Beds For The Poor

Beech leaves are recommended for this purpose, as they are very elastic, and will not harbor vermin. They should be gathered on a dry day in the autumn, and be perfectly dried.

The chaff of newly-thrashed oats also forms wholesome and comfortable beds.

How To Remove The Taste Of New Wood

A new keg, churn, bucket, or other wooden vessel, will generally communicate a disagreeable taste to any thing that is put into it. To prevent this inconvenience, first scald the vessel well with boiling water, letting the water remain in it till cold. Then dissolve some pearlash, or soda, in luke-warm water, adding a little bit of lime to it, and wash the inside of the vessel well with this solution. Afterward, scald it well with plain hot water, and rinse it with cold before you use it.

How To Scour Boards

Mix lime, one part; sand, three parts; soft soap, two parts. Lay a little on the boards with a scrubbing brush, and rub thoroughly. Be careful to clean straight up and down - not crossing from board to board; then dry with clean cloths, rubbing hard up and down the same way. Floors should not often be wetted, but very thoroughly when done; and once a week they may be dry-rubbed with hot sand and a heavy brush - the right way of the boards.

How To Polish Alabaster Ornaments

First carefully clean the article with a piece of pumice stone dipped in water; then apply a thick paste made of whiting, soap and milk; and when this is perfectly done, wash the article thoroughly, dry it with a soft cloth, and rub with a flannel until the polish is produced.

How To Imitate Alabaster

Alabaster ornaments may be imitated by brushing over plaster of Paris models with spermaceti, white wax, or a mixture of the two, or by steeping the models in the warm mixture. Or instead of this process, they may be brushed over several times with white of egg, allowing each coating sufficient time to dry. Only models made of the finest plaster are suited for these processes.

Uses Of Coal Ashes

They are said to prevent the depredations of garden mice if spread over the surface of the mould. Coal ashes are said to accelerate the appearance of early sown peas. Strew the surface of the ground with coal ashes as soon as the peas are put in the ground, and they will appear three or four days earlier than when no ashes are spread.

Cheap Soap

Cut two pounds of common brown soap into thin slices, to which add one ounce of borax and ten quarts of water. Put the whole over the fire, and when the soap and borax are dissolved the soap is done. It requires but little time and trouble to make this soap, which is very valuable for washing dishes, cleaning paint, scrubbing floors, etc. It is, moreover, very healing to the hands. If less water is used, the soap will be harder.

How To Prevent Rust

Mix with fat oil varnish, four fifths of well rectified spirits of turpentine. The varnish is to be applied by means of a sponge. Articles varnished in this manner will retain their metallic brilliancy and never contract any spots of rust. It may be applied to copper, and to the preservation of philosophical instruments, which, by being brought into contact with water, are liable to lose their splendor and become tarnished.