The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-11-06
PREsERvINa AUTUMN LEAVES.

In the first place, do not gather too
many. A few absolutely perfect leaves
are better than the scores of common
ones, that we are tempted to collect
Remember the fate of Aladdin in the
garden, where gems grew instead of
blossoms, and do not take too many,
bearing in mind the saying, ''the greedy
soul is loved by neither gods nor men"
Carry an open basket on enc arm, and
select the specimens with a critics eye.
The leaves of the hard maple are always
gorgeous in hue, and delicate in outline.
Those that wear the deepest tints of
crimson or yellow are best for our pur-
pose. Oak leaves are shiny and firm,
and easily preserved. Nature has always
been prodigal to the beech tree, scat
tering on her boughs the richest, bright
est colors. The sumach Tor shoemake)
CLOVIS with vivid crimson, and a clear
amber shines through the dainty larch
and chestnut leaves. Then there are the
dull chocolate and notified red of the
blackberry vines, while the poplar and
aspen shine out with a silvery white, all
speckled over with touches of green.
Gather these wildwood beauties
with as much care as would be bestowed
upon a bouquet of garden blossoms, and
WIN llltlh bNlOlO bANg bN
gin to dry and curl. Upon reaching
home let the first care be to have two
hot irons ready. Cover the kitchen Ia
BILE with three or four layers of newspa-
pers, over which fasten smoothly a soft
cotton cloth. Have at hand a lump of
beeswax, tied in small bag, and SINH
lar package of resin. Now smooth out a
leaf with the hand, rub the beeswax
lightly over the iron, letting the hot,
smooth surface glide quickly over the
leaf first on the upper and then on the
lower side, pressing little more firmly
a third and fourth time, until the leaf is
thoroughly dry. The glowing colors
will be firmly fixed, and will never fade,
unless exposed to the sunshine. Having
treated all the leaves in similar, they
are ready for the resin, or 1.-THE finishing
process With moderately hot iron,
which must be lightly and rapidly rubbed
over the bag of resin, go over every leaf,
first on the upper, and then on the lower
side. This gives them brilliant, hard,
glossy finish that makes them almost in
destructible. Many persons complain
that the glossy appearance is unnatural.
While this is true, to some extent, yet
the, protection given by the coat of resin
could be obtained in no other way.
To preserve small branches, and
boughs with leaves, one must proceed in
the same manner, pressing the limbs and
twigs with the iron until dry, being care
full to avoid the point where the leaf is
attached, as too much heat just there
will cause it to drop off instantly. To
achieve perfect success, be sure to take
the leaves when freshly gathered. If
they are kept over only one night, very
much of their glowing beauty will have
vanished, and no efforts can bring it
back, or arrest the process of decay.
When the work has been finished,
spread number of newspapers upon the
floor of an unused room, and there place
the treasures. Give them plenty of space,
so that they will not touch or stick to
each other. Cover them entirely with
more papers, and let them remain in this
cool, dark seclusion until ready to decor
ate the rooms, or otherwise use them as
things of beauty and joy, Reserve few
of the brightest and most perfect speci-
mems for the holiday times, when they
will come out of their darkness so beau
tiful that they who see them will have
no longing for summer flowers, but will
rebel in the unfading glories of the
autumn leaves.-GOOd Housekeeping.