9 6 FLORAL DECORATIONS. 
inches either way, to suit the convenience of the operator. 
In the bottom of the box a half dozen half-inch holes 
should be bored, and over these, inside, some bits of strong 
paper pasted. 
The flowers to be dried can now be selected. They 
should be free from dew or moisture. Through a fine 
sieve sift a layer of sand a quarter of an inch deep into the 
box ; now lay carefully as many flowers and leaves on the 
sand as you can ; the space between the larger flowers 
may be filled up by smaller ones ; on this layer of flowers 
carefully sift another layer of sand ; the sand should not 
be pressed down with the hand, as this would spoil the 
natural shape of the flowers, but knock gently with your 
fingers at the side of the box until every little space be¬ 
tween and under the flowers is well filled up ; then put in 
another layer of flowers and proceed as before until the 
box is full. Put on the lid of the box, and tie it on with 
a strong cord, or, what is better yet, fasten it with a few 
small screws, and then put the box in a warm place,under 
01 near the stove or on a shelf by the stove where it will 
be constantly warm. 
In three or five days, according to the warmth of the 
place, the flowers will be perfectly dry. When only ex¬ 
posed to the sun it requires much more time. To remove 
