GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS IN PLANT-MODELLING 315 



instead ; the tube oil-colour, of whatever hue desired, is put 

 out, a very little at a time, upon the palette, and the dabber 

 is filled with it by constantly working it upon the colour until 

 it is in such a state as, when dabbed upon the leaf or flower, 

 to mark every raised part without clogging the depressions. 

 The printing is managed upon paper by laying blotting-paper 

 over the leaf in the same manner as with water-colours, and 

 beautiful impressions result, as, if desired, the tints can be 

 varied on the same leaf by using several dabbers, each charged 

 with a different colour. 



Calyces and involucres are almost invariably made of fabric 

 lined with wax, and are sometimes cut from a strip, as for the 

 violet, coltsfoot, sea-aster, etc., but more frequently, perhaps, in 

 a stellular form, as for the ranunculus, apple-blossom, hawthorn, 

 etc. In the latter case it is easier to cut a disc first, and from 

 this to cut the calyx of three, five, or any number of sepals. 

 Such discs are easily struck with compasses, or, when a number 

 of the same size are wanted, are more easily and quickly cut 

 out by a punch (Fig. L, Plate II.). Probably the best plan of 

 all, however, is to learn to cut by eye, practising upon paper 

 first, until not only discs but calyces with any number of points 

 can be cut accurately without mechanical aid. 



To cut a folded edge of wax or of art fabric for stamens or 

 similar purposes, lay the strip along the left forefinger, with the 

 folded edge uppermost and nearest to the body, and, taking the 

 small sharp scissors (which must work quite easily) in the right 

 hand, rest the fingers of this hand lightly and easily within 

 those of the left, and snip the wax or fabric — commencing at 

 the end nearest to the right hand — in such a manner that the 

 points of the scissors do not quite meet. The scissors and the 

 hands should be held in the same position throughout, the 

 strip itself being gradually pushed along as required by the 

 thumb of the left hand. Resting the left hand upon the edge 



