1884.] 
AMEBICAJ^ AGEIOULTUEIST. 
549 
How to Dress the Christmas Tree. 
The following suggestions are equally adapted to 
a large tree intended for a school entertainment, 
or a smaller tree at home. First select a tree of a 
suitable size, and good shape. Place it firmly in a 
tub, keg, or bucket, by nailing several wooden 
braces across the tub from side to side, close to the 
trunk of the tree, and filling it with sand, stones, 
or bricks. Cover the top of this base with moss, 
or bits of evergreen, and wrap a piece of bright- 
colored cloth ground the sides of the tub or keg. 
Various kinds of pretty ornaments for Christmas 
trees can be bought at the 
shops, but very good ones may 
be made at home for a trifle. 
The decorations must be 
showy and bright, but need 
not be as neatly made as if 
they were to undergo close in¬ 
spection. Cranberries and pop¬ 
ped corn strung on a thread, 
and looped from branch to 
branch, are quite effective. 
Chains made out of gold and 
silver paper, are used in the 
same way. Cut a number of 
ovals about two inches long, 
and remove the centers to 
make rings. Join these into a 
chain by slipping a narrow 
strip of paper, three inches 
long, through two rings, and 
gluing the ends together. Join 
on another ring with another 
strip of paper, and so on. Cut 
out of card-board as many 
stars, crescents, and “butter¬ 
flies” as will be needed, and 
twice that number out of gold 
and silver paper, and paste the 
latter on each side of the card¬ 
board. Pass a black thread 
through a point of the stars 
and crescents, and tie in a 
loop, by which it is hung on 
the tree. Out of blue, yellow, 
white, and red tissue paper, 
make tassels by cutting the 
paper into tiny strips. Fasten a bunch of these to 
the “ butterflies,” by passing a cord around both. 
Small candles, for lighting up the tree, may be 
fastened in place, when the regular candle holders 
are not to he had, by bending a small-sized hair-pin 
over the branch, points up, and pressing the candle 
down on the pin. The work of ornamenting the 
tree can be done by the whole family, but the 
presents should be given to a person of decora¬ 
tive taste and skill to hang in place on the tree. 
An Inexpensive Table-Cover. 
A very handsome table-cover, a corner of which 
is represented in the engraving, can be made at 
a small cost. A square of some rich shade of felt 
is used for the body. The border is formed of vel¬ 
vet or plush. As the pieces used are very small, 
discarded bonnet or dress trimmings, carefully 
brushed and steamed, will answer as well as new 
material. The darkest shade in the engraving 
represents black velvet, while liglit and dark well- 
blended colors should be used to fill the smaller 
spaces. Care should be taken in sewing the pieces 
together, and afterward basting them on to the 
felt, leaving a border of three inches on the outside. 
The seam should be “ feathered-stitched,” with 
gold-colored floss. The fringe upon the border is 
made by cutting the three inches of felt along the 
edge into small strips one-quarier of an inch wide. 
The table top should not be larger than the body of 
the cover, so that the border of contrasting colors, 
with the fringe beyond, will neatly hang in sight, 
and produce a handsome and pleasing effect. 
Christmas Decorations. 
Above we present several new designs for 
Christmas Decoration. The foundation for the 
Fan is pasteboard, made to represent an open 
fan, by cutting it in large points on the edge. 
Draw a pencil line from the center of the fan 
(where the how is seen) to the upper and lower end 
of each point. Two shades of green are needed to 
give it the desired effect; sew the lighter on the 
left side of the points, and the darker on the right; 
this will make it look like an open fan. Fasten on 
a spray of bright red berries and a large bow of red 
ribbon at the bottom; they can he made large 
enough to fit over the top of a door. 
The Parasol is also formed of pasteboard. Cut 
the pieces out, guided by a parasol, and overhand 
them together. Sew the green on with a few berries 
scattered over them. Use a rustic stick for the 
handle, and cut a hole in the top of the parasol, 
allowing the stick to show several Inches above it ; 
fasten it in securely and finish with a large bow 
of bright ribbon tied on the handle. 
Pressed ferns may be used for decorating lace 
curtains. They are kept in place with pins which 
can be easily eoncealed, and the ferns do not look 
as stiff as when sewed on. Use large ferns for the 
center of each curtain, grouping several together, 
and tie with scarlet satin ribbon. Tack a few 
branches of pine and holly over the window. 
The Work Bag, made of a hat, wUl be found use¬ 
ful and ornamental. A soft straw hat with a roll¬ 
ing brim will answer the purpose best. Cover the 
hat smoothly with silk or satin inside and out. A 
piece of pasteboard cut the size of the crown is 
covered on both sides with silk and finished on the 
edge with a silk cord attached to one side of the 
hat. Make a loop on the other side to fasten it in 
place in the hat, and sew a stripe of narrow ribbon 
on the crown, making several places for slipping in 
scissors and other sewing utensils. Sew a straight 
strip of silk on the inside of the crown to form a 
bag; shirr it at the top with ribbon left long by 
which to hang it. Palm leaf fans gilded and orna¬ 
mented with holly or mistletoe look very pretty 
and help to decorate the home. 
A Cow Bell, suitably decorated, makes a hang¬ 
ing ornament for the chandelier. It can be 
gilded or left the natural color. 
Hang it with a broad ribbon. 
A Sachet Bag is a neat and 
easily made little present. 
Two shades of satin ribbon 
are cut eleven inches long and 
sewed together within an inch 
and a half of each end. Cut 
the ends in points and baste 
a piece of lace two inches 
wide in the top of the bag. 
Make au inner bag of several 
thicknesses of cotton sprink¬ 
led freely with Sachet powder, 
slip it in the ribbon bag and 
tie it together at the top as 
seen in the engraving. Place 
a bow of many loops and 
ends on tbe point. 
The Book Marks are made 
of pasteboard covered neatly 
with satin with a spray of 
mistletoe and holly painted on 
them. Cut a round hole in 
the top of them, work it 
around in button hole stitch, 
and tie in a narrow satin rib¬ 
bon. Those are fortunate 
who, in the season dried flow¬ 
ers, ferns, etc., have gathered 
a good supply, in anticipation 
of the demand for them at the 
approach of Christmas. Some 
of the ferns are overgreen, and 
these Tuay still be collected 
and dried, by pressing them 
between papers. The Climbing, or Hartford fern 
(pressed), is kept for sale by many florists. 
Birch Bark Panels. 
Take a strip of canoe or paper birch bark and 
split it until the pieces are very thin ; cut from one 
of these papery strips a little figure, of Kate 
Greenaway style, or any Mother Goose character, 
desired. Paste the figure carefully on a panel of 
black card-board, and with pen and ink draw the 
few lines necessary to designate the arms, dress. 
BIBCH BAKE PANEL. 
etc. A few strokes with a paint brush to repre¬ 
sent grass at the feet of the figure are all that is 
necessary. If the bark is hard, soak it in water 
before splitting. Mount the card on an easel. 
A GROUP OF CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS. 
