sheets of wax pressed upon leaves of embossed calico. Leaves of
various descriptions are to be obtained of the persons who sell the
materials for wax flower making.

2529. Models for Wax Flowers.

Ladies will often find among their discarded artificial flowers,
leaves and buds that will serve as the base of their wax models.

2530. Natural Models for Wax Flowers.

The best guide to the construction of a flower--far better than
printed diagrams or patterns--is to take a flower, say a _tulip_, a
_rose_, or a _camellia_. If possible, procure _two_ flowers, nearly
alike; and carefully pick one of them to pieces; lay the petals down
in the order in which they are taken from the flower, and then cut
paper patterns from them, and number them fron the centre of the
flower, that you may know their relative positions.

2531. Putting Petals Together.

The perfect flower will guide you in getting the wax petals together,
and will enable you to give, not only to each petal but to the
_contour_ of the flower, the characteristics which are natural to it.
In most cases, they are merely pressed together and held in their
places by the adhesiveness of the wax. From the paper patterns the wax
petals or other portions of the flowers may be cut. They should be
cut singly, and the scissors should be frequently dipped into water,
to prevent the wax adhering to the blades.

2532. Utilisation of Scraps of Wax.

The scraps of wax that fall from the cutting will be found useful for
making seed vessels, and other parts of the flowers.

[HE WHO SERVES WELL NEED NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK HIS WAGES.]

2533. Leaves of Flowers.

Where the manufactured foundations cannot be obtained, patterns of
them should be cut in paper; the venous appearance may be imparted to
the wax by pressing the leaf upon it.

2534. Sprigs of Plants.

In the construction of sprigs, it is most important to be guided by
sprigs of the natural plant, as various kinds of plants have many
different characteristics in the grouping of their flowers, leaves and
branches.

2535. Selection of Sheets of Wax.

When about to copy a flower, take care in the selection of good sheets
of wax, and see that their colours are precisely those of the flower
you desire to imitate.

2536. Imitation of Tints, Stripes, Spots, &c.

For the tints, stripes, and spots of variegated flowers, yo