PHANTOM FLOWERS. 43 



wire may be passed through it, before being gummed, 

 into the stand. The group thus fastened should reach, 

 in the centre, to within three inches of the top of the 

 glass, the leaves of course rising higher as they curve 

 upward from the stem. There should now be prepared 

 a few choice sprays, of leaves and seed-vessels, or per- 

 haps a group of Ferns, and fastened into the cavity 

 thus created, so as to crown the whole, and give it an 

 artistic finish. 



On no account should large and heavy seed-vessels, 

 or opaque objects, be placed near the top of the bunch. 

 We have seen many specimens made by beginners, in 

 which Stramonium burrs were conspicuous among deli- 

 cate leaves at the summit of the bouquet. Of course, 

 this manner of arranging them detracts considerably 

 from the Kght and airy appearance of the whole ; and 

 as the burrs soon become discolored, the little original 

 beauty of such productions will soon be gone, the 

 coarse brown burrs becoming an unsightly blemish, 

 which nothing but their removal from the bouquet 

 can repair. 



As a general rule, large sprays of Fern look better 

 and wear better, when placed near the bottom, or 

 directly on the velvet, as they are disposed to curl, 

 especially if placed in the bouquet before they are 



