388 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



a stone named tsu shimada (suitable for hones), the latter by means of water, and 

 a charcoal made from Afidro^neda ovali/olia, and the last with pulverized stag's 

 horn. All the plishings are effected by the hand. When gold is used in smooth 

 surface lacquers, where it is not to be in relief, the process is as follows : The 

 design to be produced is traced on a leaf of paper, which is then reversed, and 

 has repeated upon the opposite side of it the outlines and other features of the 

 design, in a mixture of varnish and vermilion, softened over a mild fire. This 

 side of the paper is then appUed to the lacquer to be decorated, and the paper is 

 then appHed to the lacquer to be decorated, and the paper is rubbed and pressed 

 upon it by means of a small spatula of bamboo. The transfer of the pattern from 

 the paper to the lacquered surface is further assisted by gently beating the paper 

 down with a small silken bag, containing powdered stone. The paper is then 

 peeled off, and can be used again if desired. The slight relief of the pattern so 

 produced upon the lacquer is rubbed down with carbon polish, and the design, 

 and that alone, is then hghtly covered with a thin layer of quickly drying varnish. 

 Gold, in powder, is then applied to the moist surface by means of a camel-hair 

 pencil if the gold powder be fine, and by means of a small tube if it be compara- 

 tively coarse and heavy. The article is then dried for a day in a warm closet, 

 such as is used for drying the ordinary lacquer varnish. 



"The design is next hghtly cnated with a very thin layer of varnish, applied 

 by means of paper steeped in it, and passed very delicately over the object, 

 which is then redried in. the closet. The object receives further extremely light 

 coatings of varnish and subsequent polishings before it is complete. Silver is 

 applied to designs in refief, the details of the process vary considerably, but the 

 application of the metals is effected in substantially the same manner. When 

 gold and silver are appied in leaf, they are laid upon the varnished surface pre- 

 pared for them, and dealt with in the usual manner, the 'varnish acting as a 

 " size " for the metallic leaf. When mother of-pearl is used as an incrustation 

 for lacquer it is laid on during the varnishing processes, earlie, if it be thick than 

 if it be thin, and the final poHshing processes, earlier if it be thick than if it be 

 thin, and the final polishing is proceeded with until the pearl is brought to the 

 surface. " — Scientific American. 



A HINT ON ARRANGING FLOWERS. 



VicKs Floral Monthly says : A new device for the arrangement of flowers 

 consists of a piece of cork about a quarter of an inch thick, circular in form, and 

 perforated with holes Uke the rose of a watering-pot. The diameter of the cork is 

 made to correspond to the size of the saucer or shallow dish with which it is to 

 De used. The cork floating on the top of the water supports the flowers, whose 

 stems are inserted through the holes. For the display of small flowers and those 

 having short stems this method seems well adapted ; possibly it may be better 

 than damp sand, though that is doubtful, but, as the cork may be preserved, it 

 would always be at hand, and it might not be convenient sometimes to procure sand. 



