u will be
supplied with colours among the other materials; and the application
of them is precisely upon the principle of water-colour painting.

2537. Fruit, &c., in Wax.

For the imitating of fruit in wax, very different rules are to be
observed. The following directions may, however, be generally
followed:

The material of which moulds for waxen fruit should be composed is the
_best_ plaster of Paris, such as is used for plaster casts, &c. If
this cannot be procured, the inferior plaster, from the oil-shop, may
be substituted, if it can be obtained _quite fresh_. If, however, the
plaster is faulty, the results of the modelling will of course be more
or less faulty also. It is the property of plaster of Paris to form a
chemical union with water, and to form a pasto winch rapidly "sets" or
hardens into a substance of the density of firm chalk. The mould must
therefore be formed by impression from the object to be imitated, made
upon the plaster before it sets.

2538. Causes of Want of Accuracy.

The use of an elastic fruit in early experiments leads to a want of
accuracy in the first, steps of the operation, which causes very
annoying difficulties afterwards; and therefore a solid, inelastic
body--an egg boiled hard--is recommended as the first object to be
imitated.

2539. Making the Moulds--First Half.

Having filled a small pudding basin about three-quarters full of damp
sand (the finer the better), lay the egg lengthways in the sand, so
that half of it is above, and half below, the level of the sand, which
should be perfectly smooth around it. Then prepare the plaster in
another basin, which should be half full of water. Sprinkle the
plaster in quickly till it comes to the top of the water, and then,
having stirred it for a moment with a spoon, pour the whole upon the
egg in the other basin.

2540. Making the Moulds--Second Half.

While the half mould thus made is hardening thoroughly, carefully
remove every particle of plaster from the basin in which it was mixed,
and also from the spoon which has been used. This must be done by
placing them both in water and wiping them perfectly clean. This is
highly important, since a small quantity of plaster which has set will
destroy the quality of a second mixing if it is incorporated
therewith. In about five minutes the half mould will be fit to
remove, which may be done by turnin