The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1862-03-27
agricultural Column.
HOUSEHOLD AND FARM ECON
D1tY

pose all families have their economical
habits, which they practice 1" in the
family" but would never tell, for fear
of ridicule. We all have more or less
curiosity, which we sometimes, when not
unlawful, seek to crafty. And now,
Messrs. Editors, with your permission,
will open a small budget. | must,
of course, do it anonomoatsly, and pre-
ccde it with the request that those who
can do as they would, shall not read
this article, as it is only written for
those who must do as they can.
Rail FENcE.-If you, ike me, have
limited wood lot, and must get fence
and fuel from it, study SO to cut your
trees as to make the most fencing ma
terial possible. Odds and ends make
as good fuel, and there will be much of
1t at any rate. If your timber splits
hard, make the shorter cuts, you will
save by it in the end. What will not
make rail, may make post or stake.
PRUNING TREES AND SHRUBs.-Save
you cuttings of such trees, shrubs and
grape vines as will root, and plant them
for your ncighbors. You will many
times like to have something to return
for kindness received, or to exchange
for something wanted, and favor of a
grOWsng character, will generally be
appreciated. And besides, you will be
astonished at the trihing expense with
which you can stock vacant corner of
you own, within year OF two.
OLD CLoTHEs.-No garment wears
out entirely. At the present high prices
for clothing, (this is written at the Far
Vest We are not ashamed to remake
our old clothes. Bear in mind the old
adage: That which will not make a
pot, may make pot lido The skirts
of old coats, and the backs of pants,
If Of nice material, will make very SER
vlceable vests, if the least worn part be
put where the most wear comes in the
new garment.
And here comes in thought worth
considering. Never buy poor material
for clothes of any kind. The making
costs the same, but the wear Of an arti-
Gle costing three dollars, is often not
half OF that costing five dollars. If one
article will wear twice as long as an
other, 1t will do to pay something more
than twice as much for it.
If you badly need a cravat, an cid
worn out satin vest will furnish material
for neck tie, which will do instead.
That which will answer for nothing else,
Will make either cap or a pair Of NIT
tens or shoes for a child. 1t general
~ supposed that mems clothing, when
badly worn is worthless, and women's
clothing is so much more easily remod-
eled, we will not refer to it here.
OLD SH0Es-When the soles Of sew
ed shoes have outlasted their uppers,
new uppers Of cloth or leather may be
put on by a person Of common skill, by
removing the stitches from the soles
while wet, with pinchers, and putting
on the prepared uppers inside out, and
sewing back and forth through the
holes, and afterwards turning the shoe
while very wet. A bali Of shoe thread
costs but few cents, and the sewing
may be done by large sized sharp,
bent at the point, after being first heat
ed IN candle. The thread must be
well waxed. Becswax is better than
none, but black wax is preferable.
If the vamp of pegged shoe fails
While the sole and quarters are both
good, it is no great job to rip the sole
from the upper nearly to the heel
stitch ON new vamp, and peg the shoe
together again. The sewing may be |
done with a needle, either straight or
crooked, and the pegging awl is the
only other indispensable tool but what is
found in most houses. The pegs NAV
be made in few moments by saving a
section Of wood as short as the pegs are
to be, splitting this section into strips
by the stroke of a hammer on the back
OF a knife, and then pairing the two
sides of one edge to point, and split
ting of the pegs, one at a time, by a
knife. Many kinds of hard wood NAV
DE USED tor pegs, but We believe the
soft or red maple is preferred.
SAVING Cold BREAD.-It may not
De universally, if even generally known.
that cold bread or cake is as good when
properly crumbled, to aid in the forma-
ton of new loaf, as the fresh material
Perhaps | ought to except the color. but
even this may be avoided by emitting
the entire crust, and thoroughly pulYer-
izlng 1t. One sometimes tires of bread
and milk, and bread buildings, into