44 PHANTOM FLOWERS. 



perfectly dry. All delicate seed-vessels, and the beau- 

 tiful flowers of the Hydrangea, show to great advan- 

 tage on the raised cushion, while the large leaves 

 occupy the centre of the group. When finished, a 

 piece of cheniUe around the outer base of the shade 

 will serve the double purpose of ornament and use, 

 as a protection from dust. On no account should the 

 shade be fastened down, as the contraction and expan- 

 sion caused by changes of temperature will certainly 

 crack the glass if it be glued fast. 



Another very pretty style of arrangement is in a 

 frame, under a convex glass, using a background of 

 blue or black velvet. Leaves, flowers, and ferns may 

 be arranged gracefully, with stems downward, as in 

 the ordinary bouquet, and these afterwards concealed 

 by a large seed-vessel of the Balsam Apple or Stra- 

 monium. These latter seed-vessels, however beautiftil 

 in texture, and ivory-like in effect, are now generally 

 discarded by those who have had several years ex- 

 perience in the art, on account of their tendency to 

 become brown with age. No matter how white and 

 beautiful the leaves may be, the whole effect will be 

 marred by the presence of a single unsightly brown 

 or yellow burr. Some have adopted this style of the 

 frame, but with a flat plate glass, having" the whole 



