For vines, wreaths and festoons, branches of laurel, spruce, arbor
vitas, juniper, yew, silver firs and box, with clusters of the bright holly
or bitter-sweet, which grows in plenty at the North, the holly of the
South, and long trailing ivies or ferns are all desirable evergreens for
church or home decorations. The Hartford fern is very pretty mixed
with autumn leaves, and can be bought at most decorators.
Hoop-skirt springs make the best foundations for wreathes and
crowns, but strong rope or cord is better adapted to the twining of
festoons or garlands. Long garlands of ivy, either natural or made in
wax-work, will add much to the beauty of evergreen wreaths.
In making long garlands for festooning book-cases, windows, etc.,
take a strong cord and tie a loop at each end, then tie it over a door-
handle, or a nail, or a hook — something to hold it firmly — and bind
upon it with fine twine bunches of ground-pine, coral-pine, or spruce,
E VERGREEN DECORA TIONS. 133
laurel, etc., so as to completely cover it ; but take care to tie them reg-
ularly so that it will be the same size in all its length. As each garland
is finished put it in the cellar or. in some damp, cool place. If the ever-
greens are left out of doors when first gathered, protect them from the
sun, so that they will not curl up before made into wreaths. If holly
and bitter-sweet cannot be obtained, the berries of the wild rose and of
climbing roses will prove a good substitute for them, and a small bit of
wire can be strung through each berry and then fastened by it into the
evergreen.
A beautiful vine of autumn leaves is made by taking a bundle of fine
bouquet wire and a ball of strong cord ; fasten the leaves one after
another to the cord by wrapping the stems strongly with the wire,
taking care to keep them in moderately regular order, with the best side
out. Bright berries, grasses, and acorn clusters even, may be wired in
along with the leaves ; anything to make an agreeable variety. Cords
of this may be festooned over the window, around a mirror or picture
frame, or over the folding doors. With these leaves may be mixed
green ferns, pods and berries ; these may also be used for bouquets, by
stemming the leaves with the fine wire and sticking them down into a
base of sand, so that they will keep their places as they are arranged.
Home cannot be made too bright for this season of the year, and every-
thing that is bright and pretty is called into requisition.
For crosses and stars flat pieces of lath make the firmest foundation,
and the evergreens and berries can be fastened to them with black
linen thread. If holly berries are abundant it is well to string them
upon fine wire and wind them among the decorations, or fasten a clus-
ter of them here and there. The leaves of the holly can also be put
among the greens and adds much to the fine effect. White snowberries
and red everlastings are also used to advantage in these decorations.
The room where the Christmas tree is to be placed should be trimmed
with evergreens, holly and mistletoe boughs, and crosses can be cut of
pasteboard, covered with green cloth or paper, and then the tiny sprigs
of evergreen sewed thickly upon it.
Page 116
Presented as published in 1886. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
For vines, wreaths and festoons, branches of laurel, spruce, arbor vitae, juniper, yew, silver firs and box, with clusters of the bright holly or bitter-sweet, which grows in plenty at the North, the holly of the South, and long trailing ivies or ferns are all desirable evergreens for church or home decorations. The Hartford fern is very pretty mixed with autumn leaves, and can be bought at most decorators.
Hoop-skirt springs make the best foundations for wreathes and crowns, but strong rope or cord is better adapted to the twining of festoons or garlands. Long garlands of ivy, either natural or made in wax-work, will add much to the beauty of evergreen wreaths.
In making long garlands for festooning book-cases, windows, etc., take a strong cord and tie a loop at each end, then tie it over a doorhandle, or a nail, or a hook — something to hold it firmly — and bind upon it with fine twine bunches of ground-pine, coral-pine, or spruce,
E VERGREEN DECORA TIONS. 133
laurel, etc., so as to completely cover it ; but take care to tie them regularly so that it will be the same size in all its length. As each garland is finished put it in the cellar or. in some damp, cool place. If the evergreens are left out of doors when first gathered, protect them from the sun, so that they will not curl up before made into wreaths. If holly and bitter-sweet cannot be obtained, the berries of the wild rose and of climbing roses will prove a good substitute for them, and a small bit of wire can be strung through each berry and then fastened by it into the evergreen.
A beautiful vine of autumn leaves is made by taking a bundle of fine bouquet wire and a ball of strong cord ; fasten the leaves one after another to the cord by wrapping the stems strongly with the wire, taking care to keep them in moderately regular order, with the best side out. Bright berries, grasses, and acorn clusters even, may be wired in along with the leaves ; anything to make an agreeable variety. Cords of this may be festooned over the window, around a mirror or picture frame, or over the folding doors. With these leaves may be mixed green ferns, pods and berries ; these may also be used for bouquets, by stemming the leaves with the fine wire and sticking them down into a base of sand, so that they will keep their places as they are arranged. Home cannot be made too bright for this season of the year, and everything that is bright and pretty is called into requisition.
For crosses and stars flat pieces of lath make the firmest foundation, and the evergreens and berries can be fastened to them with black linen thread. If holly berries are abundant it is well to string them upon fine wire and wind them among the decorations, or fasten a cluster of them here and there. The leaves of the holly can also be put among the greens and adds much to the fine effect. White snowberries and red everlastings are also used to advantage in these decorations.
The room where the Christmas tree is to be placed should be trimmed with evergreens, holly and mistletoe boughs, and crosses can be cut of pasteboard, covered with green cloth or paper, and then the tiny sprigs of evergreen sewed thickly upon it.