The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-06-11
GRASSES AID FIRIS.


AuyDouy wiz - ptuSAy 0A1ooBh W ouln-
mer In the country, or even to 90 there
for little space, with very little trouble
may lay up treasures against winter
weather. Nearly everybody has plucked
handiuls Of grain and marsh and meadow
grasses, but few know that the beauty Of
their winter bouquets depends largely
upon when they are gathered and how
they are cured, says Q writer in the New
York Tribune. Choose 4 bright day
the warmer the better. Pull stalks Of all
sizes, taking those that have the grains
still in the milk. Leave stems Of gener-
Gus length and be careful not to get your
hands too full. The temptation Of abund-
ance is one 10 be strongly guarded against.
Put the stalks loosely In q Wide-mouthed
Jar, letting them hang over In graceful
curves. II you wish to keep them green
Get the jar in q dark, airy place, and leave
Il undisturbed for week. To make them
bright golden yellow let them wilt for
twelve hours, then set them where they
will get the full sun blaze and the dew.
II you want wreaths and garlandS Of them
braid the flexile stems together, taking
care to choose the featheriest sorts, and
hang them inside the glass Of q south
window to dry.
When you 70 after ferns to mix with
them, take book made BY folding news
papers in four, and tackled and cut. Have
q loose cover Of stout cardboard, with
tapes for tying at the outer edge. Choose
only the most graceful stalks, and get a.
much variety as possible. Az they are
gathered, pin them fat against q leaf Of
your book. Do not lap one fern on an.
other, and let two thicknesses Of paper
come between two layer Of leaves. When
the book Is full, take Il out Of the cover
and let 1t dry under weight. II you have
not time for that, lay thick paper over
each fern-hlled leaf and press dry with
very hot irons. Thus treated they keep
color wonderfully. A wreath Of them,
half on, half Cd, . miTroW whose frame
you have enamelled, silvered or Gilded,
makes thing Of beauty outoi something
that was commonplace.
Grasses and ferns, though, are but q
trifie Of the possible salvage from sum.
mer's sea Of beauty. Not to mention
goldenFod and cat-tails, pine cones and
acorns, there are pads Of silkWeed ready
10 burst into foam Of floss, everlasting
fiowers-the pale yellow upland sort, and
the big, dull pink one that haunts rich
Iowland-featheEy sprays Of asleP, and .
hundred small, nameless things whose
seed vessels star the hedgerows. None
Of them can outdo the wild clematis, va
riously known a. "viIgin's bower" !"
brides wreath, travellers JOY" etc.
In August Il hangs In rampant trails Of
greenish-white flowers along every lane
and brookside. They fade quickly, and
are followed BY starry clusters Of fluffy
seed. Cut long lengths Of the vine Just
as the seed are fully formed, and tack
them place as quick as possible. Let
them run up and around your pictures,
or all along your wall. above door or win.
-dows, or else mass them In Q corner eli
their own. The leaves will WitheF into
nothingness, but In three days each seed
spray will be . mass Of tufts lighter than
thistle down and q soft gray Whitein color.
II you cannot bring It home green, make