Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-09-23
Fern Leaves.
now TO BLEACH AND PRESS THE,

The first thing requisite of ferns is i,
procure proper materials. Many person.
prefer Labarraques solution of chlords
Of soda. | formerly used a preparatm
called Jouvelle water, which | was III
ways able TO obtain at one particuIs,
druggists in my native city. | liked i
because it was ready for use.
Since then | have been successful vii.
chloride of lime, which may be prepared
for use in the following manner: Take
half pound of strong chloride of lime
and place it in an earthen pitcher, adj
three pints of soft, cold water, and sti,
carefully with an iron spoon, pressing "a
rs to mash the Jumps well against The
side of the vessel; keep it covered and
allow it to stand in cool place until the
lime has precipitated on the bottom Of
the pitcher, which will be done in abow
an hour except a small portion that may
remain floating upon the surface This
should be removed with a spoon or skim
mer, after which the clear liquid should
be poured of into bottle, then corkeI
up tightly, and kept in cool place
When ready to commence BLEACHING
your ferns, take a glass jar, such as is use
for preserves, etc, having mouth widsM
enough to receive the largest fern Won
have Remember that the ferns Shout h
be pressed between the leaves of book L
until required for bleaching. Place
them carefully in the jar, allowing then
to curl around its sides, rather than with
the stem downward, in order to avoid
breaking the leaves which have become
dry and brittle from the pressing. Thek
small ferns and leaflets may occupy the \
space in The middle of the lar. Then
with clear warm water, cover the fern:
in the jar, adding the bleaching solution
in the proportion of two tablespoonful:
to pint of water, cover tightly and sci \
in warm place. After twenty-four houn
gently pour off the liquid, and replace
with fresh mixed as before Allow then
to remain in the second preparation for
ty-eight hours, when this must be chang
ed in the same manner.
In few days the ferns will begin "a
whiten at the edges, and will gradualIy
change from a greenish brown to a beau,
tiful phantom Wilderness. Each fern mus
be carefully taken ftom the jar, when
IS discovered to be perfectly white, with
out waiting for all to be finished.
Often in bleaching q large fern 1t hap N
pens that onlya portion will be thmM
oughly white. The best plan is to tax
the fern from the jar, lay it in a basin
clear warm water, cut off the bleache III
leaflets, and return the remainder TO th II
Jar When ready for your boquet, yg
may be able TO unite the parts with gul
arabic. 1t will be necessary to chang
the water four or five times during The II
bleaching of one jar of ferns, and tl "A
time required to bleach them perieGl
will extend over period of one or two
weeks. When the sprays are found tobo
entirely white, take each one separately
from the jar with the fingers, always
holding them by the stems Have ready
a basin of clean warm water IN which "a X
put them, allowing them to remain init
several hours They may lie 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 ii in another basin
of warm water, allowing it to fioat on
The surface, then pass under 1t plece0
unsized white COR blotting paper paper
and in that manner lift it from the wa \
ter. 1t will cling to the paper and uSu'
ally assumes its natural shape. III 1t does
not, straighten the small leaves with the
point of pin To get rid of the moist
ure in the paper lay it on a soft towel fQlI
a short time, and the towel will absorb \
the moisture Then lay it between tw3S
sheets of the same white paper, ano
press in book. When all of the ferns
have been rinsed, dried and placed be-
tween papers in a book lay q heavy y
weight on it to ensure good pressing. &
If you choose, you may change The n
places of the same, or remove them 70 r
other books to hasten their drying.
Keep them pressed until you are ready
to arrange your boquet, for they viii @N
apt 10 curl if exposed to the air.
This is truly 2 delicate and tedious pre-
cess, but with care and great deal Q.
patience you will feel amply repaid TN
youv trouble.