MODELLING THE APPLE-BLOSSOM 327 



with the "fringe" as before, and repeat until the blossom is 

 sufficiently large. 



Apple-Blossom, Apple Pyrus, Pyrus malus, Linn. 



This lovely flower, which, in the spring, fills the orchards 

 with blushes of virginal freshness, is most useful as an accessory 

 to the nests of many of our orchard- and hedge-building birds, 

 giving just that delicate pink which is so valuable in almost 

 any picture -group. The method of reproduction as here 

 described is founded upon that of Mrs. Mogridge, but corrected 

 and improved upon by Miss Squires, who also planned the 

 diagrams. 



The centre of the blossom, i.e. the pistil, is made from a 

 strip of pale green art- fabric, turned over narrowly at the top 

 edge, and snipped very finely with the scissors to form the 

 carpels — usually five. Attach to the wire, and around the 

 base of this pistil wind a strip of folded green wax for the 

 ovary, which, though rarely (if ever) visible, is necessary to the 

 proper formation of the base of the flower. For the stamens, 

 take a strip of pale lemon (almost white) art fabric, fold the 

 top edge over once, or perhaps twice, according to the thick- 

 ness of the fabric and the condition and size of the natural 

 anthers ; snip it very finely for some little distance, being 

 careful not to cut the fabric through at the other edge, and 

 being careful also to keep the folded part uppermost. Damp 

 the scissors frequently ; most professionals do this with the 

 mouth, which, although a speedy method, is not recommended. 

 Now take a needle and draw forward every alternate, or every 

 second and third little strip, and cut them neatly away at the base. 

 Figures i and i a show the preliminary and the finished stamens 

 before winding on. Wind once around the ovary so that 

 the stamens will be of the length of the inner ones of the 

 natural flower, which are considerably shorter than the outer 



