1629. Skeleton leaves may be made by steeping leaves in rain water, in an open vessel, exposed to the air and sun. Water must occasionally be added to compensate loss by evaporation.
1630. The leaves will putrefy, and then their membranes will begin to open; then lay them on a clean white plate, filled with clean water, and with gentle touches take off the external membranes, separating them cautiously near the middle rib. When there is an opening toward the latter the whole membrane separates easily.
1631. The process requires a great deal of patience, as ample time must be given for the vegetable tissues to decay, and separate.
1632. A more Expeditious Method.—A tablespoonful of chlorid of lime in a liquid state, mixed with a quart of pure spring water.
1633. Leaves or seed-vessels of plants to be soaked in the mixture for about four hours, then taken out and well washed in a large basin filled with water, after which they should be left to dry with free exposure to light and air.