October, 1 907 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



381 



Affixing the Stencil to the Apple 



cess. With practise much more elaborate pictures may be 

 undertaken, and these, if well done, are exceedingly striking. 

 A skilful professional has recently produced some examples 

 of high artistic merit. These have embraced quite delightful 

 country scenes, views of houses, ships, all delineated with a 

 clearness that is amazing. 



On a fine day when the apples on which it is proposed to 

 put stencils have attained to their full size, as far as actual 

 development is concerned, the paper bags may be removed. 

 This must be accomplished with a great deal of care, as on 

 no account should the fruit be roughly handled or it will 

 resent the treatment in the form of ugly brown patches. If 

 all has gone well the apples will be of a clear green color, 

 very much lighter in fact than they would have been if they 

 had been exposed to the light. Any specimen with a blemish 

 or one which has not grown properly should, of course, be dis- 

 carded. All is now ready for placing the stencils into position. 

 Many kinds of adhesives have been used for affixing the 



Removing the Stencil — the Finished Portrait 



paper designs, ranging from the saliva of snails down to pure 

 gum. Most people will probably prefer to adopt the last 

 named. 7 he outward side of the apple is the one upon which 

 to place the stencil, as this is sure to turn the brightest red 

 from the fact of its receiving more sunshine. Spread a small 

 quantity of whatever sticky solution may be used over the 

 back of the paper design, and then put it on to its place. If 

 not quite straight at first work it gently into its true position 

 with the fingers. Now wipe the whole upper surface with a 

 soft cloth, being sure that there are no wrinkles in the paper. 

 This last is very important, as anything In this way will tend 

 to spoil the symmetry of the figure. 



When all the apples which it is proposed to treat have been 

 taken in hand, there is nothing more to do for the moment 

 but to live in hopes that one may be blessed with a spell of 

 bright hot weather. It is quite likely that a shower of heavy 

 rain may wash some of the stencils from their place alto- 

 gether. If this is to be so, the gardener may well pray that 

 it will take place as soon after the designs have been put into 

 position as possible. Then it will not be an impossible mat- 

 ter to stick them on again, as the effects of the light will have 

 scarcely as yet taken effect. But it is not at all an unheard 



Making the Stencil 



of circumstance that some of the stencils should be loosened 

 by rain after they have been on some time. Then, indeed, 

 it is well nigh useless to attempt anything in the way of a 

 replacing. It would be nearly as difficulty a matter as is the 

 resetting of a photographic print in a frame which has al- 

 lowed the paper to slip. The result would be almost cer- 

 tainly more or less of a failure. 



But if all is well and the garden has had a full share of 

 sunshine the stencils on the apples should be ready for re- 

 moving in a few weeks. By their general appearance it will 

 be seen that the apples are in a ripe condition, and each one 

 may be then carefully gathered. With a basin of warm 

 water and a soft cloth, the surface of the fruit is quickly 

 relieved of any portion of paper which seems inclined to 

 adhere. Then the object of the whole business is made clear. 

 The closed-in portions of the stencil stand up in clear yellow 

 against the bright crimson of the side of the apple, and the 

 principal points of the design are strongly marked out in 

 red. The apples may now be stored away for use as required. 



Apples are not alone among fruit which may be treated 

 in this manner. Some success in this direction has also been 

 achieved in the case of peaches. It will be found, however, 

 that the rough skin of this fruit is less easy to deal with as 

 regards the fastening of the stencil, and the design when 

 printed does not stand out with the sharpness shown in apples. 



