PHANTOM FLOWERS. 



65 



plant, euclosing first the flower, and afterwards the 

 seed capsule, is of a curious balloon shape, of bright 

 green until the seed is ripe, when it becomes brown- 

 ish. Each one has a tough stem, which is retained 

 through maceration, and is attached to the stalk of 

 the plant, the latter being covered by the calyxes, at 

 a distance of an inch apart, quite to the end of the 

 branch. This calyx seems to be formed of five dis- 

 tinct divisions, like leaves, which, when pressed open 

 and bent in proper shape, has, after bleaching, every 

 appearance of a flower. To increase the variety in 

 the bouquet, they can be used both in their natural 

 form to represent buds, or in the way described. 

 They require about three weeks to macerate, when 

 they may be cleaned in hot water, aided perhaps by 

 the tooth-brush. A whole branch may be done with- 

 out separating from the main stem. 



Thorn Apple : Jamestown Weed (^Datura Stra- 

 monium) . 



A well known rank Avayside weed, very poisonous 

 to the taste, but not to the touch. The seed-vessels 

 should be gathered when ripe, and soaked about six 

 weeks, when, by aid of a stiff brush, the beautiful 



