PHANTOM FLOWERS. 



93 



by pouring the water oiF till it looks quite clear ; 

 "vvhen you are quite sure of the fact, pour the sand 

 on stones or boards placed aslant, so that the water 

 can run off, and let it get dry either by sun or 

 fire — dry, perfectly dry. Then pass the sand through 

 a sieve, so that all dusty particles disappear from 

 it, as there w^ill be such, which Avashing and drying 

 will not have removed. Then pass through a coarse 

 sieve, so as to get rid of too large grains. When 

 that is done, your sand should be a mass of fine 

 particles, of nearly equal size, as is, for instance, the 

 so-called silver sand, used for waiting. Keep the 

 sand in a very dry, if possible, also, in a warm place, 

 that no vitalizing quality may remain in it. 



Now for the flowers : cut them in a fully developed 

 state, taking care that they are neither wet nor moist 

 by dew, rain, etc. If you cannot obtain them in any 

 other condition, which is to be regretted, then the 

 following troublesome proceeding will render them dry. 

 Take one or two flowers at a time and put them 

 into a glass, into w^hich pour just enough water that 

 the ends can stand in it ; the flower Avill then dry, 

 and still suck up water enough not to fade. 



Next, get a box or pot, or any thing large enough 

 to receive your flower or flowers ; pour sand enough 



