The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-07-01
Useful KNOWLEDGE

OoLsG ~ INV W &ALlOGGles
AWNINGS can be rendered waterproof
by plunging the fabric into a solution
containing 20 per cent. of soap and
afterward into another solution contain
ing the same percentage of sulphate of
copper. Wash, and the operation is
finished.
A SIMPLE mode of keeping butter In
warm weather is to set over the dish
containing it a large fower-pot or I'M
glazed earthenware crock, inverted.
Wrap a wet cloth around the covering
vessel, and place the whole where there
is draft of air.
WHEN it is not convenient TO take
lock apart to fit a new key, the key
blank should be smoked over a candle,
inserted In the key-hOle, and pressed
firmly against the opposing wards of the
lock. The indeDtatiOns in the smoked
portion made by the wards Will show
where to file.
To extract rust from steel immense
the article to be cleaned in q solution of
half ounce cyanide of potassium 20 a
wine-glassful of water until the dirt and
rust disappear. Then clean by means
of toothbrush with paste composed
of cyanide of potassium, CASTLE soap,
whitening and water.
THE best pine wood evaporates five
pounds of water per pound wood con-
sumed in a steam boiler furnace. One
cord of wood can be consumed per hour
on sixty square feet of CRATE. One
pound carbon burnt to carbonic acid
requires the oxygen of 153 cubic feet of
atmospheric air.
Mr.. JAMES HINTON, in his "PhysiOl-
ogy," affirms that the passages of the
ear does not require cleaning by us.
Nature understands that task, and in
the healthy state fulfills it perfectly.
Her means for cleansing the ear is the
wax, which dries up into thin scales,
and peels off and falls away impercepti-
bly,. In health the passage of the ear
is never dirty, but an attempt to clean
it will infalibly make it so. Washing
the ear out with soap and water is bad !;
it keeps the wax moist when it ought to
become dry and scaly, and makes it
absorb dust. But the most hurtful
thing is the introduction of the corner
of a towel screwed mp, and twisted
around. This proceeding irritates the
passage and presses down the wax and
flakes of skin upon the membrane of the
tympanum, producing pain, and infam-
nation and deafness. Washing should
only extend to the outer surface, as far
as the finger can reach.
"CUTTNG A DIDO. This phrase is
older than most people imagine. Do
you call to mind the story of Dido,
princess of TyreP Her husband, Arce-
bias, priest of Hercules, was murdered
for his wealth by King Pygmalion,
brother to Dido. The widowed princess
succeeded so well in hiding her sorrow
that she was enabled to escape from
Tyre, bearing with her the wealth of
her husband, and accompanied by a
number of disaffected mobiles. After a
variety of adventures they landed upon
the coast of Africa, whe re Dido bar
gained with the natives for as much
land as che could inclose in a bulls
hide. Selecting a large, tough hide,
she caused it to be cut in the smallest
possible threads, with which she in
closed large tract of country, on which
the city of Carthage began to rise. The
natives were bound by the letter of their
bargain, and allowed the cunning queen
to have her way; and after that, when
any one had played a sharp trick, they
said he had "cut a Dido" That was
almost three thousand years ago, and
the saying has come down to our day.
A FRENCH journal says that, of the
score of freprOof counpo itions that
have been brought forward within as
many years past, there is scarcely one
that possesses superior or even equal
adaptation to the purpose as the follow
ing: Dissolve IN cold water, as much
pearlash as it is capable of holding in
solution, and wash or daub with it all
the boards, wainscoting, timber, etc. /;
then, diluting the same liquid with a
little water, add to it such portion of
fine yellow clay as will make the mix
ture of the consistence of common
paint, and then stir in a small quantity
of paper-haDgers' -four paste to COM
bine both the other substances. Give
three coats of this mixture, and, when
dry, apply the following composition /:
Put into pot equal quantities of finely
puleerized iron filing, brickdust and
ashes, pour over them size or glue
water, and set the whole near a fire,
and, when warm, stir them we'll to-
gether. With this liquid composition,
or size, give one coat, and, on its get
ting dry, give s second coat. It Tesists
fire for five hours, and prevents the
wood from ever bursting into flames !;
that is, it so resist the ravages of fire
as, at most, only to be reduced to Goals
or embers, without spreading the con-
fagration by additional flames. It is
found that a quantity equal to twenty
pounds of finely sifted clay, q pound
and half of foar for making the paste,
and one pound of pearlash is sufficient
to prepare a square rood of deal
boards.
PAINTING OF FLooRs. Having had
some experience with both oiled and
painted floors, I unhesitatingly recon-
mend the former. If some uniform
dark tint is wanted, like black walnut,
mix burnt umber with b. lied linseed
oil, and rub it in thoroughly with a
wooden cloth. The umber can be bought
In boxes, containing a pound and up
ward, already grOun in oil, which is
most convenient, as that sold in a dry
state is apt to be coarse and rough.
The depth of tint is varied by using
more or less of the color, while the tone
may be warmed, if desired, by adding
burnt sienna. IF an imitation of the
handsome ash and walnut floors is pre-
rred, rub every alternate board with
pure hnseed oil, and use a paint-bru
to apply the dark staining, taking care
not to have enough in the brush to
spread on the part intended to be light.
Leave the floor for day or two to dry,
though the only harm done by using it
Immediately is that the oil is liable to
be tracked over the other parts of the
house. The great advantage an oil
floor possesses over a painted one is
that when marked or scratched some
oil rubbed over the spots removes them,
and it is never necessary to repeat the
whole process again. All that is needed
to keep the floor bright and fresh is to
occasionally rub it over with a cloth wet
with a little oil or kerosene as you
would treat oiled furniture. RllraL
Farmer.
The Proper Cultivation of Corn.
Illinois is a typical corn growing
state, and the following statements of
the regular correspondent of the Conn.
try EnnAInr,,nr, iii h I'D IL. -