PBANTOM FLOWERS. 41 



always within reach, as well as being less liable to 

 become discolored by age. 



Take the common whit« crochet spool cotton, and 

 coarse sizes of sewing thread, to be found in every 

 lady's work-basket, and stiffen them by wetting weU 

 with gum arabic. When dry and stiff, stems of the 

 required length can be prepared by gumming neatly 

 to the under side of the leaf, allowing the new stem 

 to extend some distance along the central rib or back- 

 bone of the leaf. If done neatly it wiU be difficult to 

 detect the substitute. These stems can be left about 

 two inches long, which will be sufficient to admit of 

 joining to form branches, &c., and can of course be 

 cut off if found to be too long. Care should be taken 

 to regulate the size of the thread used by the require- 

 ments of the leaf; a large leaf, with thick mid-rib, 

 calling for a thick and substantial stem, while a deli- 

 cate leaf, like the Ivy, needs a finer one. 



The Ivy leaf should always, if possible, be grouped 

 so as to form wreaths, as nearly as may be in ac- 

 cordance with its natural habit of growth, the smaller 

 leaves being placed at the end of the spray. 



Having prepared the stems, the grouping may be 

 gracefully done (if the bouquet is to be placed under 

 a low, broad shade) by fastening the stems securely. 



