22 



PHANTOM FLOWERS. 



remarkable only for their ample size or pleasing shape, 

 and places the whole diversified collection in the pre- 

 pared receptacle to undergo the process of maceration. 

 In her ignorance of certain first principles, she does 

 not imagine that she has overlooked some of the most 

 indispensable ingredients of success, which, standing 

 as they do at the very threshold of the undertaking, 

 must not only influence, but, when disregarded, must 

 render absolutely futile all subsequent steps in a pro- 

 cess which, under any circumstances, is exceedingly 

 tedious. AYe may suppose that in her natural im- 

 patience to commence her labors she has gathered up 

 an ample store of leaves, immediately on their attain- 

 ing their full growth. It is true that in this early 

 preparation she has anticipated the attacks of de- 

 structive insects, but the leaf will then be too immature 

 to withstand the macerating process. The fibres will 

 be found too succulent, and not sufficiently ligneous, to 

 sustain the pressure and handling always necessary to 

 produce a perfectly skeletonized leaf. After probably 

 two months of patient watchfulness, she is consequently 

 compelled to throw away her choice collection, the 

 Avhole having become a mass of pulp, in which there 

 is neither stem nor fibre to identify a single leaf. 

 By this time the season has advanced, and the 



