and discouragements, but perseYer-
ance is so worthy OF achievement
" it'll the aid of these plain direc-
tons, which are the result Of years
Of practice and bushels Of expert
ments, any one ought TO be partial
lIy successful even in first attempt.
If a summers labor results in one
bouquet Of perfect phantoms, the
delight and compensation will, l
think, be ample. It Is needless to
suggest to the persons Of correct
taste that half a dozen specimens
gracefully grouped would be pref
cradle to a greater number Of blem-
ished and imperfect leaves; one such
is enough to ruin an otherwise beau-
tiful structure. The most common
error is gathering the leaves indis-
criminately, and without proper re-
gard 10 their perfection; another IS
putting too many and too great a
variety in the same receptacle. loo
early IN the season the tibres are
not strong enough TO resist the pro
cess of decay; toe late, some leaves
have become so tough that they
cannot be completely freed from tie
cellular matter. Some leaves have
chemical properties which will
cause them to act as 4 preserYatiye
to others. Among these are hicory
chestnut, walnut, oak and birch.
It is next TO impossible to skeleton
lie them, and ii the attempt IS made
thew should be kept by themselves.
Perfection Is a necessity. No
matter if a leaf has flaw only the
size OF a pins point, it is useless
Every single one should be minute
" examined. 1t will save time
trouble and disappointment to par
Iticularly observe this important
lcaution. Already some varieties
Ihave suffered from the depredations
LOT insects to such an extent that a
perfect leaf IS seldom to be found
IElm, maple and sycamore will be
particularly scarce; they should
Ihave been gathered early in the
month, before their enemies attack
ed them sovigorously.
In our latitude, by the first o
July most leaves are old to gather
ICare should be taken to select those
That are firm and fully matured.
Small and medium sized leaves are
more easily handled, and more ef
fectively grouped than large ones
ISornS' Of the the latter arc readily clear
ed, and have very tough iibreS bu
they should be used spann9ly e.
cept in large bouquets.
The leaves must be placed II
open earthen vessels (never use irol
or TIM covered with rain wafer, an'
set in the sunniest spot out OF doors
with folded paper fitted insid'
and resting on the leaves to kcei
them under. The water must 10
be changed, but should be Icp.cn
t ished when necessary. At the enc
of six weeks they viii be sufficient
, ly macerated for examination. j..
t this time the diseg.ooable Odo' VII
5 have partially passed away an
= some Of the leaves will be quit
5 ready; others will need lon9ee
. time. 1t is best TO drain off the OF
t water and fill up the jar with iresl
e before removing any OF the leaves
S after which few OF them may b
Il