The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-03-01
FARM AND GARDEN.

in water; but II you do. don t allow 1t to
stand in water when not in use, as this
will cause a soft place.
Second-Wet the stone by dropping
water on it from pot suspended above
the stone, and stop off the water when
not in use.
Third-Don't allow the stone to get
out of order, but keep it perfectly round
by use of gas-pipe, or hacker.
Fourth-Clean off all greasy tools
before sharpening, as grease OR oil
destroys the grit.
Fifth-Observe: When you get a
stone that suits your purpose, send
sample of the grit to the dealer to select
by; half ounce sample is enough, and
can be sent in letter by mail.
WASHING WAGONS. Most people
who use carriages or wagons doubtless
think they know how and when to wash
them, but few hints from the Car
riage journal may not be out of place:
Washing wagons is too often looked
upon as an operation solely for the pur-
pose ofremoving coat of mud; this is
one of the objects, and an important
one, but the wagon should be washed
even when there is no mud on it. Dur
ing the summer, the varnish loses its
lustre, and assumes dull, dirty appear
ance, unless it is frequently washed.
When wagon is badly covered with
dirt, it is best to soak the dirt loose by
wetting it with large sponge, but not
rubbing it.
1t cities, where water can be forced
through pipe, the sponge need not
be used until the bulk of the dirt has
run off, and then use the sponge, COM
mencing at the upper portion of the
body, and do not wash over too much
surface at time, as the water should
never be allowed to dry on the body; );
after washing with sponge, take clean
water and a chamois skin, and wash
and dry Immediately with the chamois.
After the body is washed, wash the
carriage part and then the wheels; in
washing the wheels, be careful to clean
the dirt out from between the spokes,
and wipe perfectly dry. Immediately
after using a carriage in hot weather,
the leather and trimmings should be
busted off, and the paint well washed
and wiped, as directed, using soft water
if possible, and never using salt water,
as has been recommended by some, who
are afraid that the supply of water will
give out in many of our cities if it is
used for other than drinking purposes.
Careful washings will tend to harden
the varnish, remove the particles of
dust that would otherwise bed them
selves in the paint, and keep the car
riage fresh and clean. The leather top
should also be wiped off, and if an oiled
cloth be rubbed over Immediately after
the leather has been dried with the
chamois, it will do much toward pre-
serving the lustre of the leather, and
preventing it getting hard and shrink
ing. After washing, always rub the
plated work with a wooden cloth that
has little rotten stone on it. Many a
dollar in expense and much annoyance
from having soiled carriage, may be
saved by thus caring for it.
INDELIBLE INKs.-The cheapest ma
terial for marking linen is coal tar, di-
luted with benzine to the proper con-
sistency. Another inexpensive prescrip-
tion is to place iron filings Or old nails
in strong vinegar; let them stand many
days, and filter the liquid. Another
way is to take equal quantities of ver-
million and copperas, and rub them up
with some old varnish. The first and
last preparations have to be used with
a fine brush the second with a COM
mon pen.
How TO MAKE THE BOYS Coop
FARMERS. them to take an in
terest in the farm, in the implements,
in the stock !; tell them your plans, your
successes, your failures; give them
history of your life, and what you did
when boy; but do not harp on the
degenerate character of the young men
of the present age; praise them when
you can, and encourage them to do
better. Let them dress up for evening,
instead of sitting down in their dirty
clothes in a dingy room. Provide plenty
of light; thanks to kerosene, our coun-
try houses can be as brilliantly and as
cheaply lighted as the gas-lit houses in
the city. Encourage the neighbors to
drop in evenings. Talk agriculture
speak more of the importance of large
crops, of good stock, of liberal feeding,
and of the advantages of making ami
mails comfortable, rather than of the
hard times, low prices, and high wages.
In our own case, we owe our love of
farming principally to the fact that our
father talked to us of everything that
was doing on the farm: answering all
our questions, and encouraging rather
than refusing our childlike desire Of
helping him to plow, to chop, to let eff
water, and fire the brush-heap.-Er.
RAsPING HoRsEs' FEET.-A CORE
spondent of the Canada Farmer says:
Rasping down the feet nicely, as they
call it, is quite a passion with some
people. l have often rasped the hoof,
and the owner of the horse standing by
to tell when it would suit him. This
raspipg of hoof that happens to be a
little ill-shapen, until it will spring un
der your finger, is far too dangerous a
Al