INTRODUCTION. 13 



single leaf, the process being too slow to allow of 

 a second gathering before Autumn had stripped 

 the trees. 



The first summer of the writer's experiments 

 was lost in vain attempts ; and bushels of care- 

 fully gathered leaves were wasted for want of a 

 few items of knowledge, which, to a careless 

 operator, would seem of small importance. 

 Five years of practice have taught her many 

 things indispensable to a successful prosecution 

 of the art, such as are neither understood nor 

 appreciated by those who have just commenced 

 the work. It is the object of these pages to 

 furnish plain and practical directions for pro- 

 ducing perfect Bouquets of Skeleton Flowers, 

 together with a list of such plants as wiU 

 repay the artist's labor. 



A late writer on this subject enthusiastically 

 declares that the art is yet in its infancy, and 

 expresses his belief that- diligent experiment 

 will lead to results even more wonderful . than 

 any that have yet been achieved. In the con- 

 fident belief that such will be the case, we 

 2 



