Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-10-28
Autumn Leaves.

VERY many persons-especially til,
ladies-are interested in Foliage ricl
with some autumnal TINT and at thi
time of the year are making inquiry as to
how the beautifully -variegated hues shall
be preserved. To accomplish this re
quires both care and patience. These at
tributes, together with a few pieces of
blotting paper, some suitable means of
pressing a few folds of linen saturated
with spermaceti and a small quantity Of
glycerine and moderately hot fiat-irOn,
are all that are necessary. Select the
leaves with due consideration of the OBJ
.jeCt to be obtained, namely: ornamental
ton. Select such as can be arranged in
shades or graduating colOrs, that in their
display they may prove themselves to be
not only Ga thing of pleasure" but "a
JOY forever Gather them Immediately
after severe frost, as their tints at this
time are the most perfect, decomposition
having but just begun; and it is the ar
rest Of this that really preserves them.
The leaves of a plant are to it what the
lungs are to a human-organs Of respira-
tiOn--and in formation, that is, as to their
functional purposes, they differ but slight
ly therefrom. Their variegatiOn of color
depends upon the rapidity of individual
air-cell or vesicle destruction. Having
procured the leaves, place them between
folds OF blOtting- paper separately, and in
single layers; place upon these sufficient
them to thus remain for a week or tea
days; then remove the weight but do rot
disturb the leaves. In six or eight hours
again replace, ard at the same time increase,
the weight. Continue such pressure for a
week or ten days longer. The moisture of
the leaves having by this time been removed
they may be subjected to the ironing proc
ess, which should be conducted as follows:
Into common tin pie-plate place two
ounces of spermaceti and one tablespoon
full of glycerine; thoroughly incorporat,
them together by heat; fold together a.
old piece of linen make it of sufficient
thickness to absorb the greater part of the
spermaceti; lay upon the plate; heat the
flat-iron moderately hot, and then run il
lightly over the linen saturated with the
spermaceti, and then over the leaf; trea
each leaf separately and in this manner
This gives to them the appearance OF hav
ing been vanished and also tones' the
coloring. If properly pressed and subse
quently manipulated as herein stated the,
will neither cookie nor fade.
Probably those who develop taste
the selection of leaves do not need al
suggestion as to their arranging, but, for
the benefit of those who have not this &C
ouirement or may not have had the expe-
rience, it might be interesting to state that
there is nothing more beautiful than the
maple cross. This is constructed princj
pally of maple leaves, although occasion
ally interspersed Herewith are sprigs q 6
fern or rock brake, a leaf of wild indigo
or there may be admissible few leaEes
of woodbine. Next to this In beauty is
the crescent formation-a graduating of .
maple leaves from center to points, grad
nation both in size of leaf and cOloring.
This admits of an addition of ferns only.
People may devise many handsome wall
ornaments or decorations, such as wreaths. s
anchors, mOnograms, etc., if they will but s
study the effects of color and, in arrang- 8
ng, study to display these effects.-Chaca- s
m Times e