American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-03-23
USEFUL AND SUGGESTIVE.

USEFUL AND SUGGESTIVE.
THE assets OF the Washington Life are
of the most solid character-Ca.h, Gov
eminent Securities, Real Estate Securi-
ties
For STRENGTHENING THE HAIR.-Half
pound beef marrow, thoroughly soaked,
melted and strained; tincture of canthar-
ides, one ounce; oil of bergamont, twelve
drops
THE american Bee Journal suggests glyc-
crime in addition to sugar syrup, as bee
food, to prevent candying, having found
it satisfactory on trial, adding from one
half to one ounce to pint of syrup
while yet warm, thaugh larger proper
ton might be used if cheap enough.
APPLE PLANT LoUsE.-We know of no
other way to destroy this little insect ex-
cept to drench the trees with sOap-suds
or tobacco-water. If the trees are small
the branches may be bent down and dip
ped in either of these liquids. They have
many natural enemies, and though they
appear in great numbers and doubtless
retard the growth of the tree they do not
seem to inflict any permanent injury
Hearth and Home.
An English writer says that agriculture
is the immediate source of human provi-
sion; that trade cOnduceS to the prOduc-
ton of provision only as it supports ag-
riculture; that the whole system of com
merce, vast and various as it is, has no
public importance save its subserviency
to that end. 1t has peculiar significance
in country like this, where agriculture
is, and always will be, of ,prime impor-
lance.
STEwED CELERY.-Cut six or seven
nice roots to the length of the dish in
which they are to be served. Remove all
the coarse leaves, and also the green tops.
Trim the root ends neatly, and wash the
celery in several waters, until it is as clean
as can be. Then boil it till tender with
pinch of salt and a bit of butter in
just water enough to cover it. Drain it
well, and lay it in hot dish, and pour a
thick bechamel over it. Another way is
to stew it in broth, and serve it with
rich thickened brown Western
Rural
DYE1NG BLACK SILK-A German au-
thority forwards to the Scientific 1me,9can
the following directions for dyeing black
silk piece goods: Clean the silk in the
usual way with soda, wash off the fluid
and pass the fabrics through tepId bath
containing a little tumeric and vitriol
Wash them once more, and leave them
during one night in a bath of a solution
of nitrate of iron of the strength of &C.
B. On taking out, wash them well, and
put them in a bath containing fustic and
logwood, increasing the heat by degrees
If the silks be overdyed by the last pro-
cess (this will be detected by its brown
colon, put them through slightly acid
bath. If not, put them in lukewarm
bath, containing soda and the double
muriate of tin in the proportion of two
parts to three; leave them in this bath till
the requisite shade is produced.
TANNING LANES PELTs.-An Ohio
farmer contributes the following to an
exchange: To remove the wool, take
equal parts of ashes and new lime, make
them into a thin PASTE and if you wish
to preserve the wool, apply to the flesh
side, letting it remain until the wool will
come off easily. Then clean the pelt with
dull knife, remove all fat and flesh
from it and put it in a strong solution of
alum water let it remain from twenty
four to forty-eight hours, according to
size, when remove and wash in soft
water. Hang in the smoke-house and
smoke for day, then remove and work
until dry. To tan with the wool on, take
equal parts of alum and common SALT
sprinkle the flesh side Gf dry, soak with
soft water); thoroughly fold up and lay
away for few days, then smoke and
work until dry.
English are thoroughly alive to the i'm
portance of toads, and even reptiles, as
insect destroyers. Toads are now reg
ular article of commerce between that
country and France. A toad of good
size and in fair condition will fetch a
shilling twenty-five cents in the London
market, and dozen of extra quality are
worth 81 sterling (S5.) You may see these
imported toads in all the market gardens
where the soil is moist, and the owners of
those gardens even prepare shelter for
them. Many grave persons have shaken
their heads when they heard of this new
whim of the English; but those laugh
best who laugh the last. This time the
English are in the right. The toad is
very helpful to the husbandman as de-
stroyer of injurious insects, upon which
it chiefly feeds, and every farmer should
protect them. Even snakes should be
protected, except those having poisonous
fanss. All the slender land or garter
snakes are harmless, and live almost en-
tirely on insects; and it is high time
we should give up the old superstition
that snake should be destroyed because
it is snake, or that toad should be
killed to get the jewel which its head was
supposed to cOntain.-EIchdnge.