288 ON BLEACHING LEAVES. 



To preserve tender kinds of herbaceous border flowers, as Verbena 

 Melindres, Lobelia fulgens, &c, I bad a number of covers made 

 similar to dish covers, only at the edges I had four legs made 

 to hold them a little way above the plant, and to fix them firmly 

 in the ground, so as not to be removed. These were made of clay, 

 similar to that used for garden pots. They shoot off the wet, keep 

 the root dry, and yet allow a circulation of air underneath. Previous 

 to placing the pot, I lay a small portion of light leaf mould, or some- 

 thing of that nature around the crown of the plant ; these pots look 

 very neat, and answer fully. I use the same covers in autumn for 

 blanching endive for salad. They are very cheap, having purchased 

 two hundred for one pound. 



ARTICLE XV.— ON BLEACHING LEAVES, &c. 



BY H. D. 



I forward the inclosed for insertion in the Cabinet, in answer to the 

 query of " A Practical Lady Gardener," on bleaching the skeletons 

 of leaves. 



The skeletons of leaves and other delicate vegetable fibres, may be 

 perfectly and safely bleached, by means of a very dilute solution of 

 chloride of lime, in the following manner : 



A table-spoonful of the solution, as commonly sold at druggists' shops, 

 may be added to a quart of distilled or pure spring water, and the 

 fibre soaked therein for three or four hours, or until the colour dis- 

 appears; it is then to be taken out, well washed and soaked in a 

 large quantity of pure water, to remove any adherent chloride, and 

 afterwards dried, with free exposure to light and air. 



It is sometimes, although rarely, necessary to repeat the process 

 twice or thrice. 



Another good method, but much slower, is to lay the substance on 

 a clean cloth in the open air, exposed to the sun, and frequently to 

 sprinkle with clean soft water. 



London, June, '26th, 1836. 



