The Cactus

Warmth.



Cut the petals in bright orange wax, place a fine white wire half way up

each, and occasion it to adhere by attaching a strip of orange wax over

it. Colour them upon both sides with carmine. Curl the petals by passing

the head of the pin twice or thrice from each edge towards the centre,

and bend the same back. Fold down the edge or end of two sheets of thick

white wax. Leave a quarter of an inch rom the end quite white, then

paint a pink stripe half an inch deep; leave again a quarter of an inch

white, and finally finish with a stripe of green. Cut the whole two

widths into a deep fringe to form the stamina, and colour the anthers

(produced by the fold) with cream colour (white and lemon powders). Take

a piece of middle size wire, pass round it a strip of white wax; this is

to form the pistillum. Attach to the end five fine points of white wax,

and paint them also cream colour; shade the filament of the pistillum

red. Divide the stamina, attach half to the upper, and the remainder to

the three under petals. Join the pistillum to a strong stem, passing

white wax round to form a foundation. Affix to the foundation the six

petals, to which are attached the stamina, letting the latter fall from

the top petals over the lower ones, and dividing it so as to enable the

pistillum to pass through. Every set of petals are placed precisely

between those preceding until the flower is complete. It must be

remembered that the largest petals are attached first, and that they

gradually decrease until you arrive at the smallest.



"For not, oh, not alone to charm our sight,

Gave God your blooming forms, your leaves of light."

CHARLES SWAIN.