The Republican. [volume] (Maryville, Tenn.) 187?-187?, 1874-04-04
USEFUL KNOWLEDGE.

USEFUL KNOWLEDGE.
REFRIGERATION. -Dr. T. Snow Beck,
of London, after careful investigation,
declares ii is certain that the protec-
tive influence of vaccination becomes
impaired during the period between in
fancy and maturity" In order to main
tain the protective influence during life,
it is essential to repeat the vaccination
after the individual reaches maturity.
DURABLE STovE-BLAcKING.- BY ad
ding teaspoonful OF pulverized alum
to half package of good stove-polish,
vet up with little water, much time
and laboa will be saved, as a stove pol
ished with this mixture will remain
bright long time. 1t should be ap
piled when the stove is nearly cold, and
with dry brush rubbed until it is dry
and shining.
LUNAR SoLITUDR.-It is argued by
Prof. Proctor and other eminent astron-
omers that the moon is uninhabitable
because it has no atmosphere to sustain
human or brute life; and that it has no
atmosphere because its valleys, as seen
through the telescope, are absolutely
dark when the mountains shade them
from the sun, instead OF being lighted
like ours by atmospheric refraction, and
because stars becomes invisible upon
reaching the planets apparent disk.
To KEEP PoTAToEs FROM SPRoUTIYG.
To prevent the termination of pcta-
toes in winter stores, it is recommended
to expose them to the vapor of sulphu-
rous acid, which is simply the fumes of
burning sulphur. II not entirely effect
ual in accomplishing the object, it will
at least retard or modify the sprouting
to such an extent as to render the inju.
ry caused thereby very slight. The fla
vor of the potato is not affected in the
least by this treatment, nor is its vitali-
ty diminished, the action being simply
to retard or prevent the formation and
growth of the eyes.
How TO Boil EGGs. Put the required
number of eggs into a saucepan, con-
tanning boiling water sufficient TO cover
tiClhJ anu pun ~ III pldCC VI tlC LduSS
where ii will keep boiling hot, but not
boil. Let them stand seven minutes.
When taken up they will be found
thickly and deliciously jellied through.
out, and perfectly digestible. It is a
much better and NOR certain way than
boiling them. Another method is, to
let them boil gently for thirty minutes.
This is an excellent plan for persons
like hard boiled eggs, or for invalids,
n eggs cooked for this length of time
can be easily digested by the most deli
cate stomachs.
CURRANTs. -The old red dutch and
white dutch are good sorts, and under
the best culture and proper pruning,
will be five times as large as when grow
ing neglected in grass. A fine appear
ance is made on the table with cherry
and white grape currauts mixed, the
cherry being often half an inch in
diameter 1--WE have measured the berries
fve-eighths), and the white grape
nearly as large. The Versailles closely
resembles the cherry, and both possess
the desirably quality of hanging long
on the bush, during which time the
flavor improves and they become less
acid. Victoria and Prince Albert ore
valuable for their lateness. Any good
garden soil is suitable for currants,
which should be kept clean and Guilt
waited, and old wood pruned out and
thrifty shoots left
RAT PoIsoN.-The following method
of preparing poison for rats is said to be
more effectnal than moistening grain
with solution of strychnine Make a
clear solution of arsenite of potash, by
boiling in large iron kettle one part of
white arsenic, one of carbonate of pot
ash, and twenty-five of water, stirring
the whole VIII together add 25 parts
of water, and introduce, while warm, so
parts of barley, wheat or oats, stirring
frequently during 25 to 36 hours then
heat the grain and stir it with paddle
until it appears dry externally. For
use in the house it may be advisable to
color the grain by adding 1900 parts Of
liquid fuchsin. Clean the kettle after
use by securing with lime. In most
cities, however, the arsenite of potash
can be obtained ready made, and thus
the trouble and danger of preparation
is saved
PERMANENT GRASS. -Water meadows
are amongst the most productive of per.
maneat grass lands. But the manage
ment of water meadows is very fire.
quently iniudicious. No cattle should
be allowed upon an irrigated meadow,
nor should the water be permitted to run
continually over one spot. A meadow
thus treated very soon becomes mo-
rass, and is then spoiled. A dressing
of bone-dust is remarkably beneficial
to water meadows, greatly thickening
the grass and improving the quality OF
the hay. An application of plaster the
next year still further improves the
meadow. As soon as the hay becomes
inferior in quality and decreases in
in quantity it is restored by repetition
OF this treatment. The opportunities
for making water meadows are frequent,
and as their value becomes appreciated
they will become much more common
than they now are.
DRIED BLOOD AS FERTILIZER. The
process OF graduating the blood OF
hogs, to be used as q fertilizer, is be-
coming business of considerable i'm
portance in connection with the pork
packing establishments of the west. 1t
is cooked and dried to black powder,
and is in fine grains. The blood of
hog is worth for this purpose about
three cents before it is prepared. One
establishment in Wisconsin, which uses
up five thousand swine per day, receives
for the blood alone one hundred and
fifty dollars. The income for the en-
tire season must equal a handsome for