The Cabbage Or Provence Rose
(ROSA CENTIFOLIA.) Beauty.
"The rose has one powerful virtue to boast
Above all the flowers of the field--
When its leaves are all dead, and fine colours are lost,
Still how sweet a perfume it will yield."
WATTS.
Cut the petals from pale pink wax; colour the three smallest rather deep
with the crimson powder. The sp
it petals, marked on my pattern fifteen,
are coloured the same, but rather a lighter hue. Each succeeding set are
painted the same, but gradually diminish the colour until you arrive at
the outer petals, which are the lightest of all. To form the petals, use
a pin as little as possible; cupping them with the thumb or finger,
according to its size. For the largest petals, use the thumb, so
pressing each in the centre, while it is resting in the palm of the left
hand, as to become perfectly round. The last two or outer rows are
turned back with the head of a curling pin.
Prepare the foundation of solid wax, rolled round the end of a moderate
size wire. It must be cone-shaped. The three smallest petals are crushed
and placed at the point in a triangular form. The split petals, marked
on my pattern fifteen, are united into clusters of five, and placed
round immediately under the three that are crushed. Each succeeding row
of petals are placed on in like manner, taking care that each petal is
attached to the under part of the foundation, and not upon the side. I
particularly name this, as I too frequently find ladies err in forming
the roundness of the rose. The last two rows of petals, which are turned
back, must be placed rather lower than those preceding. The calyx is cut
from double light green wax.
The head of the curling pin is passed down the centre of each point
previously to their being placed on. Pass a strip of double green wax
close round the base of the flower, moulding it round and smooth with
the thumb and finger. This is to represent the seed cup. When the calyx
is affixed, it must rest against the back of the rose, and be so neatly
moulded over the seed cup, as not to show any division or seam.