Directions for preserving leaves for decorative purposes

Historic, Archive Document

Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

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UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
LIBRARY

Ey p. L. Picker.

Severr^.l processes have "been -uised for preserving flowers. To hc.ve them
retain as nearly as possilDle their na.tural colors, it ha.s "been customary to
press them Det-.veen olotters, cho.-iging the blotters tv:o or more times a da,y,
and preferaoly keeping the pressed material near some soiorce of heat in order
to hasten the dxying process, "but not close enough to any artificial heat to
cause the leaves to "become "brittle. The leaves when dry are then either given
a thin coating of prxaffin applied with a hot flat iron or given a coating of
varnish or -vhite shellac. The labor involved in these m.ethods h.as "been such
as to make the m.othod of little value for commercial pui'poses. In addition
they rXQ hrittle and ver^- inf Iriiimable.

Iharinc the last fevv years, leaves of "beech, box, elm, lauTel, privet,
magnolia, nrplo, palm.s, oolc, r.nd Puscus, have rppcarcd on the mrj-kot , single,
on branches, or made into wreaths, or other designs. These leaves are often
approximately of natural color, but some of them ajre more often of rich shades
of brown, green, orange, or red, and retain their natural pliability.
Frequently they are rendered noninf lajpjuabla.

Tlie process of preparing leaves in this nvanner, as fox as can be learned,
was introduced into this country from S^jrope several years d^o. It is not known
to be patented r.nd is practically controlled by a very few firms who have
endeavored to keep the process secret.

The leaves, singly or preferably on branches, one to three feet long, oxe
placed in a l?Tge vrooden or cem.ent vat containing Javelle water. .

Javelle water is made by putting 4 lbs. of sal soda, (also called sodi-om
carbonate and washing soda), into a vessel with one gallon of water and boiling
ten minutes; then add one pound of bleaching povyder, (also called chloride of
line) free from l-urirps. \7hen cold strain into a jag of lox^e bottle and keep tight-

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ly corked. Ivietr.l receptaclos will. Ids destroyed by it, if allov/ed to stand.
For large q_u:?.nt it ies use the soxao proportions, strain into a v/ooden or cement
Vat and use at once. ' ■• '

Full strength will destroy the leaves in a short time. Oak leo.ves, on
account of the lo.rg,e omouiit of tannin, require the solution to he diluted
one-fo-uTth, while all other leaves tried require the solution to ho diluted
one-^half. The time for hlcaching varies from 12 to 36 hours, depending upon
the leaf used, Yfnen thoroughly hleached, the leaves should he removed, to
another vat and thoroughly washed in running water for several hours; or afte
several thoro-a,:^h rinsings they may he immersed for 10 to 15 minutes in a
1/4 of li) solution of acetic or hydrochloric acid, vfhich will aid materially
in setting some of the colors. The leaves should then he placed in another
vat containing a hasic dye (suitable for dying cotton goods) of the desired
color. The setting of the color is not ohsclutely necessary unless the
ma.terial is to he much handled. The leaves are then rerioved from the dye,
thoroughly -.vashed and placed for a few hours in a vat containing a ofo
solution of glycerine, after which they are removed and placed in racks to
dry. They w^ill now rem.ain pliable indefinitely. If it is desired to fire
proof the m.atcrial, it should be given a fijrther bath in a solution of
oj:nmcniun phosphate.

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