40 PHANTOM FLOWERS. 



most effectively to contrast with the white group to 

 be placed upon them. The stand, of walnut or enamel, 

 should have a groove upon its surface, inside of the 

 edge, into which the shade wiU drop freely. Having 

 cut the velvet of the proper size and shape, allowing 

 for the necessary stuffing, the cushion may be prepared 

 by laying raw or carded cotton on the bottom of the 

 stand, raising it rather higher in the centre, and tem- 

 porarily securing the circular piece of velvet by means 

 of four tacks on the four opposite sides, thus equally 

 dividing the whole into four parts ; the edge may then 

 be firmly and neatly fastened around by gluing, and 

 pressing with a blunt-pointed instrument, until it ac- 

 quires a proper shape, when the tacks may be removed. 

 The operator will next require some white gum 

 arable, dissolved in water so as to be very thick ; and 

 the first step preparatory to the arrangement wiU be 

 that of supplying stems to such of the leaves as may 

 have lost them in the process of maceration. For this 

 purpose, some operators use the old stems of other 

 plants which have been bleached expressly for use, as 

 substitutes, whUe others prefer white wire covered with 

 paper; but after trial of both these expedients, we 

 give the preference to something more simple, and 

 which possesses the additional advantage of being 



