The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-10-02
Bleaching and Pressing Fern Leaves.


The first thing requisite in the bleaching
process is to procure proper materials.
Many persons prefer Lalarraque's solution of
chloride of soda. formerly used a prepara-
| ton called Jouvelle water, which I was always
able to obtain at one particular druggists in my
native city. liked it because it was ready for
USE
Since have been successful with chloride of
lime, which may be prepared for use in the
following manner: Take a half pound of
strong chloride of lime and place it in an
| earthen pitcher, add three pints of soft, cold
water, and stir carefully with an iron SPOON
pressing so as to mash the Jumps well against
the sides of the vessel keepit covered and allow
it to stand in cool place until the lime has pre-
cipitated upon the bottom of the pitcher, which
will be done in about an hour, except a small
portion that may remain floating on the sur
face. This should be removed with spoon or
skinner, after which the clear LIQUID should
be poured off into q bottle, then corked up
tightly, and kept in a cool place.
When ready to commence bleaching your
ferns, take glass jar, such as IS nsed for pre-
serves, etc.. having mouth wide enough to
receive the largest fern you have. Remember
that the ferns should be pressed between the
leaves of book until they are required for
bleaching Place them carefully in the jar, al
lowing them to curl around it's Sides rather
than with the stem downward, in order to avoid
breaking the leaves which have become dry and
brittle by pressing. The small ferns and leaf
let's may occupy the space in the middle of the
jar Then with clear warm water, cover the
ferns in the jar, adding the bleaching solution
in the proportion of two tablespoonful to a
pint of water, cover tightly and set in a warm
place. After twenty-four hours, gently pour
off the liquid, and replace with fresh, mixed as
before. Allow them to remain in the second
preparation forty-eight hours, when this must
be changed in the same manner.
In few days the ferns will begin to whiten
at the edges, and will gradually change from a
brownish green to beautiful phantom white
ness. Each fern must be carefully taken from
the lar. when it is discovered to be perfectly
white, without waiting for all to be finished
Often in bleaching large fern it happens
that only a portion of it will be thoroughly
white. The best plan is to take the fern from
the jar, lay it in a basin of clean warm water,
cut off the bleached leaflets and return the re-
mainder to the jar. When ready for your bou-
quet, you may be able to unite the parts with
gum arabic. 1t will be necessary to change the
water four or five times during the bleaching Of
the same jar of ferns, and the time required to
bleach them perfectly will extend over period
of from one to two weeks When the sprays
al found to be entirely white, take each one
separately from the jar with the fingers, al
ways holding them by the stems. Have ready
q basin of clean warm water in which to put
them, allowing them to remain in it for several
hours. They may be thoroughly cleaned by
changing the water several times, but require
gentle handling.
When ready to be dried take each one by the
stem and lay it in another basin of warm water,
allowing it to float on the surface, then pass
under it piece of unsized white Tor blotting)
paper, and in that manner lift it from the
water 1t will cling to the paper, and usually
assume its natural shape. IT it does not,
straighten the small leaves with the point of a
pin To get rid of the moisture in the paper
lay it on soft towel for a short time, and the
towel will absorb the water Then lay it be-
tween two sheets of the same white paper, and
press in book. When all of the ferns have
been rinsed, dried and placed between papers
in a book lay a heavy weight on it to insure
good pressing.
If you choose you may change the places of