16 
THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
curtains of the windows at which the tree 
stands are also on fire. The better way is 
not to place the tree at or near any 
window, but have it in the centre of the 
room. Flowers and plants in pots can 
always be used with great effect for 
Christmas decorations. To avoid the 
ugliness of the bare pots, cover them 
Fig. 4, 
with sheet moss from the woods; this 
material may be fastened on with fine 
wire or thread. If the moss is not ob- 
tainable, bank up the pots with ever- 
greens. I have sometimes seen very 
small hanging fish-globes, containing one 
small gold fish, so arranged as to produce 
Fig. 5. 
very beautiful effects. The best recepta- 
cles in which to plant or fasten the Christ- 
mas tree is a half butter tub nailed to a 
square piece of two-inch stuff. The tub, 
and the square of timber to which it is 
fastened, are painted green, and while 
the paint is moist, pulverized wood moss 
is dusted on it ; don't attempt to represent 
a miniature picket fence, with wooden 
sheep and shepherdesses, but let it be an 
honest substantial butter tub filled with 
earth. I have made a number of off- 
hand pen sketches as suggestions of 
shapes of banners and appropriate mot- 
tos. Fig. 1 shows how two styles of ban- 
ners can be cut from one slip of paper 
with the least loss of material. Figs. 2 
and 3 are cut out on the same principle, 
while Fig. 4 is a patriotic design, consist- 
ing of a festoon of red, white and blue 
tissue paper, bespangled with silver or 
gold-papei stars. The ends of the festoon 
are caught up with a rosette, from which 
streamers depend. Fig. 5 consists of a 
cheap muslin American flag, bordered 
with lycopodium trimming. 
HIS department is intended ex- 
clusively for "Our Girls," and 
we hope to make it both inter- 
esting and instructive, and to 
this end we ask our young lady readers 
to assist by contributions, sugges- 
tions, or illustrations. There are thous- 
ands of little things that can be, and 
have been, made and done by young 
ladies, pertaining to decorative art, 
needlework, etc., etc., that would be 
gladly followed but for a want of know- 
ledge on the subject, and we know of no 
more pleasing task for a lady than that 
of teaching her younger sisters that which 
they are anxious to learn, and which may 
prove of real benefit to them in the future, 
as well as being useful and interesting for 
the present. We trust we will have no 
difficulty in persuading those who have 
something nice to show or speak of, 
to make use of this department. Eemem- 
ber, it is open to all, and if you have any- 
thing worth knowing suitable for this 
column, send it along, and we will give 
it our best attention. Do not be afraid 
to write because you may fancy your 
composition is not perfect, or have other 
scruples of a similar kind. Do the best 
you can, and leave the rest to the editor 
of this department, and we are sure you 
will be pleased with your work. 
