Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-25

We are often requested to give some in
formation as to the best way OF preserving
our beautifully colored leaves so that they
can be used to decorate our houses, and, in
the cold snowy winter, bring back the glori-
Gus October days.
We take great delight in collecting the
rich colored leaves every fall, although we
are 10y no means an expert in preserving
them. But by observation and inquiry it is
easy to CLEAN sufficient knowledge to find
much enjoyment in the work. Added TO
this, it is pleasant to try experiments on
leaves and viaes, and the many modes of
pressing them. The little we know on the
subject we are happy tolay before our readers.
We first began, some four or five years
since, by simply laying single leaves-well
colOred-between two or three thicknesses OF
soft paper, then another layer, and so on,
each day, as we found fine specimens, put
ting large, heavy books on top. We changed
the leaves into dry papers about every other
day, until they We're well dried, aud found
them smooth with pretty good color, but
very easily broken, and when carefully ar
ranged, though quite ornamental, not at all
durable.
Another year we pressed our leaves in
SPRAYS of three or four leaves, using not only
naples, but alders, oak, the linden, one kind
OF which turns clear lemon color and is
soft and smooth, the other russell and rough,
but both very durable. The sumac also
keeps color well and, if not taken too late in
the season, may be preserved in sprays with
out losing the leaves.
This time we vanished the leaves when
nearly dry, and were greatly pleased with
the color they retained, but did not like the
unnatural glossiness. When vanished they
are as brittle as glass, but if placed above
reach last well and, if fastened near the
ceiling or over the tops of picture frames,
the unpleasant lustre arising from varnish
is not apparent. Some will be removed this
fall from the walls that were prepared three
years ago and are still in good color.
The next experiment was with boiled lin
seed ola dsagreeable piece of workout
when finished there was no perceptibe diff
ference between the looks of the leaves that
were oiled and those which were vanished,
and both were liable to the same objection,
namely, unnatural lustre and great brittle
ness. We pressed not only SPRAYS of three
or four leaves, but little branches foot and
half and some two feet in length, and
found no difficulty in doing So Perhaps the
leaves were not quite as smooth where the
stem was the largest, as the pressure could
not reach them as effectually but unless
close by, in the hand, it was not noticeable.
This fall we have tried waxing the leaves,
both when freshly gathered and when half
dried, and are greatly pleased with the re-
suit Those half dried do not look as well
or keep the color rs perfectly as those waxed
when first gathered. Common yellow wax
is preferable to the white.
oa.rara1 fltigLpa.s.a ,T IL g.,
wrapping-paper on the ironing table. Fold
up paper, or old cloth, into a pad on whish
to put cake of yellow wax. Lay the leaves
smooth, and, if spray or branch, pick out
those leaves which overlap on the branch
and hide good part of the leaf pass a
warm flatiron over the wax quickly, and
then over the leaf or spray, on the upper
side first then turn over and do the same
with the under side, and remove 10 the pa
per in which it is TO be pressed. When the
sheet is full cover with two or three thick
nesses of paper and proceed the same way
with more leaves till all are waxed. This
done, put all under an even but heavy pres
sure, and change them TO dry papers every
two or three days till the leaves are perfectly
cured.
We find the leaves that have been thus
treated in good color, soft and nearly as fex-
ible as ii fresh from the tree. But this year,
although leaves on the mountains and in
high latitudes have turned very beautifully,
they do not appear TO have the firm texture
and strength usually found in autumn leaves
and do not keep their color under any pro-
cess as formerly. We hear it attributed to
the intense heat of the summer, which seems
to have burned all strength and vitality out
OF the leaves, as well as out of mankind
generally. 1t seems a natural explanation.
In pressing leaves 1t Is good plan TO get
n smooth. fiat board, little larger than The