Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 January 1880 — HOME INTERESTS. [ARTICLE]

HOME INTERESTS.

Flowers from Seeds. Flowers are as necessary to some people’s existence as the air they breathe or tho water they drink, and an ail-wise, generous Providence has scattered them lavishly all over this broad and beautiful continent Flowers abound on the mountaintop, iu the shady dell, by rippling streams, and grow in tho silvery lakes; and it seems tome everybody should learn to love these beautiful objects of nature, and in contemplating them look up with reverence to Nature’s God. Ti e cultivation of floweis is especially to be commi nded as an amusement for children, teaching them to be patient and hopeful. I have loved flowers from as long as I can remember, and as I write the memories of tbe past come crowding iu upon me. When less than 4 years of age I planted some peas in a pot and set them in a window to see how soonthey would sprout. I have been thinking a great deal about my boyhood lately, how as I grew up tho love of flowers grew with me. and would like to get my young friends in tho same way of tninkiug. Allplauts which reproduce them»elves by seeds are divided into three main classes— Annuals, Biennials and Perennials—and these .again, according to their coLStitution are subdivided into tender, half-hardy and hardy varieties. At this time I shall speak only of tho Annuals, and from time to time, in subsequent letters, shall have something to say about the others. Annuals aro (hose plants which produce their, seeds in the same year in which they are sown, ind then die. Annuals aro so cheap and easily grown they m*v be called everybody’s flowers There I? not a boy or girl or a man or woman, who has if no more than a box on tbe window-sill, who cannot raiee some of the hardy sor's. Although common, some of the sweetest flowers are to be found among the Annuals. There is the fragrant Migu< nette, and the very oil-fashioned Four O'clock, and many others.

Now, let us suppose you are provide! with seec’s of hardy Annuals—that is, such as may be safely sown in the open ground after the weather becomes warm and settled. Having carefully prepared the seed-bed, making the soil mellow by digging and raking, the seeds may th n be sown ei her broadcast or in drills and covered very slightly with sand and sandy soil. When the seedlings come uu they muri be kept free from weeds, and, if at all thick in the secd-bed, transplant them on a rainy day. Most people are anxious to have flowers greet them as soon as possible, and, to hasten their early maturity, hot beds, coid frames, and boxes in the window are all resorted to. These letters are written for the masses, the great majority of whom have no better way of starting their flower seeds than in the house. For this purpose get a soap box at your grocery store, and cut it into throe portions. Iu this way you get two complete boxes, and the sides of another, so that it only needs a bottom put on it Have ready some soil, made up of equal parts of sand, soil, and rotted manure. Run the whole through a sieve to take out tho lumps. Fill your boxes, and then pat the surface with a smooth board; thensrw your seeds, dusting over them barely sufficient soil to hide them from your view. If the soil be pressed down upon the seeds they will start more rapidly. You must observe, once the seeds arc sprouted never let them go dry; on the other hand guard against dampiDg off, which is caused by want of air and sunshine, and too much water. All the fine small seeds should be started in the house,- such as the Petunia, Double Daisy, Snapdragon, etc., and I advise you not to cover them at all, but simply to press them into the soil Everybody loves the Verbena, and most people admire the lovely bed of them in the summer. They are easily grown from the seed if you only have patience, and the flowers of Verbenas produced from seed are nearly always fragrant, besides being far more plentifully produced than on a plant raised from a cutting. Florists sell Verbena plants in great quantity every year, but they would not dispose of anything like so many if people will raise them from the see A To the Annuals we ate maitily indebted for the lovely beds of glorious-lined flowers in summer and autumn. The Asters linger with us until destroyed by frost, and there are so many varieties, some of them should be in every garden. Then the beautiful Phlox Drummondii with its hosts of marvelous shades in coloring, and that pretty Salamander, the Portulacca, enduring tho hottest sun with impunity, and throwing wide its many-colored flowers to tho noonday sun when* all others are closed by the intenee heat. A bed of blotehed and striped Petunias is one of the most beautiful sights, in a well-kept -garden. Every now and then some one writes me about double Petunia seed. The double Petunia does not produce seed,.and to got the double flowers from seed a very difficult and tedious process has to be gone through, termed by florists the art of hybridizing. For this purpose single varieties of most perfect shape and coloring are selected, and fertilized with pollen taken with a camel’shair brush from tho double varieties. It requires great skill on the part of the manipulator, and from the seeds, thus ob ained, acer tain percentage may be expected to produce dojible flowers. These seeds are very costly, being sold, ■ at wholesale, by one of the most prominent seedsmen in America, at #IOO per oirncc. Mr, Rennie. Ainsworth, Washington county, lowa.

Orlena Makes a X'lea for the Poor. This weather is doleful and dismal enough, but we ought to be thankful that it is not so bitter cold as to necessitate the Duming of a large quantity of fuel. Not on our own account, perhaps, but because so many thousands of families a.re obliged to subsist on the most meager diet, covered with the scantiest clothing, and with only a few old rags for covering at night. A saving, in fact, to them is an extension of life. A little fire is necessary to keep out the dampness, but they are freed "from the pinching, biting frost as long as this gloomy state of weatli r continues. It is very disagreeable to step ont in, to be sure, and the broad promenade where the fashionables do congregate is almost deserted, but a short season of in-door quiet may have a beneficial effect upon their organisms, Doth bodily and mental. The bazars that were flaming in gaudy trappings before the holidays have quite a forlorn appearance, and business has received a sudden quietus in that direction. They have had their harvest and can afford to give up their run of custom while the poor lit le shivering forms that were denied even a giimpseof the toys that were paraded so temptingly in the show windows gain a little respite from the cutting blasts that the harsh winter brings in its train. The shoeless feet have a respite now, and the little bine toes that ache so terribly when they settle into the cold, white drifts that are piled up before the door, or sifted in through the tottering walls while the merciless Frost King is wielding his scepter, find a little rest from his clutohes, for the handful of embers smoldering upon tbe hearth, with no bitter enemy to battle with, can lend their caressing warmth to oomers where the sternness of the Frost King would not permit it to enter. It is

a gracious gift to the poor, this long siege of warmth where pitiless winds and tedious storms might have been expected. The crisp snow and icy breeze m'ght be more conducive to the happiness and pleasure of eociety worshipers, but tney m ght well be contented to accept the mnddy crossings, so that they escape the pinching hanger and biting cold that is usually the fate of the abject poor. Iu some cases this terrible poverty that clings to its victims is the result of extravagance and mismanagement, but in many more cases that of sickness and the loss of wages through the treachery of bankers or employers. A man wi'h a large family and only his two hands to furnish food, clothing, fuel and rent, may well bi driven to the verge of despair by the constant strain of muscle and btain in the endeavor to keep up with his daily-recun ing expenses. The wives and children in such eases must suffer, and it is no wonder that sin cornea in when hope goes out. I hose who have no want or wish unsatisfied in this world must be happy indeeL -But are there any such? Is there not a glimmer of discontent in every mind, no matter whether the well-filled coffer or the desolate garret is their portion ? Some unexpressed sorrow, perhaps, bringing its sorrow and regret. Gblema. Chicago, 111. Fancy Work. I thoroughly enjoy the pastime, and cannot, as many others do, feel it to be a loss of time. Of course if it is done to the neglect of duties, the wrong is inevitable. My fancy work is usually done at times when I would be occupied by nothing else; twilight, for instance, when too dark for substantial work, and too early to light the gas, by which to read. To be sure, the eventide is of short -duration these wintry days; and again after tea, when all are assembled iu the parlor or sit ing-room, when one reads aloud' let the fingers of the othorn be busy. Surely, every row of crocheting or knitting counts, and finally, jvbeu the article is completed, you wonder when you could have dono it, as the time has been scarcely missed. Here are directions for a pretty and durable toilet set: White or colored Turkish toweling—a yard and a half ought to be au abundance—cur into tho desired shapes: An oblong squaro for tbe splasher, large round one for tiie wa-sh-bowl, oval for the soap-dish, and sma’l round ones for brush-tree, large and small pitchers—you can better judge by the size of your set. Turn each e-'go down for a hem; button-hole stitch all around with colored. ZQphyr, but do not have the slitclies two close together; finish with a shell and a S'allop. Briar-stitch a border just inside the hem, and work an initial in the center of the splasher. They can, of coarse, be washed when soiled, thus lasting a long time. Edna Chicago, 111.

Bed-Bug Exterminator. Here is a bed-bug remedy that I have fully tested: it is not a poieon to persons and will snroly kill every bed-bug and nit it touches, and is tho best grease-eraser 1 ever saw. It is called, “Renovating Mixture for Removing Grease, Shampooing, and Killing BedBugs. ” One quart soft water, two ounces aqua ammonia, or e teaspoon saltpeter, one ounce variegated shaving soap, finely pcraped (B«.bbiu’s will do). Mix all and let stand a few hours, or, if needed immediately, heat moderately; apply wi’h a small sash or paint brusti to cveiy crevice the bugs infest.* It is sure death to every one it touches, also to the nits. To remove grease, cover the grease spot with the mixture, rub well with a brush (or sponge, if the fabric is delicate), then wash off with clear water. It will not injure anything any more than water will. To clean carpets I hut mine out on a grass-plat, pour the mixture on the grease spots, scrub with a scrub-brush such as 1 use on wood, then wash off with clear water. It is a very great help to housekeepers, and is taken from “Dr. Cha o’s Receipt Book,” page 277. Mrs. J. Darling. Mondovi, Wis. Mary Juno’s Recipes. Suet pudding—one cup chopped suet, one cup molasses, one-half cup sour milk, one heaping teaspoon soda, one teaspoon cinnamon, one cup raisins, one cup currants, pinc’i of salt and flour to make quite stiff. Steam two hours. Sauca for the above—three table-spoons sugar, one large heapiDg table-spoon vinegar, butter size walnut. Stir all together, and pour on one pint water and let boil tire minutes. C.ffee cake—one cup brown sugar, one cup molasses, 0.. e cup bu tir, one cup strong, cold, steeped coffee, one teaspoon each doves, cinnamon, allspice and soda, five cups flour, and lastly add two cups currants and one cup raisins. Mary Jane. Adair, lowa.