Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-02-23
HOUSEHOLD ORNAMENTS.
HOW TO MAKE SKELETON LEAVES AND
cRYsTAIZED GRASSES.

y
These pleasing preparations fo
, household adornment may be made al
follows: There is q slow and quicl
method, the former is by procuring
, the natural decomposition of the
pulpy substance of the leaf by ex
posure to light in Il dish OF water
the quick method is by the use of q
weak alkaline destructive solution, OF
which soda and lime are the active
agents. By the slow method one may
proceed as follows: The leaves are
laid out smoothly in n pan or dish, and
covered with rain.water two or three
inches deep, and are held down by
means OF sheets of glass resting on
small stones at the corners by which
they are prevented from pressing too
closely on the leaves. They are OK.
posed to the sunlight in a warm win.
dow. In two or three weeks they are
examined, and all those that have be.
come soft and pulpy are removed to
another dish TO be cleaned. The rest
are left until they, too, become soft.
The softened leaves are carefully re.
moved one by one by being foated on
to small sheet of glass the pulp is
pressed out by means Of small stiff
painters brush or toothbrush, used
by tapping up and down and not by a
sweeping motion. This breaks up the
pulp only, which is washed away by
pouring water upon il from a pitcher.
10 make this convenient, the glass
may be placed on two wooden bars
resting on the edges Of a deep dish
with a towel under it, to catch the
splashiugs.
The quick method is as follows
-Four ounces of sal-soda are dissolved |
IN quart of hot water, two ounces of |
qulcklime are added, and the two are
boiled for twenty minutes. The solu
tion is cooled and strained. The leaves
are then boiled in this for one hour, or
until the pulp is easily removed, when
II Is washed off as already mentioned.
The flores remain, leaving q perfect
skeleton or framework of the leaf
This is bleached by the exposure to
solution Of one tablespoonful OF chlor-
ide of lime in quart of water, strained
clear from sediment. The skeletons
are placed in dish, covered with this
solution and kept in a dark closet for
two days, watching in the meantime
that the tibres are not soitened too
much and thus injured. After bleach.
ing the leaves are stepped in clear soft
water for day, and then floated off
upon card and placed between soft
napkins until dry. They are then
ready to be finally pressed, bent curled
or arranged in bouquets or groups. 4
Crystallzed grasses and sprays are
made as follows: The lunches are
first arranged in a suitable manner.
tied and secured a solution of four
ounces OF alum TO a quart of boiling
water is made, and when this has
cooled TO about 80 degrees or blood
heat, the bunch of grass or leaves is
in it in deep jar from ,
rod placed across the mouth Of it ; AS
The liquid cools crystals of alum are
deposited upon every spray, the finer
and smaller the weaker the solution is
made. This deposit of crystals occurs /
n the cooling liquid because hot water |
isso!ves more alum than cold water, !
md as the water cools the excess OF !
slum forms crystals which attach them. :
elves to any fbrous matter in contact !
With 1t more readily than to anything q
Use. These crystals enlarge by &C. /
'rotion constantly, as long as there is n
IN excess of alum in the solution. :
When the supply is exhausted tho /
olution is warmed and more alum is
dissolved in ii it is returned to the Jar
nd the bunch of grasses is replaced.
When sufficiently covered with crys 4
ais it is taken out and dried and Is h
insh5d. 4