Mrs. Kate Johnson.

Pour twelve quarts soft boiling water on two and one-half pounds of unslacked lime; dissolve five pounds sal soda in twelve quarts soft hot water; then mix and let them remain from twelve to twenty-four hours. Pour off all the clear fluid, being careful not to allow any of the sediment to run off; boil three and one-half pounds clean grease and three or four ounces of rosin in the above lye till the grease disappears ; pour into a box and let it stand a day to stiffen and then cut in bars. It is as well to put the lime in all the water and then add the soda. After pouring off the fluid, add two or three gallons of water and let it stand with the lime and soda dregs a day or two. This makes an excellent washing fluid to boil or soak the clothes in, with one pint in a boiler of water.

Hard Soap

Mrs. Mary A. Odell.

Six pounds of clean grease, six pounds of sal soda, three pounds of stone lime; slake the lime and put it into four gallons of soft water; add the sal soda, and when dissolved let it settle. Pour off the water into an iron kettle, and add the grease melted, and boil. If the soap does not come after boiling a few minutes, add more soft water till it is of the consistency of honey. Wet a tub and pour the hot soap into it. When cold, cut it into pieces and lay it away to dry. Always make soap in an iron kettle.

Patent Soap

Mrs. Ludlam.

Five pounds hard soap, one quart ley, one-fourth ounce pearl-ash; place on the fire and stir well until the soap is dissolved; add one-half pint spirits turpentine, one gill spirits hartshorn and stir well. It is then fit for use. The finest muslin may be put to soak in this suds, and if left for a time will become beautifully white. A small portion of soap put into a little hot water, and a flannel cloth will save hard labor and a brush in cleaning paint. One who has tried it thinks it worth the price of the book.