Another method of drying plants before laying them aside, and
arranging them in a systematic manner, may here be mentioned as
worthy of attention. Get a shallow pan or tray about the size of a
blotting-paper used for drying plants. Lay the plants in the usual way,
between the sheets of the blotting-paper, and when the tray or pan is
nearly full, cover it over with a layer of dry sand, half an inch thick or
so, place it on the fender before the fire, and in three hours the
plants will be perfectly dried.
ROCKERIES AND GROTTOES.
They are usually built in the style of a castle and often of rocks so
large that it takes the power of several horses to draw them to their
particular places, but when they are there they stand for centuries.
These rustic ornaments are made of common rocks, stones and shells,
piled up in pyramidal forms several feet high and many feet across the
base. The rocks can be cemented together or fastened by piling them
up irregularly, so that they will form nooks and pockets all the way up
to the top, to hold the soil for growing plants and vines. At the bottom
niches and grottoes can be filled with ferns and vines that grow best in
water, while at the top can be placed those plants that most enjoy heat
and sunshine.
Do not locate the rock too near the house, for distance here adds
ROSE JARS AND PILLOWS. 321
beauty to the view. Nature always hides her mossy and ferny nooks
away in the depths of woods and trees. Make it look as natural as
possible, never allowing any pieces of painted pottery or any of the
other imitations of statuary or rock work, to be placed in or near it.
Gather material for it yourself from the woods and rocky shores ; old
gnarled knotty roots of trees are an addition ; all sorts of wild wood
plants that grow in damp, dark places can be made to grow here if they
can be kept damp enough. When one has any means of bringing
water in pipes to the ground, it is an easy matter to manage this, and
in most cases a fish pond can be arranged in the grotto. Where one
cannot have water brought to the grounds, then it will be a better and
more successful plan to plant only the vines and flowers that do not
need much water.
Creeping Charlie, Kenilworth ivy and many other vines will grow
in dry placespand several species of cactus will grow in dry, sandy
soil. When^plants are brought from the woods they should be trans-
planted in their/ native soil. Mosses, lichens, dwarf evergreens, squaw-
berry vines, Jack in the pulpit, joy Virginia creeper, caladiums, coluses,
acheranthes, and all other species of ferns will grow here. Those that
grow best in damp and shade should be placed at the base, and such
flowers as mignonette, pansy and wild columbine will grow up nearer
the top, and so will nearly all geraniums. The brilliant yellow and scarlet
nasturtiums, also crysanthemums, are also very beautiful. The latter
are a brilliant purple, white or yellow.
Page 284
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
Another method of drying plants before laying them aside, and arranging them in a systematic manner, may here be mentioned as worthy of attention. Get a shallow pan or tray about the size of a blotting-paper used for drying plants. Lay the plants in the usual way, between the sheets of the blotting-paper, and when the tray or pan is nearly full, cover it over with a layer of dry sand, half an inch thick or so, place it on the fender before the fire, and in three hours the plants will be perfectly dried.
ROCKERIES AND GROTTOES.
They are usually built in the style of a castle and often of rocks so large that it takes the power of several horses to draw them to their particular places, but when they are there they stand for centuries. These rustic ornaments are made of common rocks, stones and shells, piled up in pyramidal forms several feet high and many feet across the base. The rocks can be cemented together or fastened by piling them up irregularly, so that they will form nooks and pockets all the way up to the top, to hold the soil for growing plants and vines. At the bottom niches and grottoes can be filled with ferns and vines that grow best in water, while at the top can be placed those plants that most enjoy heat and sunshine.
Do not locate the rock too near the house, for distance here adds
ROSE JARS AND PILLOWS. 321
beauty to the view. Nature always hides her mossy and ferny nooks away in the depths of woods and trees. Make it look as natural as possible, never allowing any pieces of painted pottery or any of the other imitations of statuary or rock work, to be placed in or near it. Gather material for it yourself from the woods and rocky shores ; old gnarled knotty roots of trees are an addition ; all sorts of wild wood plants that grow in damp, dark places can be made to grow here if they can be kept damp enough. When one has any means of bringing water in pipes to the ground, it is an easy matter to manage this, and in most cases a fish pond can be arranged in the grotto. Where one cannot have water brought to the grounds, then it will be a better and more successful plan to plant only the vines and flowers that do not need much water.
Creeping Charlie, Kenilworth ivy and many other vines will grow in dry places, and several species of cactus will grow in dry, sandy soil. When plants are brought from the woods they should be transplanted in their native soil. Mosses, lichens, dwarf evergreens, squawberry vines, Jack in the pulpit, Virginia creeper, caladiums, coluses, acheranthes, and all other species of ferns will grow here. Those that grow best in damp and shade should be placed at the base, and such flowers as mignonette, pansy and wild columbine will grow up nearer the top, and so will nearly all geraniums. The brilliant yellow and scarlet nasturtiums, also crysanthemums, are also very beautiful. The latter are a brilliant purple, white or yellow.