18 



PHANTOM FLOWERS. 



dried, become very brittle, and ^dll break upon the 

 slightest attempt to fold or bend them. K placed in 

 vases, they mil soon cm-l and lose theii^ color, com- 

 pelling their early dismissal from the parlor. Not so 

 after passing through the skeletonizing process. They 

 then become strong and flexible, may be folded or bent 

 in any way desired, and, although appearing to be so 

 frail and delicate, will, in most cases, bear a consid- 

 erable amount of handling and pressure without tear- 

 ing. Yet it will be seen by the directions which follow 

 these preliminary remarks, that the greatest care is 

 required to manipulate the fragile fabrics, as the 

 slightest pull in the A\Tong way, or the neglect of 

 precautions and rules, which to the learner may seem 

 unimportant, may spoil the most promising attempts, 

 and disappoint the hopes and expectations of an entire 

 season. 



This is especially true in regard to the bleaching 

 process. During the first season of the writer's ex- 

 periments, whole jars of perfect specimens were lost in 

 passing through this stage of the preparation, in con- 

 sequence of her ignorance of the true method, subse- 

 quently acquired by patient and careful study. Having 

 now ascertained the proper method of proceeding, it is 

 a rare thing to lose a leaf, or even a spray of fern, the 



