if dried in a certain position will retain the form easily. It is best at
first to make the pressure lightly, so as to alter the form of the plant if
needful before it is completely dried ; then increase the pressure day by
day until the specimens are ready to remove. Ferns dry quickly and
easily, and may without injury be kept in drying paper for some time.
Or they may be kept between the leaves of books, pamphlets or maga-
zines in the same way, only putting them under a heavy pressure, and
frequently changing them to dry leaves. When between the blotting
paper, change them two or three times a week, so as to remove any
dampness, and dry the paper in the sun, or before the fire, very often.
It is best to have two sets of paper, so that one can be dried while the
other is in use. Any ordinary fern will be fit to put into the folio in
two or three weeks at most.
FERN AND FLOWER CARDS,
Lovely cards may be made of dried flowers and ferns. Obtain two
boards and a couple of thin leather straps — these will be quite sufficient
for your purpose if you do not wish to go to the expense of a regular
press — and some botanical blotting-paper, which may be had of any
stationer. It is best when fine and white. Gather the flowers, if pos-
sible, on a dry day, and place them, after having removed any large
stalks, between two of the sheets of paper. Between each layer of
flowers place at least three or four sheets of paper, and strap the whole
between the boards as tightly as you can. Change the papers daily
until the flowers are nearly dry, then every few days will be sufficient
until they are quite dry. Draw the design upon the card, of course
seeing that it is a suitable one for your purpose. An empty basket, a
vase, a plain wooden cross, or merely a few empty stalks or a bow of
ribbon, are suitable designs when you have a sufficient variety of flow-
ers. Make some very strong gum — powdered gum arabic is best — and
arrange the flowers on the design according to your fancy.
PARLOR SCREENS OF FERNS.
Have a frame made of walnut, ebony or any dark wood, about four
or five feet high and two and a half feet wide, and have two panes of
glass of a right size to fit the frame. Upon one of these the ferns can
be arranged. Place among them bright-hued butterflies and a few
delicate shells. The ferns will be of different shades of green, and a
great deal of art can be shown in arranging them in such a way that,
when fastened and seen in an upright position, they shall appear to be
growing naturally, the butterflies looking as if they were poising on
the wing. When the arrangement is perfected a single drop of gum
arabic under each of the fern leaves will keep it securely in place
(mucilage should not be used, as it discolors the leaves), and the second
90 FISH SCALE FLO WERS.
plate of glass is laid upon them, the two edges of the panes being fas-
tened together by a tape, which is gummed on, the exact width of the
two when joined together. This fern-screen, when properly managed,
makes a pretty ornament for a parlor.
FISH SCALE FLOWERS.
JEWELRY AND EMBROIDERY.
Page 79
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
if dried in a certain position will retain the form easily. It is best at first to make the pressure lightly, so as to alter the form of the plant if needful before it is completely dried ; then increase the pressure day by day until the specimens are ready to remove. Ferns dry quickly and easily, and may without injury be kept in drying paper for some time. Or they may be kept between the leaves of books, pamphlets or magazines in the same way, only putting them under a heavy pressure, and frequently changing them to dry leaves. When between the blotting paper, change them two or three times a week, so as to remove any dampness, and dry the paper in the sun, or before the fire, very often. It is best to have two sets of paper, so that one can be dried while the other is in use. Any ordinary fern will be fit to put into the folio in two or three weeks at most.
FERN AND FLOWER CARDS,
Lovely cards may be made of dried flowers and ferns. Obtain two boards and a couple of thin leather straps — these will be quite sufficient for your purpose if you do not wish to go to the expense of a regular press — and some botanical blotting-paper, which may be had of any stationer. It is best when fine and white. Gather the flowers, if possible, on a dry day, and place them, after having removed any large stalks, between two of the sheets of paper. Between each layer of flowers place at least three or four sheets of paper, and strap the whole between the boards as tightly as you can. Change the papers daily until the flowers are nearly dry, then every few days will be sufficient until they are quite dry. Draw the design upon the card, of course seeing that it is a suitable one for your purpose. An empty basket, a vase, a plain wooden cross, or merely a few empty stalks or a bow of ribbon, are suitable designs when you have a sufficient variety of flowers. Make some very strong gum — powdered gum arabic is best — and arrange the flowers on the design according to your fancy.
PARLOR SCREENS OF FERNS.
Have a frame made of walnut, ebony or any dark wood, about four or five feet high and two and a half feet wide, and have two panes of glass of a right size to fit the frame. Upon one of these the ferns can be arranged. Place among them bright-hued butterflies and a few delicate shells. The ferns will be of different shades of green, and a great deal of art can be shown in arranging them in such a way that, when fastened and seen in an upright position, they shall appear to be growing naturally, the butterflies looking as if they were poising on the wing. When the arrangement is perfected a single drop of gum arabic under each of the fern leaves will keep it securely in place (mucilage should not be used, as it discolors the leaves), and the second
90 FISH SCALE FLO WERS.
plate of glass is laid upon them, the two edges of the panes being fastened together by a tape, which is gummed on, the exact width of the two when joined together. This fern-screen, when properly managed, makes a pretty ornament for a parlor.
FISH SCALE FLOWERS.
JEWELRY AND EMBROIDERY.