19.—ORNAMENTAL SEED WORK.
We have seen exhibited at agricultural fairs some really beautiful frames and boxes ornamented with common garden seeds.
If our boys and girls will begin early in the summer, and collect every variety of seed possible, such as all kinds of beans, corn, melons, &c., they will have abundant material for this kind of ornamental work in the winter.
Every seed of size sufficient for handling should be saved; even small polished black or yellow seeds, like poppy seed, can be preserved to scatter over the ground-work. Dry all the seeds carefully, and place them in boxes ready for use. This work can be applied with excellent effect in ornamenting boxes, picture frames, hanging baskets, book racks, flower stands, small tables, brackets, &c. Get the frame of wood, of any article you intend to ornament with seed work; stain the wood with walnut staining materials, or varnish with asphaltum varnish. It is not desirable to have a high polish on the surface intended to be ornamented, as the glue will not adhere to a very smooth substance. Keep your woodwork in some dry place, until you are ready to glue on the seeds.
When you have a leisure day or evening, place your frame of wood before you, and the boxes of seeds around it. When your glue is hot, spread a little over a small space with a brush, and arrange your seeds in the form of some flower or other figure.
It is difficult to give explicit rules for the work. It is best for each person to exercise his or her taste and ingenuity in arranging the designs. As the work proceeds, an endless variety of shapes and styles of designs will suggest themselves.
An accurate resemblance to nature is not easily attainable in this kind of work.
When all the ornamental work is arranged, the small spaces left uncovered should be brushed over with a thin coat of varnish, and sprinkled with any small seeds. Black seeds are very desirable, as they form a good ground-work, and afford a proper relief to the designs. When the glue has become hard, apply to the whole work an even coat of copal varnish. If this is not sufficient, apply another coat; it is needed, as some seeds absorb more than others.