The collection of the various specimens having been made, next pro-
ceed to mascerate the leaves by placing them in an open vessel, a tub
or any other convenient receptacle, covering several inches above the
leaves with rain water, and placing in the open air and full sunlight.
Place a pane of glass over them, with a weight sufficient to keep them
well down in the water, the loss of which by evaporation must be made
up by adding a new supply from time to time as required. In about
two weeks they may be examined, and if any are found soft and pulpy
these must be removed. After this, those that remain should be exam-
ined once or twice a week, removing the soft ones each time and pro-
ceeding to cleanse them. This is the most unpleasant part of the entire
operation, inasmuch as whe-n the water is disturbed, the odor of decay-
ing vegetable matter is mos"t unpleasant, but it is well worth all the
disagreeable part of the experiment to possess in the end a collection
of the gossamer leaves. After arriving at this stage of the proceedings,
the finding the leaf in the pulpy condition, it is to be removed to a ves-
sel or basin of clear water, which should be done most carefully to pre-
vent breaking or marring them. To accomplish this slip a card beneath
the leaf, and cause it to float upon it, when it may be easily rested upon
SKELETONIZED LEAVES. 339
the card and removed. Then, when immersed in the basin of clean
water, it will float off uninjured.
The cleansing part of the operation now commences, for which two
or three brushes and a sharp-pointed knife are necessary ; a soft but
thick camel's-hair brush, a stiff bristle brush and a tooth-brush ; a leaf is
floated upon a piece of glass, then with a soft brush gently passed
over the surface, all the pulp is removed; aiding the brushing ywith a
carefully poured stream of water. Slip the leaf again into the water,
turn it, and again float upon the glass, cleaning the opposite side in the
same manner. The green surface must be entirely removed until
nothing but the skeleton of fibrous veins remain. If this is not accom-
plished by using the soft brush, the stiffer one, or the tooth-brush must
be applied. The motion used in cleaning must not be a sweeping one,
but rather a downward tapping. As the leaves are cleaned they must
be immersed in another basin of clear water, and left until the remainder
are all cleansed ; then they should be bleached as soon as possible,
which is done in various ways. The best, perhaps, is a solution of
chloride of lime, and immersing them for a day or two in a covered
glass dish, placed in a dark closet, covering closely with a folded towel.
The solution of chloride of lime is made with one tablespoonful of
chloride of lime in a quart of water, adding a few grains of citric acid>
shaking well until entirely dissolved, then decanting the clear liquid and
bottling for use. After bleaching the leaves they should be placed in a
vessel of clear, cool water for twenty-four hours, floated off upon a card
and turned over upon a soft napkin, gently pressed with some old, soft
linen until all moisture is absorbed, and then curled gracefully or pressed
between the leaves of an old book, under pressure.
Page 300
Presented as published in 1886. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
The collection of the various specimens having been made, next proceed to mascerate the leaves by placing them in an open vessel, a tub or any other convenient receptacle, covering several inches above the leaves with rain water, and placing in the open air and full sunlight. Place a pane of glass over them, with a weight sufficient to keep them well down in the water, the loss of which by evaporation must be made up by adding a new supply from time to time as required. In about two weeks they may be examined, and if any are found soft and pulpy these must be removed. After this, those that remain should be examined once or twice a week, removing the soft ones each time and proceeding to cleanse them. This is the most unpleasant part of the entire operation, inasmuch as whe-n the water is disturbed, the odor of decaying vegetable matter is most unpleasant, but it is well worth all the disagreeable part of the experiment to possess in the end a collection of the gossamer leaves. After arriving at this stage of the proceedings, the finding the leaf in the pulpy condition, it is to be removed to a vessel or basin of clear water, which should be done most carefully to prevent breaking or marring them. To accomplish this slip a card beneath the leaf, and cause it to float upon it, when it may be easily rested upon
SKELETONIZED LEAVES. 339
the card and removed. Then, when immersed in the basin of clean water, it will float off uninjured.
The cleansing part of the operation now commences, for which two or three brushes and a sharp-pointed knife are necessary ; a soft but thick camel's-hair brush, a stiff bristle brush and a tooth-brush ; a leaf is floated upon a piece of glass, then with a soft brush gently passed over the surface, all the pulp is removed; aiding the brushing ywith a carefully poured stream of water. Slip the leaf again into the water, turn it, and again float upon the glass, cleaning the opposite side in the same manner. The green surface must be entirely removed until nothing but the skeleton of fibrous veins remain. If this is not accomplished by using the soft brush, the stiffer one, or the tooth-brush must be applied. The motion used in cleaning must not be a sweeping one, but rather a downward tapping. As the leaves are cleaned they must be immersed in another basin of clear water, and left until the remainder are all cleansed ; then they should be bleached as soon as possible, which is done in various ways. The best, perhaps, is a solution of chloride of lime, and immersing them for a day or two in a covered glass dish, placed in a dark closet, covering closely with a folded towel.
The solution of chloride of lime is made with one tablespoonful of chloride of lime in a quart of water, adding a few grains of citric acid, shaking well until entirely dissolved, then decanting the clear liquid and bottling for use. After bleaching the leaves they should be placed in a vessel of clear, cool water for twenty-four hours, floated off upon a card and turned over upon a soft napkin, gently pressed with some old, soft linen until all moisture is absorbed, and then curled gracefully or pressed between the leaves of an old book, under pressure.