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RUSTIC FLOWER-STAND AND AUTUMN 
LEAVES. 
Having seen two or three designs for a rustic flower- 
stand, with accompanying descriptions, I conceived a 
great desire to possess one; and not only to possess it, 
but to fashion it with my own hands. For those I had 
read of, the Grape, Cedar and other knotty woods were 
recommended. But, after my rambles through the 
woods, I decided in favor of the Sweet Gum, with its 
rough, wing-like bark surrounding and projecting from 
even its tiniest twigs. Procuring several branches, I 
selected those which I thought best suited to my pur¬ 
pose. These were more or less curved and bent, in 
such a manner as naturally to assist me in the forma¬ 
tion of the stand. I first tried three branches, but 
found that a fourth was better; all the small side 
branches I cut off, leaving them one, two and three 
inches long — when they had grown out no longer than 
this, 1 left them entire, these little twigs being quite 
ornamental. In all the cutting, I took care to expose 
the wood as little as possible; pruning so that the 
bark concealed the cuts. Having thus prepared them, 
I stood the four branches on the floor, as nearly at 
right angles as possible; all curving into the centre, 
thus forming the neck of the stand where interlacing. 
I secured them with a small wire, which the little twigs 
and projecting bark concealed quite effectually. Then 
I proceeded to form the basket or upper pai’t of the 
stand, by intertwining the small branches or twigs, 
which were left uncut for this purpose—adding and 
interlacing others where the vacancies required, and 
securing them at different points with the wire. In 
order to give strength and steadiness to it, I put cross¬ 
pieces between the legs of the stand, one above the 
other, resting in the forks formed by the ends left on, 
securing them also with wire. Being completed, I 
then varnished it, and really I looked upon my work 
with some degree of satisfaction, but was quite sur¬ 
prised at the admiration it drew forth when I brought 
it out to view. It was deemed worthy of a place in 
the parlor, where it was placed in a conspicuous cor¬ 
ner; and being light, graceful and artistic as well as 
rustic, it bore well its surroundings of carved walnut. 
Being too late in the season to fill it with roots, I 
used it for cut flowers. And particularly pretty it was 
on one occasion, with long sprays of Periwinkle fall¬ 
ing around it, some being caught up as though cling¬ 
ing to the tiny twigs; while the top was decorated 
with a plate and glass bowl filled with Stars of Beth¬ 
lehem, bright, shining sprigs of Box, and drooping 
vines, and marsh grasses with starry blooms. 
But wishing to decorate it with living plants in the 
spring, I took some cocoa-nuts which I had sawed in 
half, filling them with rich earth, and roots of Ivy, 
Vinca, Begonia and drooping mosses. One of these, 
with a fine Ivy in it, I placed on the cross-pieces below, 
securing it firmly. And now the Ivy has grown, and 
twined and festooned itself all around the lower part 
of the stand ; while, from the basket above, the Vinca 
falls in long, winding sprays, intertwining with the 
Ivy below. And through the meshes of the basket 
creeps the Peperomia; and a Begonia peeps through 
on one side, showing its. bright, glossy leaves, and 
delicate, cream-like blooms. Having been removed to 
the front veranda, every one who comes exclaims: 
“What a pretty thing! Who made it!” I have tried 
to tell how I made it. 
And now, may I add my experience in preserving 
autumn leaves to that of many others, whose articles 
in your paper I have read with instruction and pleas¬ 
ure? I have tried both ironing and pressing them in 
books, and much prefer the latter method, as you 
thereby avoid bruising them. I find that from ten 
days to a month is lequired to dry them out, so that 
they will not shrink or shrivel when exposed to the air. 
When thoroughly dried thus, they may be oiled or var¬ 
nished on both sides, if used for vases, picture cords, 
curtains, etc. If wanted for gumming on paper or 
cardboard, take the leaves, after pressing them, have 
your sheet before you, select and arrange the leaves, 
then take up each leaf, apply the gum with a mucilage 
brush, replace it on the paper, and press it, on firmly 
but gently until every part, particularly the edges, ad¬ 
heres to the paper. Then go over the leaf and stem 
with the brush, coating them lightly with the gum. I 
prefer it to varnish—the effect is the same and it wears 
better. Those I prepared thus two years ago are as 
bright and fresh looking as when just done. I pro¬ 
cured nice, smooth, thick blank paper from the book¬ 
binder’s—fourteen by seventeen inches in size—large 
enough to arrange the leaves as one may wish. 
I have quite a collection of beautiful leaves, in vari¬ 
ous tints and shades, arranged in groups, sprays, 
wreaths, etc., as fancy may suggest; each variety on 
a separate sheet, with botanical name and class, and 
also the common name, written beneath each. These 
are pdaced in a handsome case of black walnut and J 
maple, with glass top, showing a group as beautiful as 
a painting, my friends say. The case is, in size and 
shape, similar to a large, handsome Bible, the deepdy 
fluted maple representing the gilt edges between the 
walnut framing. In another case with glass top, I 
have a collection of wild flowers, medicinal plants, and 
beautiful vines with rarely shaped leaves and delicate 
tendrils, all pressed, gummed and labelled, as the for¬ 
est leaves. I prepared these collections for a State 
Fair, where they both took premiums. Both collec¬ 
tions are greatly admired by my friends, and, apart 
from their entertainment, they have afforded me many 
hours of pleasant employment and instruction. The 
pleasure they give extends even to the little ones, who 
gather in their rambles every bright-tinted leaf, or 
pretty spray, or trailing vine “for mamma.” And 
may not these beautiful things become family heir¬ 
looms? And loving eyes may look over the bright 
leaves when mamma sleeps beneath others, flitting 
down in their crimson and gold. Cecil. 
FLOWER PAINTINGS. 
For some little time past, there has been quite a rage 
for hand-painting on small mirror frames, screens, 
fans, paper cutters, &c., and lovely designs in roses, 
forget-me-nots, and violets, have tempted lovers of 
pretty things to stretch their purse-strings rather 
widely to accomplish the desired end. For these dainty 
bits of ornamentation seem most unreasonably dear; 
the magic label, “ Painted by Hand,” is considered 
all-sufficient in the eyes of the sellers, and judging 
from the price it might' be the hand'of an old master. 
But very satisfactory effects can be produced with 
real flowers by those who are willing to exercise a 
little skill and patience. It is fascinating work, and 
almost as artistic as painting. The materials needed 
are a quantity of paper known as botanical drying 
paper, which is light and soft, with an undressed face ; | 
two covers of wire cloth, which comes in sheets two 
feet long by one and a half in width, bound with a 
narrow strip of zinc; two stout leather straps, with 
buckles ; a paper knife, and a camel’s hair pencil. 
The flowers for this work must be used as soon as 
gathered, and be quite free from moisture ; half-blown 
blossoms and buds are preferable to fully expanded 
ones. The first step is to prepare a thick bed with 
the sheets of paper; this should be half an inch deep 
for small flowers, and a full inch for such large ones 
as roses, japonicas, etc. This bed,.or cushion, absorbs 
the moisture, and dries them perfectly. The flowers 
are to be laid on this pile in natural positions, and far 
enough apart to prevent their touching, for this is one 
of those things that, if worth doing at all, is worth 
doing well. The paper knife and pencil now come 
into use in arranging the petals, stamei^, etc., which 
must be none with the utmost care. It is better to 
put only flowers of a uniform size on one bed, and 
never to dry flowers of different colors together, as 
this is almost sure to dim or discolor them. When 
the bed is comfortably filled, a German style of coverlet 
may be placed on top; this should contain as many 
thicknesses of paper as are underneath. Then the 
other sheet of wire cloth outside of the whole, and the 
straps tightly buckled. The whole affair must then be 
hung where both sun and air will have free play ; out of 
doors is best, if there is no danger of a sudden shower, 
and a summer breeze is a most desirable aid in the dry¬ 
ing process. The small flowers will generally be 
ready for use in six or eight hours, while the large ones 
may require two days of sunshine; but they should 
not be removed from the papers until every vestige of 
moisture has disappeared. When quite dry they may 
be carefully removed with the paper knife to a sheet 
of stiff white paper, and put out of the way of dust or 
moisture until they are needed for use. 
Foliage does not bear the process so well as blossoms, 
unless it belongs to the laurel family, and small quan¬ 
tities of lycopodiums and moss are used instead. . Very 
little green is necessary, just enough to separate and 
relieve the colors. The flowers when carefully pre¬ 
pared in this way, will be perfectly flat, and retain 
their natural hues, so that any surface on which they 
are placed will look as though it were painted. 
Cardboard is the most satisfactory foundation, and 
it is safer to trace upon it an outline of the design that 
the flowers are intended to fill. Brush this lightly 
over with gum tragacanth, or mucilage. Then put on 
the flowers, touching them here and there with the 
camel’s-hair pencil, to make them stick. The gum 
must be put only on the cardboard, as it would injure 
the appearance of either flowers or verdure. 
When the floral design is complete, the article must 
be carefully laid away in a dark airy room to dry. 
This will take a day or two. The finishing touch is 
given by placing lace very smoothly over the flowers, 
and gumming it securely at the edges. Ribbon, or 
small silk fringe, will make a pretty finish. 
If properly done, these pressed flowers have almost 
the beauty and grace of freshly gathered blossoms, and 
can be used in many different ways as most effective 
ornaments. Pansies retain their form and coloring 
wonderfully, and a cross of heart’s-ease, edged with a 
little lycopodium, makes an exquisite transparency. 
The forget-me-not is also very satisfactory and poet¬ 
ical, and a wreath of sweet peas, mingled with grasses, 
encircling a gilt monogram on a grey-covered port¬ 
folio, is one of those things of beauty that live in the 
memory forever. A fan of cardboard, covered with 
silver paper, or with black or white lace, and the 
pressed flowers lightly attached to this covering, is quite 
charming. Designs may be multiplied indefinitely, 
and these natural scrap-book pictures are so fascin¬ 
ating to handle, that after a few successful experiments, 
one feels like taking the entire contents of a garden 
and placing them between paper beds. E. R. C. 
