MODELLING THE FLOWERING RUSH 361 



long stem, make up to the proper thickness with modelling- 

 wax, and cover with fabric as neatly as possible. 



The Leaves. — Probably the uninitiated would suppose, when 

 viewing the simple radical leaves of this plant, that, although 

 of great length, nothing could be easier to reproduce. After 

 a little reflection, however, they may not be surprised to learn, 

 that here they are face to face with a problem which, up to 

 the present, has been unsolved. True it is that strips of fabric 

 have been tooled into the semblance of " flags," etc., but even 

 these have not been a success, and blades 4 feet and more in 

 length, three-edged or bayonet-shaped, have not been attempted 

 even by professionals. From attempts to weld fabric and wax, 

 together or separately, into the shape required, it was evident 

 that some entirely different method, probably outside the re- 

 sources of the flower-modeller, would have to be invented, and 

 various experiments made in the Leicester Museum have 

 resulted in the following satisfactory method of reproducing 

 such objects. These lengthy leaves, although apparently three- 

 sided and fluted as a rapier, reveal under examination that 

 one side is much flatter than the other two, and conse- 

 quently not so deeply fluted ; this is the side, therefore, 

 which will be undermost when casting, and to do this 

 properly it will be necessary to be provided with a smooth 

 board, about 4 feet in length by i foot in breadth, free 

 from joints and large knots. This should be placed upon 

 the modelling -table and covered with strong brown paper, 

 unless, indeed, the board is smoothly planed, which is better. 

 Upon this board place the longest leaf, with its flattest 

 side, as explained before, downwards, the sharp keel being 

 uppermost ; through this keel drive rather short, fairly stout 

 pins into the board, following the curvature of the leaf, but 

 being sure that each pin is sufficiently near its fellow to 

 ensure the leaf lying perfectly appressed, throughout its whole 



