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Lilac Rhododendron


Danger.



"All are for use--for health--for pleasure given:--

All speak, in various ways, the bounteous hand of Heaven."

CHARLOTTE SMITH.



Cut the petals in white wax; chose it rather thick, but not the double

wax. It is formed with two pieces, and yet when united it appears as if

there were five petals. The colour is produced in any shade of
ilac by

mixing my bright crimson, middle blue, and a small portion of white

together. This is laid on round the edge upon both sides with a large

brush. When perfectly dry, the colour is partly taken off by passing a

moist brush containing very little colour over the whole. This carries

off the rough portion of the paint previously applied, and gives the

petals a soft and shaded appearance. Press the curling pin up the

centre of each point, and pinch against it so as to form a distinct

seam. Roll the head of the pin down each side of the seam, which will

occasion the edges of the petal to look a little crumpled. Unite the

petals neatly together, making a small plait between each. Form the

pistil of double wax: thicken it at the end to represent the stigma. The

stamina are produced by folding the end of a sheet of wax so as to

produce the same appearance as a hem in muslin, and cut ten fine

filaments for each flower (the hem represents the anthers). Colour the

pistil and stamina pale pink: darken the end of the pistil to a deep

crimson. Touch the ends of the stamina with a sable brush moistened with

brown (crimson powder, orange powder, and cake sepia); while wet, dip

them into farina (produced by mixing my lemon powder with white, quite

dry). Cut a piece of wire, three inches long, middle size: pass a small

piece of light green wax round the end, and double the wire down; then

attach the pistil to it, and place the stamina round, taking care that

the pistil rises above the stamina. The centre petal of each flower is

dotted with brown, the same colour previously used for the anthers. The

stem is passed through the centre of the corolla, pressing the edges of

the latter neatly to the wire. It is one of those flowers that has not a

calyx attached close to the flower, but is shaded lightly round the end

with a crimson brush. The flowers are mounted in clusters, varying in

number: seven form a pretty size. When the flowers are united, a cluster

of small points of very light green wax are placed: these are what are

termed by botanists, "calyx involucre," signifying that such calyx is

remote from the flower. Place three or four leaves round the stem, a

short distance from where the flowers are united.



Another of the American plants useful in grouping, is the



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