362 TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



length, to the board, with no risings nor elevations under which 

 the plaster, when poured on, can creep. Another leaf should 

 now be pinned down in a similar manner, just outside the other, 

 with, say, an interval of an inch between ; this, with an inch 

 outside each, will give a space of about 6 inches in width by 

 2 or 3 inches longer than the length of the leaf to be boxed 

 in ; but before doing this be careful to cut off the pins close 

 to the keel of the leaf, otherwise they will not draw through 

 the leaf afterwards. Wet the leaves and board sufficiently, 

 and, having boxed in the space in the usual manner, pour on 

 the plaster of the proper consistence. When sufficiently set, the 

 moulds may be turned over, but, being long and narrow and 

 rather thin, they should have a strip of wood held on their 

 backs whilst this operation is performed, the wood acting as a 

 strengthening backbone. It will be seen by the above that 

 only two sides are cast, leaving that side pinned down uncast ; 

 probably, however, it would be better if this were done, and, 

 although extremely difficult to allow much curvature in a leaf 

 4 feet in length, yet this can be done by packing underneath 

 with sand or clay as described before. By keying and oiling 

 the mould, therefore, and pouring plaster over both the leaf 

 and mould, and, when dry, tapping gently with the mallet, the 

 halves will separate, and, if all has been correctly managed, 

 the leaves should, by being laid hold of at one end, slip out 

 readily from the mould, leaving a sharp concave impression. 

 After some days drying, the mould should be oiled as usual, and 

 a supply of paper pulp (Formula 93) should be provided. This 

 is, by means of the fingers and any suitable modelling-tool from 

 amongst those figured, well pressed into the mould, and tooled 

 into the deep channel which represents the sharp edge of the 

 leaf, care being taken, however, that the pulp is spread on as 

 thinly as possible, for the reasons given at p. 265. A/terwards 

 back with muslin in the manner detailed at the same page, 



