The Placer herald., 1872-06-01
HOUSE AND FARM.


abundance of cobble-stones collect few
loads of them, about four or five inches III
diameter, grade the bottom of the cellar, lay
the cobbles in rows and ram them down one
third Of their thickness into the ground, so
that they will not rock Or be sunk below the
line of the rows by any heavy super'ncum-
bent pressure. The bottom OF the cellar
should be graded so that the outside Will be
at least two inches lower than the middle
A mistake sometimes occurs by grading
the cellar bottom in such a manner that the
center will be two or three inches lower than
the outside. When this is the case, should
water enter from the outside, it will flow
directly towards the middle. straight
edged board should be placed frequently on
each row of stones as they are being rammed,
80 that the upper sides may be in line with
each other. After the stones are laid and
we'll rammed down, place few boards on
the pavement to walk on; then making a
grouting of clean sand, water and lime, or
Rosendale cement, and pour it on the stones
until all the interstices are filled. AS soon
as the grouting has set, spread a layer OF
good cement mortar one inch thick over tne
top of the pavement, and trowel the surface
of smoothly. In order to spread the mortar
true and even on the surface, lay an inch
hoard one foot from the wall on the surface
of the pavement, stand on the board and fill
the space with mortar even with the top OF
the board: after which, move the board one
foot, fill the space with mortar, and trowel it
off smoothly Such floor will cost less
than a board floor, and will endure as long
as the superstructure is kept in repair.
A floor made in the foregoing manner on
the ground in the basement Of barn,
piggerv or stable, would be rat proof, and
would be found cheaper and more serviceable
than plank floor.
TAKE CARE OF THE TREEs.-A short ex-
cursion into the country at recent date,
satisfies us that few of those who would
like to be fruit growers are not giving that
attention to their newly set orchard trees
that they deserve, and must have to succeed
az well as they might. There certainly are
those who think, Judging from their actions,
that when tree is set, their whole duty is
done.
No wonder that putting out trees with
them don't pay. They ought to expect that
their trees will half of them die if only in
self-defense. All fruit trees require watching
and care; but it is a pleasant care, and
watching that does not fatigue.
See that the wind is not giving your trees
an inclination from the perpendicular, keep
the ground clear of all weeds and grass for
distance of three feet around every tree and
see that the surface Of the soil is kept finely
pulverized; in the absence of special
mulching it is the next best thing that can
be done to retain the moisture of the soil be-
low, so necessary to the success of all newly
planted trees in this climate. Press.
New MODE OF WASHING ill-effects
of soda ON linen has given rise to new
method of washing, which has been exten-
sively adopted in Germany, and introduced
into Belgium. The operation consists in dis
solving two pounds of soap in about three
gallons of water as hot as the hand can bear,
and adding to this one tablespoonful of tur-
pentine ana three of liquid ammonia: the
mixture must then be well stirred, and the
linen stepped in it for two or three hours,
taking care to cover up the vessel which
contains them as nearly Theoretically as pos
sible. The clothes are afterwards washed
out and rnsed in the usual way. The soap
and water may be reheated, and used sec
ond time, but. in that case, half table
spoonful of ammonia must be added. The
process is said to cause great economy OF
time, labor and fuel. The linen scarcely
suffers at all, as there is little necessity for
rubbing, and its cleanliness and color are
perfect The ammonia and turpentine,
although their defensive action is great, have
no injurious effect upon the linen; and, while
the former evaporates Immediately, the smell
of the latter is said to disappear entirely
during the drying of the clothes.
The BEST HAIR REsroRER. a
strong tea lsay pint each) Of red sassafras
and sage; pour them into quart bottle and
saturate the scalp thoroughly two or three
times day, using a stiff brush. The more
you use the brush the better. If the hair is
harsh, put spoonful of hickory nut oil
(which can be obtained by pressing the ker-
nels in vice) into the bottle. know the
above is good for have seen it tried on an
old lady's head whose hair had fallen of
from the effects of sick and nervous headache,
till she was entirely bald. In about three
months coat of hair as soft and as fine as
an infants appeared Please try it and re-
port success. "Time and patience" is the
mott.--Co,v. Of Rural Ne,c Yorker.
Hot BREAD.-One of the most injurious
dietetic habits of Americans is that of eating
fresh hot bread, cake and biscuit. The
Prussan Government compels bakers to keep
their bread at least one day before selling.
If Americans would follow their example,
there would be fewer dyspeptics than at
present, There is not one dyspeptc German
where there are a dozen dyspeptic Americans.
This, however, is but one of the many causes
for this marked difference. The only fresh
hot bread that is wholly unobjectionable is
the unleavened bread, crackers or gems.
Household UTENsILs OF PApER.--In
Pearl street. New York, there is mill
which makes from paper such articles as
milk-pans, cups, read-pans, wash bowls,
etc which are said To be sunerior to wnnd