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DIE. MALLET AND WAXED GAUZE FROM WHICH SEPALS HAVE BEEN CUT 



The waxed gauze is laid on a wet block and the die is also dipped into water to prevent adhesion 

 of the wax. A sharp blow from the mallet forces the die through the gauze with a clean-cut edge. 

 A die is used when many small parts tike sepals or delicate petals are required 



spread out to make the pattern for the die. Such corollas can be cut 

 with one blow of the mallet on the die. Then with a hot tool the 

 tube is welded together, while the petals are curled and adjusted accord- 

 ing to life position. 



For monopetalous corollas of more complex contours such as catalpa, 

 Squeeze squeeze molds are used, each consisting of two parts the 

 Molds for upper fitting into the lower. In this process hot wax is 

 Flowers poured over the lower half of the mold and a piece of gauze 

 is pressed into the wax with an agate tool. A second flow of wax is 

 poured over it, and the obverse or upper half of the mold is pressed 

 down squeezing out all superfluous wax. The whole is then thrown 

 into cold water until the wax is hard, when the cast is removed from 

 the mold with the assistance of a glass rod. The impressed wax is 

 trimmed, the rim edges beveled and the edges of the corolla tube welded 

 by means of a hot tool. In still more complex flowers, as some orchids, 

 it is necessary to subdivide and make molds for each half. The welding 

 of the two halves requires skill. The foliage of the pitcher plant also 

 is made in this manner. 



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