MODELLING THE FLOWERING RUSH 359 



The bracts are better cut separately, from brownish art 

 fabric or from white coloured to nature, and they may be 

 scratched, tooled, twisted, and stretched, to give the requisite 

 creases, etc. 



No definite instructions can be given for the arrangement 

 of the flowers in the umbel, although an examination of a 

 number of plants shows that the earliest blossom to open is 

 usually that in the centre ; in large umbels, however, this 

 becomes displaced by the growth of sets of flowers, these " sets " 

 consisting almost always of three, of equal growth, arranged at 

 regular intervals around the centre — three flowers or advanced 

 buds on long pedicels alternating with three small buds on 

 short pedicels, and the number seldom (or never) varies except 

 occasionally when there are six in a set. 



A modelled umbel, whose execution is in greater part 

 due to the genius of Miss Squires, is shown on the right of 

 Plate XVIII. 



The Stem. — Take ordinary galvanised wire, gauge No. 13, 

 three feet or more in length, but determined by the natural stem. 

 Next take the softest of the modelling-waxes (Formula 74), 

 and flatten it into strips or cut shavings from it. Commencing 

 at two inches from the top of the wire, rub it for some distance 

 down with a piece of the wax until somewhat sticky, and then 

 take one of the strips or shavings, and knead it firmly around 

 the wire, rolling it between the hands until it roughly assumes 

 the shape of the natural stem, but is thinner. Having thus 

 treated some six inches or more, lay it upon a stone slab, and 

 roll with the hand until quite smooth. Probably this class of 

 wax will stick a little to the slab, in which case dust the latter 

 very lightly with powdered whiting, plaster, or flour. Proceed 

 down the wire in like manner, gradually increasing the thick- 

 ness toward the base. When shaped to nature, lay it upon the 

 slab again and roll with a piece of board, oiled occasionally. 



