The daily critic., 1890-10-25
PRESERVING AUTUMN LEAVES.

4 Few Hints on a Timely Topic 20
Lovers Of Nature.
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, says
Good housekeeping. in the garden,
where gems grew instead Of blossoms,
and do not take too many, bearing 10
mind the saying, The greedy soul Is
loved 10y neither gods nor men. Carry
an open basket on one arm, and select
the specimens with a critics eye The
leaves Of the hard maple are always
gorgeous ia hue and delicate ia outline.
Those that wear the deepest tinls Of
crimson or yellow are best for our plr
pose. Oak leaves ate shiuy aud iirm,
al Il easily preserved Nature has sl
ways been prodigal Co the beech tree
scatt ring on her boughs the richest
BRIGHTEST culUrs The sumaCh Cor shoe
make gluws with vivid crimson, AMI
clear an ber shines through the dainty
larCh and chestnut leaves Then there
are the duh chocolate and mottled 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 wild wood beauties
with as much care as would be bestowed
upon a bouquet Of garden blossoms, and
/ hasten home with them before they be.
| gin TO dry aud curl. Upon reaching
| home lei the first care be TO have two
hot irons ready. Cover the kitchen
table with three or four layers of news
papers, over which fasten smoothly
soft cotton cloth Have at hand lump
Of beeswax, tied In a small bag, and a
similar package Of resin, Now smooth
out leaf with the hand, rub the bees
/ wax 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 glow
ing cOlors will be firmly fixed,
and will never fade, unless ex-
/ posed 10 the sunshine. Having
treated all the leaves in a
similar manner, they are ready for the
resin, or 'the finishing process. With
a moderately hot iron, which must be
lightly and rapidly rubbed over the bag
Of resin. 60 over every leaf, first on the
| upper, and then on the lower side.
This gives them a brilliant, hard,
glossy finish that makes them almost
indestTuctible. 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 aud
boughs with leaves one must proceed Ia
the same manner, pressing the limbs
and tWigs with the iron until dry, be-
ing careful 10 avoid the point where
the leaf Is attached, as too much heat
/ jus there will cause Il 10 drop of in
staully. To achieve perfect success.
be sure 10 take the leaves when freshly
/ gathered. IL they are kept over only
| one night very much Of their glowing
| beauty will have vanished, and no ef,
forts can bring Il back or arrest the pro
cess Of decay
When the work has been 6nished
spread a number Of newspapers upon
the door of some unused room, aud
there place the treasures. Give them
plenty OF space, so that they viii not
touch or stick 10 each other. C0Yel
them entirely with more papers. and lei
them remain in this cool dark seclusi0n
until ready 70 decorate the rooms o.
/ otherwise use them as things of beauty
and iOY Reserve a few Of the brightesl
and most perfect specimens for the holt
day times, When they will come out oi
their darkness So beautiful that they
WA0 see them will have no longing f0l
summer flowers. but will reyel 10 the
unfading glories Of the autumn leaves