Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 January 1886 — How to Crystallize Grasses. [ARTICLE]

How to Crystallize Grasses.

Take one pound of alum, pulverize and dissolve in one quart of hot water, but do not boil it; pour the solution into a deep earthen jar and let it stand on the back of the stove till it is about lukewarm. Fasten the grasses with strings to a stick and lay it across the top of the jar, having the grasses entirely submerged in the liquid. Put the jar in a cool place and do not permit the grasses to be moved for twelve hours, and then take them out and let them drain. When the water of the solution has quite evaporated the blades of grass Will be quite covered with the crystals of alum. For blue crystals add half a pound of indigo; for yellow boil a few saffron leaves in a little water and mix it with the alum solution; for pink or red add some red dye. Prussian red is the best. Be sure that the grasses are quite dry before putting them into the crystallizing solution. i f the first immersion does not crystallize sufficiently heat the solution and dip a second time, and so on until the result is quite satisfactory.— lnter Ocean.