American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-02-08
USEFUL SUGGESTIONS.

WHEREVER nitric acid pOllutes the air
by its vapOrs, as in st;ndfy branches OF IN
dustry, all ini furious consequences may be
obviated by the free use of ammonia. The
vapor of the latter, combining with that
of the nitric acid, forms a compound
which is inodorous and innOcuOus.
A NEW use of paper is that of forming
it into windOw-shutters, which are said to
be fire-proof. The paper pulp, while
wet, is pressed over a thin sheet iron
plate, which, gives body to the shutter,
while the exterior form is obtained from
the mould in which it is pressed.
CONSUMERS of canned articles should
note that when they buy & two pound can
of fruit they get "a ounces, can and con-
tents included. How one pound and
half including four ounces of tin, can
make up two pounds of peaches. is one OF
those mysteries known only to Baltimore
canners.'' This is one of those frauds
that consumers should stamp out in short
order, by refusing to purchase cans I'M
less they weigh pounds net for
pound can.
A RECENT writer-we know not who
says: 'sIf there's any one thing more
beautiful than another in a garden of
flowers, that thing is a beautiful girl, with
a sunbonnet on her head, SC wide and ca
paciOus that you have to get right square
before her and pretty near her to see the
the glowing cheeks that are sure to be
there if she is at all accustomed to garden
walks and works. Physically, there can
be nothing better for daughters, and in
deed for many wives, than to take sole
charge of a small flower garden
POUNDED alum is one of the simplest
modes of purifying water-a fact which
should be more generally known. A la
blespoonful of pulverized alum sprinkled
into hogshcad of water 1.-THE water stir
red at the same time) will, after few
hours, by precipitating to the bottom the
impure particles, so purify it that it will
be found to possess nearly the freshness
and clearness of the finest spring water.
A pailful, containing four gallons, may
be purified by single teaspoonful OF
alum.
To MAKE CLOTHING INDESTRUCTIBLE.-
| Eiemann, in his Fdrberzeitung, recon-
mends for this purpose sleeping the cloth
for twelve hours in solution prepared in
the following manner: Ten pounds OF
alum and twenty pounds of sugar of lead
are dissolved in warm water, the mixture
being left undisturbed until the precipi-
tate of lead sulphate is deposited. The
| clear liquor, now consisting OF acetate
of alumina, is then drawn Off and mixed
with $50 gallons of water. in which a little
isinglass has been dissolved. When well
stepped, the goods are dried and finished
| by pressure or otherwise.
The GRAND SEcRET.-This new Sapon-
aceous Process of Cleaning Clothes Of
every description, dispenses with rubbing,
pounding and bOilir. :. saves half the labor
and costs much less than the ordinary
process. Take 2 ounces of spirits of tur-
pentine, and one-fourth of an ounce of
! spirits of sal ammoniac, and mix well to-
gether. Then put the mixture into tub
of warm water, IN which half pound of
the best quality of hard soap has been dis
solved. Into this the clothes are immcrs-
ed during the night, and the next day
rinsed, the dirtiest clothing being freed
| from dirt, and fine linens much longer
preserved. To make the spirits of sal
ammOniac, dissolve sal ammOniac in 90
per cent alcohol.
| How TO MAKE SACHETS OR SCENT-BA GS.
Various powders, &C., placed in silk
bags or ornamental envelopes, are agree
able to smell of, and also economical for
4 imparting pleasing Odor to linen and
clothes as they are packed away in draw
ers, for they prevent moths. For hellio-
trope powder, take half pound of Or
ris-rOOt, one quarter pound of ground
rose leaves, two ounces powdered tOnquin
bean, one ounce vanilla bean, one-half
drachm grain musk, two drops otto of al
mOnds; mix it all by sitting through a
course sieve. This is one of the best sach-
cts ever made, and perfumes tableclOths,
sheets, pillovcases and towels, deliciously.
For lavender powder, take one pound OF
powdered lavender, one quarter pound of
gum benzoin, and quarter of an ounce of
otto of lavender. For patchouli, use one
half pound patchouli. This herb is often
sold in its natural state as imported, and
is tied up in halfpound bundles. Sandal
wood sachet powder is good, and consists
of wood ground fine. Cedar wood, when
ground, forms body for other sachet
woods, ard will keep moths at a distance.
Dried fenncl, when ground, is also used for
scent-bags, and ground nutmeg is liked
for this purpose.