The Red Cloud chief., 1879-10-09
AUTUMN LEAVES.
uints Regarding Thsir Preparation for
Household D~oors,ion-Oth~r ArSssis
sugg-.tion..

decorating u apartments for winter
with the bnghi-huci leaves II autumn.
leads many tn -erk the woods a. -pou
A. the foliage Assumes t-rpcning tint-
The term uT~HtHg J. psrhap. novel Ia.
some ears. but connpis-sur- in color
haV. discovered that unless III. gayly
tinted leaf hA- attained a certain de-
gree of perfection, IT, color, BECOME
dingy in drying.
IL Gems almost -a.rilIgIuu> 20 mar
ia. symmetry II q wcil-grpvn tree by
cutting "r breaking IL branches. \
few NAV sometimes ~ removed without
dctraciing from IT, beauty but when
the ground j, strcwu with ~lsaye>. IT i
needless Ia ID this. From such profu-
-iun rare selections If cpIunng mot
lied, marbled, striped, b~lutchcd. or
shaded can be- made that arr uuaitaiu-
able IN single branches and these may
be- - arti-tically combined and mounted
on wires - To- serve th" purpose II nat
ural branches. \ few green leave,
greatly enhance the brilliaucc Of the
more highly colorcl. Both reds and
yrllUw- become more vivid in contrast
with grccu-a fact too often ignored.
Rather stout wire i needed for the
main stem Of a garland or a branch
more slender Ia strengthen and render
plant the leaf stems. Common wor~t@i,
Berlin Oh Germantown. in red. IL. BON
or brown, i excellent for winding the
stems Ia wires. after the manner of ar
titicial flower sprays. Care IN arTdng-
iu@ the leaves, according both Ia color
and size, i necessary Ia give -ati>iac-
tory results. \ buugh or a branch
should begin at the apex with a very
small leaf. and the leaves gradually in
crease i'm ~" toward the base. This
being affixed Ia the main stem by wind
in@ the worotcd. other twig>, similarly
made, can hc added ~ the work pro-
ccrd>.
The best way Ia prepare the leaves
for mounting they having been washed
from all impuritirS-iS to press them
between clean white papers under a
weight. Where one has not pressing
boards designed especially for this pur-
pose, the papers containing the leaves
can be- laid under Il heavy box or a pile
of books. After two or three DAYS they
should be- fully dried and ,moothci with
a warm (uot hot) iron. If a bit of wax
or Of parailinc bc rubbed on the face IF
the iron Just ~ each leaf j. ironci, "A
gloss and elasticity will be- impaired,
and at the same time the colorS height
cncd and fixed. leafy branches are
most easily dried in this way, without
previous pressing.
BY means Of warm sand small boughS
IF leaves can he dried with their twig~
aud leaves in natural position. Seed
lin" NAPLES, only three or four inches
high, that are So abundant around full
grown maplc-trCcS, are very lovely dried
in this manner \ common wire sieve.
Il quantity Of clean sand. and a box. the
bottom of which can be easily removed,
are the materials needed. Set the sieve
within the box, and in the intcrsticeS IF
the wirc-work place the stems Of the
naples or the base of the branch, with
every leaf posed as usual. Pour the
sand. heated To blood-warmth, through
Il paper zone or tunnel around and upon
the branches and leaves till all are COW
cred. Set the box in the sun or on the
back of Il stove or range. IL in the sun.
two or three days will be- required To dry
them; on Il stove or range, with ron
slant, steady warmth, t~wcnty-four hours
will probably suffice. Attic end of that
time remove the bottom of the box and
let the sand pass out. The little trees
and branches will remain in the sieve.
every leaf and twi% gracefully balanced,
their colors clear aud fresh, though in
texture 50 firm ~ never To wilt or Shriycl.
\ camcl'>-hair pencil dipped in melted
49,. ....n..a -fl q. 4 II.
Arrange the trees in Il dish of sand, Law
green moss upon the surface, and YOU
have Il pretty parlor ornament.
The leave, of the maple and oak, and
of Il few woody shrubs. such Is the
b~erry-brarimg plants, best repay the
pains taken for preservation. OF the
naples, deer T7tbram Cthe red maplc),
whose foliage turns deep crimson in au-
tumn. and 4. SachdriRUm (thc sugar or
rock maple), exhibiting all the shades of
red and ycllow-SOmetimcS in the same
leaf-from maroon and orange To deli
cate cherry and r~oSe-color or pale cream,
will he sufficient.
Select from the oaks QHcrcus cOccinea
(tlc scarlet oak, with its glowing red
leaves, and .. diScOI0r (the swamp white
oak, with rich brown deeply scalloped
leaves. These give elegance of form
and beauty of color. When pressed and
dried they are very effective Is decora-
tons.
The leaves of the sumacS. in their au-
tumn tintS of claret and crimson and
gold, are fine material for wall bouquets.
Resembling ferns in their pinnatitid
form, they group well with them. and
add brilliance Ia their delicate hues.
The most desirable are Mus cdpallind.
II. typhiHd. and Il. gidbrd. These hang
out their gorgeous oriflammeS in rocky
pastures and by barren hillSides just as
ummer visitors are fastening home
ward: and all the wintcr-after they
have been nicely pre>Sed-like the ban
ners in old baronial halls, they will lend
glory and grandeur To many 4 humble
home.
The boughs of some old trees are 50
crooked and curved a. Ia resemble the
antlerS of deer. and when covered with
lichenS and dropping moss are fine or
namentS for III entrance hall or library.
These are usually ancient hemlockS or
jumpers. and are found in damp locali-
ties. Many pretty things may he made
of these messy boughs-such as vases
and stands for dried grasses, or pressed
ferns and Sumacs; also hanging baskets
for holding pots ofliving plants or dried
leaves and flowers, and easels for sup
porting sketches of rural scenery. \
little ingenuity in cutting and trimming
the branches, and of wiring them into
the desired shape, will make of the most
refractory boughS very beautiful objects.
Use fine annealed wire Ia keep all firm
and steady.
The lichenS that covert the fallen limbs
of trees, old dilapidated fences, and the
powders scattered here and there
through the woods have a beauty pecu-
liarlv their own. Wooden brackets Ia
which their lavender and gray ruffleS
are glued adorn a and serve many
useful purpo>es-are especially desirable
tn hold a pot of growing vines that will
droop gracefully over and about them.
C0lEemd LGcerunn, resembling rosettes Of
pearl gray lace, or a ~full-blown rose
carved in stone, may be found in moist
woods. This handsome species is very
desirable for covering oldpicture-frames.