A STUDY OF LEAVES. 43 



HOW TO PRESS LEAVES. 



Place the fresh leaves between layers of news- 

 paper, in a book, and subject to heavy pressure for 

 about seven days. In absence of a botanical press, 

 pressure may be secured by slipping the book 

 under a trunk, or by piling books upon it. It is 

 better to change the newspapers two or three times 

 during the operation, as the moisture absorbed may 

 wrinkle the specimens. 



When pressed they may be coated with thin 

 white varnish applied with a fine brush. Another 

 good method is to hold a warm iron upon the leaf 

 for a moment, and then pass a lump of spermaceti 

 over the face. The heat of the leaf will melt the 

 spermaceti, which is a white wax. 



Either the varnish or the wax will bring out the 

 colors prettily, and will give an orna- 

 mental finish. They may be mounted 

 upon cardboard or sheets of paper with 

 mucilage, or by sticking strips of court- 

 plaster across the stem and tip in the 

 manner shown in the cut. Every speci- 

 men mounted for scientific purposes should be 

 analyzed according to the model given on page 48. 



