Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 January 1875 — HOUSEHOLD HINTS. [ARTICLE]

HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

Give your plants all the son possible. No matter if it fades the carpet; it will give you better health as well as your plants. Wamot Ice-Cream.— One quart of cream, one-half pound of sugar, three eggs, two ounces of English Walnut meats, pounded fine. Whip the eggs and the sugar together; then add the cream. Warm this until it begins to thicken. Do not let it boil. Add the pounded walnuts and mix well. Freeze in molds. Lemons.—A contemporary says that in most cases of fevers we have no doubt that an attack might have been prevented, and the patient well in a few days, without a particle of medicine, by rest, a partial fasting, and free use of lemons and lemonade. The virtue of this article in bilious attacks and incipient fevers has been tested with the best results, and we commend its use as a preventive of these diseases. The principal points by which to discern the quality of the flesh in a fowl are the color of the feet and the kind of skin. The yellow foot generally indicates a fowl with tough flesh, heavy bones and yellow fat It is very rare that this color does not show itself in the skin. However, it does not exclude certain qualities of the flesh in the pure descendants of the two exotic races, Cochin China and Brahma fowls. With the exception of the yellow and green, which can never be recommended, all other colors from black to white are equally indications of excellent flesh. When the skin, and above all that of the sides and breast, is of a fine tissue, delicate and easily distended, also having a rosy-pearl color, one may be certain that the flesh is good and will fatten rapidly.— Exchange. - Softening Hard Water. —This is usually done with sal soda, but the effect is to hurt the clothes that are washed in the water thus prepared, and the hands also. It is because there is an excess of the soda, more than unites with the acid of the water, which makes it hard. The remedy is easy: Use enough of the salt to take up the acid, and no more. In this way both acid and soda disappear, leaving a neutral salt which is harmless. The water will be soft. Test a certain amount of water, beginning with a very little soda, and adding more if you find you need it. With our own spring water, which is hard, a lump of soda the size of a large pea to a pint of water is about the right proportion. Of course the amount of the salt should be according to the degree of hardness of the water.— Cor. Western Rural. Pure buckwheat flour, when baked into cakes, as is usual, is apt to “ lie heavy on the stomach;” the fact has given rise to the remark. To obviate this and improve otherwise, mix Graham flour with the buckwheat—a little more than two-thirds buckwheat with onethird Graham or unbolted wheat flour. This may be mixed in large quantity and kept on hand for use. The Graham will mahe it light, aid digestion and make it palatable and wholesome. It can be mixed and baked at short notice by making a batter with sour milk from the chum and raise with soda, or, what is more generally acceptable, mix and set it by the stove over night. If, the first morning, it is not sufficiently light, it will be the next and thereafter, if not kept too warm. It may be mixed with water or milk—milk is best —and in either case a little soda should be added just before baking; more where sour milk is used. Give it a fair test. —Western Rural.