Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 June 1883 — SUGGESTIONS Of VALUE. [ARTICLE]

SUGGESTIONS Of VALUE.

Livkb should be placed in hot water before oooking, after being sliced thin, and then broiled or fried. It is well to brush the under cfusfc of pies with the white of an egg before filling with fTuit, to prevent sogginess. The secret of success in growing cacti is water freely while they are growing, and to keep them dry and warm while they are at rest. . Do not put soap in the water with which you wash the glass on your bureau; wash it with clear water with a soft cloth; then polish it with a piece of chamois skin. This removes lint and makes the glass shine. A bit of economy is to save the peel of oranges; dry it, and grate it for flavoring mince pie and orange cakes, and custard, also. If it is dried perfectly, and is kept in a dry closet, there is no danger of its becoming musty. To clean oil or grease spots from carpets, use fullers’ earth and water; spread thickly, cover with paper, and let it remain two days; brush off, and if not removed, make another application. If haste is required, use benzine. Gilded frames of mirrors and picures are beautifully cleaned by applying the white of eggs with a camel’s hair brush. To prevent flies settling upon them, wash in garlic or onion water. Do not fear the odor, as it soon dies away, and brightens the gilt. A teaspoonful of borax ptft in the last water in which clothes are rinsed will whiten them surprisingly. Pound the borax so it will dissolve easily. This is especially good to remove the yellow that time gives to white garments that have been laid aside /or two or three years. A correspondent of the Fruit Recorder says that common tobacco stems placed on the ground round currant bushes in the spring before frost is out will keep off the currant worm and keep the bushes clean. The tobacco is distasteful to the worms, and they will not crawl over it to ascend the bushes.

Boiled hams are much nicer if allowed to stand in the water in which they are boiled until cold: the outside does not then turn black and dry up as it does when taken from the water to cool, consequently there is less waste in preparing them for the ttdale. But always remember to remove the lid of the kettle so that the steam may escape. The occasion for the deprecatory remarks of the household assistant as she views the tarnished appearance of the steel fender and fire-iron, but recently cleaned at great expenditure of physical energy, will at least be partially removed if a mixture of powdered and sifted emery and olive oil is used. An application now and then, followed by polishing with soft leather, will keep them in a brightly reflective condition. Handsome table covers are made of alternate squares or half squares of basket flannel and of velveteen. One made of two shades of brown is very pretty, and one of brown and lemon color is particularly effective. The spread should be lined; it is not necessary that the entire lining should be of expensive material; unbleached factory cloth will answer, providing that the facing was deep. No border is requisite, but, if one prefers to have it, this should be of velveteen, and the facing of a contrasting color. If the blocks are neatly put together, no needle-work is necessary to adorn the spread; but of course this point may be determined according to the taste and means of the maker.

An old black bunting dress may be made to serve a farther period of usefulness by being renovated and nqade a petticoat. The dust shakes out of bunting with so little effort of the wearer thafrit continues tojbe popular year after year. Kip the dress up, select the best for cleaning, buy 5 cents worth of soapbank at any drug store, let it stand in water until dissolved, if it is the pulverized ; if not, von will be obliged to let it soak, and then steep it for a few minutes. Put your bunting in enough lukewarm water to cover it, and turn the preparation in, rinse it up and down until the cloth is saturated with it; then rinse it in clear water, which should be lukewarm. also. The effect upon the goods is remarkable; it cleanses and restores. Black goods of various kinds may be cleaned in the same way.