PHANTOM FLOWERS, 27 



as before mentioned, to undergo still further macera- 

 tion. The Magnolias wiU require another two or three 

 months' soaking before the outer cuticle will become 

 soft enough to remove ; but, if more convenient, they 

 may be placed in the same vessel with those last 

 named. After covering these half-cleaned leaves with 

 water, all in different stages of progress, they should 

 be left in the same warm, sunny place to be finished. 

 We may here remark, for the comfort of the learner 

 who has persevered thus far in an operation which 

 wiU be discovered to be decidedly unpleasant to her 

 olfactory organs, that the most offensive portion of the 

 labor is over, at least with this particular set of leaves, 

 as after having received their first washing, they part 

 with most of the putrefactive odors which have so long 

 pervaded the air in the vicinity of the macerating jar. 

 The clear and perfect leaves which were deposited 

 in the clean water, awaiting a leisure hour to give 

 them further attention, may now be deprived of their 

 moisture by carefully pressing them between the folds 

 of a soft towel until they are perfectly dry. On no 

 account let them be laid on a table, or other hard sur- 

 face, while in a wet state, as in drying they wiU ad- 

 here to it so closely as to tear in the effort to remove 

 them. The Norway Maple, being extremely delicate. 



