Year: 1870

EY MRS. KATE HUNNIBEE.


Phantor-Flowers are so exquisitely besn-
tifui and delicate to look upon, that they al
ways seem to have sprung into existence
quite independently of human skill yet the
making of them is not essentially a poetical
or mysterious process. On the contrary it is
very matter-of-fact aud simple, though it ex-
tends oyer many months, and requires pa
thence, taste, and delicate manipulation. 10
begin: All you need is . jar or earthen
basin, large enough to contain all the leaves
you wish to skelet0nize. This must be filled
nearly full of rain-water. and set in q sunny
place out of doors. In June, you will collect
the most perfect leaves you can find. These
must be gathered just when they have at
tanned their full growth, and before they are
at all injured by the ravages of insects.
Place them in the jar, put on top weight 10
keep under the water, and cover with piece
of paper.


In July, the leaves of the beech, hickory.
English ash. willow, the everlasting pea. and
chestnut. the dwarf pear, sassafras, althea,
rose, white fringe-tree, wistaria, begonia,
wild yam, aud green brier may be gathered.
and late in July the Dutchman 's-pipe. Those
which contain tannin, the leaves of the oak.
walnut, hickory, beech, and chestnut must
be put into jar by themselves to macerate.
A few drops of muriatic acid put in the water
will hasten the process which will require
some months. Leaves from the camellia,
laurestina, caoutchouc. holly, box, wild-cher-
ry, cape jasmine, and japonica may be gath
cred at any time. Ivy-leaves should be q
year old, or the vascular tissue will become a
mass OF pulp. Many of these leaves will re-
quire months of soaking before all the cellu-
lar tissue will be dissolved, but their beauty
will amply repay all investments Of patient
waiting.


To six weeks after the first parcel has been
put in the water, remove the cover, and very
carefully raise the leaves from the green and
slimy mass, place them in warm water, and
rub gently between the fingers to remove the
cellular tissue. A soft brush may be used
to render them perfectly clean. Wash them
in clean water, dry them upon soft towel,
and lay them away in a box till all their
companions may join them in tie bleaching
process. Some of them will probably need
to be returned to the jar for more perfect
maceration. Fern-leaves must be gathered
when the flowers are on the back of the
leaves, and laid carefully away in book till
you are ready to bleach them. They require
no long-continued soaking to remove the cell
ular tissue. Seed-vessels must be gathered
in the fall. They will require but two or
three weeks maceration, aud may be washed
by passing them to and fro in hot water.
The ground-cherry family and the wild hop
furnish very pretty varieties. Remove the
seed by making an incision in one side before
bleaching. The flowers used must be dried
carefully and laid away in book. The
hydrangea, lily of the valley, mallows, JerI-
salem cherry, poppy, wild cucumber, lobelia,
skull-cap. and shell-hower, gathered just be-
fore they begin to fade. will add beauty to
complete the perfect bouquet. When you
have collected all your leaves, flowers, and
seed-Yessels, each in their separate boxes,
you are ready for the bleaching process,
which must be conducted with the greatest
care. for every thing depends on the perfect
whiteness of the bouquet. Labarrague's So
luton Of soda may be procured at artists
furnishing-stores for bleaching, and is the
best thing for the purpose, but choloride OF
lime will answer, and is prepared thus: To
one quart Of cold soft water take five ounces
of strong chloride of lime, press out all the
Jumps let it stand an hour or two, skim off
all impurities, and pour off the clear liquid,
cork it tightly and keep in cool place. In
two glass jars, one for seed-vessels and the
other for leaves, place the specimens with the
stems downward, cover with clear soft water,
and to every pint OF water add two table
spconfuls of the bleaching solution. Let the
jar be covered tightly and set in warm
place. As the leaves become perfectly white,
which will be from six to twelve hours, take
them out carefully and lay them in clean,
warm water; wash them several times in
clear water, dry them upon soft towel, and
lay them away in book to press Do not
let them remain in the jar a moment after
they are white, os the lime-water will make
them very tender. The ferns must be taken
from the hooks aud curled round the sides of
the jar very gently, as they will be dry and
brittle. When they are all in, with the
stems downward, aud the ends of the leaves
in the centre of the jar, FIJI it with warm soft
water. and add the lime-water in the same
proportion as for the other leaves. Cover
tightly. and let them stand for day in q
warm place. pour off the water, and put in
fresh as before; in two days, change again.
In three or four days they will become entire
ly white but if one part bleaches before an
other, cut it off and remove from the jar, and
unite afterward with gum-arabic. One 81
two weeks will be required to bleach lot OF
ferns. Rinse many times in clear water, and
remove them by passing under them shee,
of unsized white paper lay them on towel,
and With pin straighten them into the pro
per shape; when dry, place them away be-
tween two sheets of nnsized paper in a book
with pail of water or some heavy weight on
it till they are wanted for the bouquet. Il
Laharrague's solution is used for the bleach
ing, half teacn2ful to pint ofwater makes
the right proportion.


For preserving the bouquet, glass case
will be indispensable. If it is placed in
frame, let the background be of dark velvet.
and the flowers and leaves arranged IS IN the
ordinary bouquet. The large leaves and
| seed-vessels should be near the bottom, and
the more delicate and feathery at the top.
Stems may be made of coarse spool-cotton
stiffened and fastened to the leaves with gum
arabic. Cover the point where the stems
meet with seed-vessel. If q stand is used,
| let the cushion, be of dark velvet, and firmly
glued to the stand. Make hole in the CEN
| tre. and in this fasten the stems with muci-
| lare. White bonnetwire may be used for
| the long stems and leaves, tied to it with