Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-09-25
A CHAPTER ON FEATHERS AND
FEATHER uI,pc,

ne 10 Pooi .n"eeu, IN tins land of abundance,
this paradise oigeese, ducks, and turkeys who can,
not feather his own bed At the west nj anv rots.
whatever other thing is wanting, none need lack
feather bed no girl is Of marriageabc ace or
condition who has not earned a feather bed The
careful mother, intent on her daughters dover.
weaves her sundry wooden blankets, I've gods of the
loom how thick, and warm and COSBY, of a whit
ers nightly and makes her huge, well stuffed
feather bed
| The Dutch, when fresh from "fader-and," sleep
not on leather beds merely, but under them, en-
ploying them instead of bed.clothes.
IL is very well, then, to attend TO the science of
feathers or as the old sermonizers used to saw their
origin, nature and uses, with some practical re-
! lectiuns."
! !. The best feathers for domestic PURPOSES are
geese, feathers, being the most elastic and durable
There is about as much difference in their quality,
as in the wool of different breeds of sheep. The
quality depends on their strength, elasticity and
cleanness and these again, depend upon the con-
dluon OF the bird its health, food, and the time of
plucSlng It's feathers Dotcn is the term applied to
under teathers-most abundant in Waterfowl and
in those especially which live IN cold atudes be-
ing designed to protect them from wet and cold
The eiderdown, from the elder duck, is of the most
repute 1t is brought from extreme northern lati-
tudes, and is used for coverings to beds, rather
than for beds themselves, as, by being slept upon
it loses its elasticity.
Poultry feathers, as those of turkeys ducks, and
chickens il assorted and the coarse ones rejected,
afford very good beds but they are not SO elastic
as geese. feathers.
II. Every body knows that live geese. feathers
are the best. Every one does not think of the rea-
son; which, as it is the key to the art of having
good feathers, we shall PROFOUND.
So long as bird Is alive the feathers
much an object of nutrition, as the flesh the bones,
or any other part. When the bird has been for
any time dead, its parts relax, and the Gathers are
also affected, although from their chemical elements
the decomposition Is not as rapid as it is in the
flesh But it begins. They lose their glossy COLOR
their spring or elasticity, and like the rest of the
body, they are dead.
Those feathers are best which are plucked in the
very height of health and growth. 1t is well known
that sickness changes the hair and skin of animals
dull colored HAIR, dry and rough, is concomit-
, ant of sickness in the horse, OK, &c. On the 9TH
er hand, bright glossy hue is n sign of health
Every one has noticed the same thing in fowls
f the drabbled rumpled ack-lustre RleInge of sick
Ones The higher the condition., and The msre vi
gorous the health of flock geese, the better the
fleece while meagre, dragging hali-anlnated
5 flock, never will yield liue geese feathers.
The same results arise from the age of feathers.
They ripen, and are shed as the hair of animals
2 At the time of inouting the feathers dry and
lfeless-because they spent, and to be cast
) off as dead When fowls are killed, the feathers
will be alive and good, if Immediately plucked off
before the body grows cold. Sometimes geese are
plucked five times year, but only when they are
owned by greater goose than themselves Such
r avarce defeats itself. No geese can be healthy
+; under such cruel extortion; and without health,
r feathers cannot be good; twice year, in spring,
I and mid summer, is often enough. =.
III. After feathers are plucked they require
careful attention.
Every feather is largely imbued with oil, by
which it is defended from wet; and this oil must be
n removed or neutrazed before feathers are fit for
beds. This is effected by heat, or by heat and an
Il alkali. AS soon as picked they should be spread
upon boards and oven dried, or they viii heat and
: stick together and purify Upholsterers prepare
: the feathers by rejecting from them all
: tile tail and small wing feathers They are next
put into rooms heated artificiay, with ventilators
, at the top to let off all impure vapors which arise
from them. In this room they are frequently turn
r, ed till quite dry. They are then put into coarse
$ boiling machine, and whlrled around with great
IT velocity until all dirt and dust is driven oil. The
II whole process of curing will reduce their weight
n about one pound in seven.
n They are sometimes prepared by sprinkling a
n little quick-me over them, which combines with
II the oil and prevents its becoming rancid.
n Another mode is to take pound of quick lime
l. to gallon of water; stir it well then let the sed
Re iment FORM and turn off the clear water from the
IS top. lmmerse the feathers in this for two three
s. days; then spread them upon coarse nets to dry
Ii Shake them from time to time, and when perfectly
dry put them loosely in bags and beat them thor
r oughly, and they will be ready for use.
lie If recipe is required for bed fit for carrion
g crow, here it Isl Let your geese be as unhealthy as
IS possible. Either pluck them four, or five times 9
ee season, or if you kill them, let them lie severa
ey hours till cold. Then put them into hot water t.
nd make the feathers come easy. In pulling take GU
Ill large handsful at time, so as to have scraps o
"a meat and shreds of skin adhere 10 the quill; lie
re them lie for several days in wet heaps to erment
G; little. Then dry them suddenly by violent heat
~ cram them into the bed-tck, and jump on, and i
at you have not odorous bed, and in moph or two
bedful Of visiters seeking food then there Is NJ
I'll truth in the laws OF. nature.
ng ". Tie care OF Beds is not understood, otter
u by even good housewives When a bed il fresh
ay made it often smells strong. Constant airing, will
if the feathers good, and ohly new, remove tn
ITS scent
en- bed in constant use should be invariably beat
CHI en- and shaken up daily, to enable the feathers 4
ed retain their elasticity
1t should lie after it is shaken up, for two tire
ed hours a day, in wel.ventiIated room. The human
ut body is constantly giving off persplratlo1; and
nd night more than usual, from The relaxed cond.tio
ire of the skin. The bed will become foul from thl
he cause if not well aired. If the bed is in roo
ty- which cannot be spared for such length Of tim
ay it should be put out to air two full days IN IN
ily week.
In airing beds, the sun should neper shine direct
by upon them 1t is air. not heat that they need. w
Ids have seen beds lying on root where the drec
and rejected rays OF tne sun hau iull power, an
Sc the feathers, without doubt were Steering, and tn
VI oil in the quill becoming rancid; SO that the bt
led smells worse after the roasting than before 4
go rays air beds IN the shade, and If possible, in co
the and ,Ondy days.
as And now, If any of our attentive housewife re
ad- ders and we have not few are disposed TO r
in ward us for all this advice, let them give US b'
to sleep on, when next visit them, made of grow
CHI ing feathers, from live end healthy geese carefull
uc- picked well cured, daily shaken up aud thorough
ON y aired and if we do not dream that the owner
an angel, it will be because we are 100 ihuch U
nd cupied IN sound sleeping. Indiana farmer'
ge- - ----------
lis ANoTuER CHAPTER in THE SLAVE CASE
ary Catherne Lindsay, the servant girl OF Mr.. Hodl
In san If Savannah, Geo., who was arrested and tai
ate en- before Judge Dewey, at Northampton, ON WI
Of IfaJsas Corpus, through the agency of Doc