Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-08-11
Phantom BOquets.

The method described last week
for sKeletonizing leaves, although g
tedious and disagreeablc one, is thC
safest and most satisfactory.
There are other ways of remov-
ing the cellular tissues, but none
which so slightly impair the struct
ural portions of the leaf, and leave
it in as good condition for bleach
ing.
This other process consists il
boiling the leaves gently until the
network can be freed from the pull
and outside covering by pressing
and washing in water, To accom-
plish this it is necessary to ado
chemicals to the water in which the
leaves are boiled, Tie simplest
mixture is equal portions Of rair
water and soft-soap. Chemica
soap may be used instead Of tho
latter, but the suds must be strong
Then again, lime and soda are
used instead Of soap. Three ounces
of sal soda, dissolved in quart o.
boiling water;one and a half ounces
of quicklime, previously slakcd, adj
ded to the dissolved soda; the Who'll:
to be boiled together for ten minute.
and then allowed TO cool and settle
after which the clear part is pour
ed off ard the leaves boiled in 1t
Clear water can be added to supply
the place of that which evapOraio.
in boiling,
There are only a few leayei
which will endure such severe treat
ment without material injury, fol
although apparently unframed by
the boiling, many Of them so Il
pieces in bleaching, and owing t.
the effect of the chemicals, they We.
ry generally withstand all efforts K
make them completely and lasting
ly white.
The safest experiment OF tho
kind would be to boil Ivy leages,anc
those OF the Silver Poplar, in equa
portions of rain water and sOft-soap
Some seed-vessels, which arc very
well matured, can also be satilacto-
rily prepared in the same way. L
is useless to undertake any leaves
which are tender and delicate.
The only way to skelet0nize
these is by maceratiOn; in fact, al
though tedious and disagrceable, il
is unquestionably the most reliable
for all varieties. and the most sat
isfactory to the operator in the f.
nal portions of the work.
The process Of maceration com.
plete, the clear and perfect leave.
treated according to the direction:
given last week. are placed in a
bowl of clean water, where they
may remain for a day or two lon
er without injury. Remove one
loaf IN q shallow dish Of clean water
and float it out on small piece Of
unglaized paper. Lay it on a told
ed towel, and when a number Of
leaves are treated similarly, pat
them gently with a soft cloth, anc
remove them from the papers to fin
ish drying; after which they must
be kept in boxes until the coilec
ton is complete and ready FOL
bleaching.
The beauty Of bouquet dependa
not alone on the perfect form OF its
elementry parts, but also on their
whiteness and purity. This sccon-
Diary part of the process require:
the greatest care, and some expert
ence, as bleaching solutions vary
in strength, and cOarses fbres re-
quire and can stand seyerer treat
ment than the more delicate ones.
Labarraque's solution Of chloride
of soda is a safe and popular bleach
ing material, but it must be fresh
and strong to be effective. 1t kept
a long time, it will lose some Of its
strength, even when the bottle IS
carefully sealed; besides, it IS ex'
pensive, For these reasons 1t Is
better, even if a little more trouble
some, for amateurs to make their
own