26 PHANTOM FLOWERS. 



using a brush, the leaf should be laid in the palm of 

 the hand, on a plate, or on any other surface equally 

 flat and smooth. 



This constitutes the first washing, and a few of the 

 leaves will now be found perfectly clear. But to some 

 of them thus washed and but partially cleared, further 

 care must be extended. It will, therefore, be neces- 

 sary to have at hand a second vessel of water similar 

 to the first, in which all such imperfectly skeletonized 

 leaves may be placed, where they must remain until 

 finished, which, with aU but the Swamp Magnolias, 

 will probably be two or three weeks longer. 



We may suppose that the artist has made a begin- 

 ning with the leaves already mentioned in this chapter. 

 On taking them out of the macerating vessel, and 

 washing them as directed, she will find the Deutzias 

 and Silver Poplars perfectly clean, and they should 

 then be placed in a basin of clean water, until all the 

 contents of the macerating jar have been examined. 

 A few of the Norway Maples wiU also be found per- 

 fectly prepared ; but the majority of all contained ia 

 the jar will stUl be only partially so. 



In the latter condition will be found the Sycamores, 

 the Silver Maples, the Elms, and the Pears. These 

 must, consequently, be deposited in the second vessel, 



