comstock] LEAF-PORTFOLIO AN AID IN TREE-STUDY 201 



To make a print, squeeze a few drops of ink from the tube upon 

 the glass or slate and spread it about with the roller until there is an 

 even coat of ink upon the roller and a smooth patch in the center 

 of the glass or slate. It should never be so liquid as to "run," for 

 then the outline will be blurred. Ink the leaf by placing it on the 

 inky surface of the glass and passing the inky roller over it once or 

 twice until the veins show that they are smoothly filled with ink. 

 Now place the inked leaf between two sheets of paper and roll it 

 once only, with the clean roller, bearing on with all the strength 

 possible. We find that a second passage of the roller usually ruins 

 the print by slightly blurring or doubling every line in the leaf, 

 particularly if the mid-rib and veins are at all prominent. Two 

 prints of each are made at each rolling, and sometimes one side will 

 give an excellent print while the other may not be very clear, but 

 usually the impressions of the two sides seem almost identical. 

 Dry and wrinkled leaves may be made pliant by soaking in water, 

 •dried between blotting paper; then proceed the same as for fresh 

 ones. 



Prints may also be made, a number at a time, by pressing under 

 weights, being careful to put the sheets between the pages of ol(i 

 magazines or to place cardboard or folded newspapers between the 

 pairs of the sheets having leaves between them, in order that the 

 impression of one set of leaves may not mar the others. If a letter- 

 press is available for this purpose it does the work very quickly. 

 Prepare the sheets as directed, place in the press, screw down 

 tightly for a moment and then remove. 



For cleaning the outfit after using, a bottle of benzine should be 

 kept on hand, carefully stored in a place where there is no fire. 

 This will not only remove the printer's ink from the glass and 

 roller, but will cleanse the fingers of any stray smears that may 

 have been obtained by accident. 



The portfolio is made of common green holland such as is sold 

 for window shades. Its border is the passe-partout ribbon sold for 

 framing small pictures and used by photographers for protecting 

 lantern slides. Its end-flaps are secured by an elastic band one- 

 quarter inch wide, passed through the two eyelets at one end and 

 sewed fast. At the opposite end the eyelet is strengthened by a 

 circlet of strong paper or thin cardboard and a common dress hook 

 on the end of elastic bands hooks into these strengthened eyelets 

 and holds the flaps in place. The two bands at the sides are 



