Make baskets of pliable copper wire and wrap them with gauze.
Into these tie to the bottom-, violets, ferns, geranium leaves, in fact any
flowers except full blown roses, and sink them in a solution of alum —
after the solution has cooled, as their colors will then be preserved in
their original beauty, and the crystallized alum will hold faster than if
dipped in a hot solution. When you have a light covering of distinct
crystals that cover completely the articles, remove carefully and allow
FRAME FOR WINTER SCENE. 37
it to drain for twelve hours. Common willow or fancy baskets for
grasses or flowers are pretty dipped in this way. Cornucopias made in
any fancy design and dipped in alum, or imitation coral receivers are
each pretty for autumn leaves, ferns or grasses.
ORNAMENTAL GLASS.
Glass may be made extremely ornamental by the following process :
From tarletan, Swiss or bobbinet, cut out a number of pretty designs ;
diamonds, circles, stars, rings, leaves, flowers, etc. ; which paste in regu-
lar patterns upon the glass. Next make a hot saturated solution of
Glauber's or Epsom salts, with which wash the glass. When dry, very
fine crystallization will be formed. By a saturated solution is meant, to
allow the water to take up all the salt it will possibly dissolve ; keep
the liquid constantly hot, and apply with a brush, not allowing it to cool
in the least a single moment. Apply with a brush. Sal-ammoniac
will also produce the same effect and form a different crystal. A beau-
tiful effect is produced by the three different kinds of crystals ; dissolv-
ing each one in a separate vessel. The one will give thread-like crys-
tals, like rays of light broken into thousands of fine threads ; the next
four-sided prisms ; the third six-sided prisms. Glass in windows thus
ornamented is beautiful.
MANTEL ORNAMENTS.
Select a crooked twig of white or black thorn, wrap loose wool or
cotton around the branches and tie it on with worsted ; suspend in a
deep jar. Pour the alum solution over it and allow it to stand twelve
hours. Artificial spars are made by suspending in the solution, by a
fine silk thread, a sprig of a plant, a piece of rustic wood or any other
trifle. As the solution cools, a crystallization of the salt takes place,
which resembles white spars.
For crystallizing wax flowers, use diamond dust, sprinkled over them ;
by slightly warming the flowers the dust will adhere better. By placing
the dust in a pepper-box and a paper under the work, you will not lose
any, as it is very apt to fly.
FRAME FOR WINTER SCENE
Take an old frame, cover with candle-wick wound closely around it,
and lay it in alum solution sufficient to cover the front of the frame
entirely, when it is immersed in it. Immerse the frame in this, and
allow it to remain in it until the wick has absorbed all the alum water
it will take up. Then remove and dry, and it will be found beautifully
crystallized.
Procure a quantity of raisin stems, bits of rough bark, small twigs,
etc., which also place in the alum until crystallized. When all are dry,
38 THE DAIR Y.
Page 33
Presented as published in 1886. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Make baskets of pliable copper wire and wrap them with gauze. Into these tie to the bottom-, violets, ferns, geranium leaves, in fact any flowers except full blown roses, and sink them in a solution of alum — after the solution has cooled, as their colors will then be preserved in their original beauty, and the crystallized alum will hold faster than if dipped in a hot solution. When you have a light covering of distinct crystals that cover completely the articles, remove carefully and allow
FRAME FOR WINTER SCENE. 37
it to drain for twelve hours. Common willow or fancy baskets for grasses or flowers are pretty dipped in this way. Cornucopias made in any fancy design and dipped in alum, or imitation coral receivers are each pretty for autumn leaves, ferns or grasses.
ORNAMENTAL GLASS.
Glass may be made extremely ornamental by the following process : From tarletan, Swiss or bobbinet, cut out a number of pretty designs ; diamonds, circles, stars, rings, leaves, flowers, etc. ; which paste in regular patterns upon the glass. Next make a hot saturated solution of Glauber's or Epsom salts, with which wash the glass. When dry, very fine crystallization will be formed. By a saturated solution is meant, to allow the water to take up all the salt it will possibly dissolve ; keep the liquid constantly hot, and apply with a brush, not allowing it to cool in the least a single moment. Apply with a brush. Sal-ammoniac will also produce the same effect and form a different crystal. A beautiful effect is produced by the three different kinds of crystals ; dissolving each one in a separate vessel. The one will give thread-like crystals, like rays of light broken into thousands of fine threads ; the next four-sided prisms ; the third six-sided prisms. Glass in windows thus ornamented is beautiful.
MANTEL ORNAMENTS.
Select a crooked twig of white or black thorn, wrap loose wool or cotton around the branches and tie it on with worsted ; suspend in a deep jar. Pour the alum solution over it and allow it to stand twelve hours. Artificial spars are made by suspending in the solution, by a fine silk thread, a sprig of a plant, a piece of rustic wood or any other trifle. As the solution cools, a crystallization of the salt takes place, which resembles white spars.
For crystallizing wax flowers, use diamond dust, sprinkled over them ; by slightly warming the flowers the dust will adhere better. By placing the dust in a pepper-box and a paper under the work, you will not lose any, as it is very apt to fly.
FRAME FOR WINTER SCENE
Take an old frame, cover with candle-wick wound closely around it, and lay it in alum solution sufficient to cover the front of the frame entirely, when it is immersed in it. Immerse the frame in this, and allow it to remain in it until the wick has absorbed all the alum water it will take up. Then remove and dry, and it will be found beautifully crystallized.
Procure a quantity of raisin stems, bits of rough bark, small twigs, etc., which also place in the alum until crystallized. When all are dry,
38 THE DAIR Y.