South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-08-18
USEFUL AND SUGGESTIVE

EEHr
MATERNAL FOR Ice HoUsEs.-It is
said that one of the best materials for ice
houses is peat; but the genuine moss peat
must be employed, and it ought to be cut
in pieces fourteen inches long and five 10
six inches wide and thick. When 1t is
thoroughly dried it proves to be a. Door
conductor of heat, and when laid up
around ice houses above tie ground, is
preferred by many persets to saw dust,
tan bark, and the like.
A PHILADELPHIA physician writes to
the Post to correct an impression that
blackberries are useful or harmless in
cases where children are convalescing
from diarrheea or cholera ihfantum. He
says that from close observation during
several years, meantime ENJOYING a large
practice, he is forced to believe that there
is 40 other cause so fatal to life in these
complaints as eating b~lackberries.
BoRERs IN APPLE TREEs.-A citizen of
Oswego, N. Y, writes the Rural Neu
Yorker that he has prevented the attacks
Of apple-tree borers by putting a bushel of
tanbark around the stem of each tree.
The tanbark answers the double purpose
of keeping out the bOrers and as a mulch.
No weeds grow through it, and he says
he has never known 9 tree to be attacked
around which a heap of tanbark was con-
stantly kept. Ounce trees treated in the
same way thrive admirably, and are free
from borers.
EFFECTS OF MIXING CREAM.-That the
cream of different cows when mixed does
20 produce butter at the same time, with
the same amount of churning, has been
fairly illustrated in the family of Mark
Hughes, at West Grove, Pa, recently.
They had an Attorney heifer in good flow
of milk, and an old cow, a stripper; their
cream, worked together, it was observed
that they did not make butter enough for
the bulk of the cream. The buttermilk
also looked rich and seemed to collect q
cream upon it. They put the buttermilk
in the churn again, after having the butter
first to come and make about five pounds.
They churned again for a few minutes, and
found from two to three pounds more but
ter in the churn, showing that the heifer's
cream had made butter first, and that the
cream of the old COW needed several
minutes more churning.
PUTTY AND PAINT.-However much
these two articles may be used to hide de-
ficiencies and cover up faults by dishonest
tradesmen, in the farmers hands they may
be made to do excellent service. Possibly
the wagon, plows and harrows that have
been in active employment during the
summer, have had their seams or cracks
opened by the suns heat. Now is the
time to stop those cracks or seams with
putty and a touch of paint, before The fall
rains soak in and commence to rot the
wood. Repeated swelling and shrinking
do serious injury TO all wooden implements,
and now, while they are well shrunk, is
the time to look after them and prevent
the swelling which will occur if damp or
wetisallowed to penetrate. Forks, shoVels,
axes, and all tools with wooden handles,
should be rubbed with linseed oil while
dry. They will have their elasticity pre-
served and their durability and appearance
improved thereby.-AmericdR AgrlcUL-
turiSt.
WASHING SHEEP.-In Australia sheep
washing is very generally practiced, and
an apparatus is much used there which is
said to perfectly cleanse the wool, and rem
der it suitable TO go at onee to the a
facturer. A portable engine or other
power is employed to throw water into a
tank, whence it may receive eight feet fall ;
several spouts are then provided, which
throw into the living wool thin films of
water two and one-half feet wide by me-
eighth of an inch thick. This searches
well into the wool and deterges it perfect
ly for the shearer. A modification of this
system has more recently been introduced,
whereby the sheep, after being first SUBJ
jected to showers or jets of moderately
cool water, by which a considerable por-
ton of the earth, sand, etc, is removed,
are subsequently placed under jets of
water, warmed to a temperature of 110o,
F., whereby all the dirt remaining from
the first washing. as well as the "yolk," or
grease, is removed.
A CORRESPONDENT writes to the New
York Sun that the readiest and most use
full remedy for scalds and burns is an en-
brocation of lime water and linseed oil.
These simple agents combined form a
thick, cream-like substance, which efectu-
ally excludes the air from the injured
parts, and allays the Inflammation almost
instantly. He mentions a case where q
child fell backward into a bath tub of boil
ing water, and was nearly fayed from her
neck to below her hips. Her agonies were
indescribable; but her clothing being
gently removed, and the lime and oil
preparation thickly spread over the in
jured surface, she was sound asleep in five
minutes. Subsequently the parts were
carefully washed with warm milk and
water three times a day, the oil dressing
renewed, and the little patient rapidly re-
covered. Though all the scalded skin
came off, she did not have a scar. This
remedy leaves no hard coat to dry on the
sores, but softens the parts, and aids ma
ture to repair the injury in the readiest
and most expeditions manner. The mix
ture may be procured in the drug stores /;
but if not thus accessible, slack a lump
of quicklime in water, and as soon as the
water is clear, mix it with the oil and shake
well. If the case is urgent, use boiling
water over the lime, and it will become
clear in five minutes. The preparation
may be kept ready bottled in the house,
and it will be as good when six months
old as when first made.