Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1891-11-20
and intelligence show themselves to
be capable, just and true-the pride
and glory of any community.
Preserving Autumn Leaves
Popular Gardening.

lopuidT bdrucHln5.
A few absolutely perfect leaves are
better than the scores of common ones
that we are tempted to collect, The
leaves OF the hard maple arc always
gorgeous in hue and delicate in out.
line. Those that wear the deepest
:Ints OF crimson or yellow are best for
our purpose. Oak leaves are shiny
and firm, and easily preserved. Ma
ture has always been prodigal to the
beech tree, scattering on her boughs
the richest, brightest colors. The
sumac glows with vivid crimson, and
clear amber shines through the
dainty larch and chestnut leaves.
Then there are the dull chocolate and
mottled red on the blackberry vines,
while the popular and aspen shine out
with silvery white, all speckled over
with touches OF green. Gather these
wild wood beauties, says Good House
keeping, with as much care as would
be bestowed upon bouquet of garden
blossoms, and hasten home with them
before they begin to dry and curl.
Upon reaching home let the first care
be to have two hot irons ready. Cover
the kitchen table with three or four
layers OF newspapers, over which fasten
smoothly soft cotton cloth. Have
at hand lump of beeswax, tied in a
small bag, and similar package of
resin. Now smooth out leaf with
the hand, rub the beeswax lightly over
the iron, letting the hot, smooth sur
face glide quickly over the leaf, first
on the upper and then on the lower
side, passing 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 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 indestructible. Many
persons complain that the glossy ap-
pearance is unnatural. While this is
true, to some extent, yet the protec-
ton 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
careful 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. When the work
has been finished, spread a number
of newspapers upon the floor of some
unused room, and there place the
treasurers. Give them plenty of
space, so that they will not touch or
stick to each other. Cover them en-
tirely with more papers, and let
them remain in this cool, dark Sc
clusion until ready to decorate the
rooms, or otherwise use them as
things of beauty and joy. Reserve
a few of the brightest and more per-
feet specimens for the holiday times,
when they will come out of their
darkness so beautiful that they who
see them will have no longing for
summer flowers, but will revel in the
unfading glories OF the autumn leaves.