The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-04-01
How to Use Corn Husks.

~ ~ "a
Large-quantities Of corn lIusks, says the
American Asrieultlt,-iSt, are wasted every
Year, which might be made useful in many
ways. When simply stripped into shreds
and dried they make soft, wholesome beds
and excellent cushions. We have seen the
husks shredded upon an Old-fashioned
hatchel, but it would be much better 10
arrange a single row OF teeth or blades IN
a heavy b0ard or block fgra base, so tnat 4
the hnsls could be drawn across them IN
small handfuls and slit into shreds from a
quarter to half an inch in width. Inc
farmer who uneasily changes his seat
every moment as he rides TO market upon
the rough board placed across MS wagon,
would md ease and comfort upon bag
filled with corn husk strippings. Many
other uses may be found for husks, but
one of the most important Is the manufac-
ture of mats both for the table and Tor
the door. Very elegant ta'le mats have
been made from the finer huskS, and II
care is taken to select the sOftest and best
colored husks, the mats viii not disgrace
the most carefully furnished table. They
are made from the finer inner husks,
which, when the corn is ripe, are of a del
icate straw color. These are dampened
with clean water. and plated in a three
When one of the husks is nearly used up,
the end of the other is placed beneath it,
and the plating goes on; fresh ones are
worked in, in this manner, as needed; the
loose ends being always left projecting at
the upper side of the braid. TO be cut of
neatly afterward. As the braid is plslted
it is wound into a ball, until several yards
are made. 1t is then trimmed OF the loose
ends, dampened again, and then sewed to-
gether by the edges with straw-cOlored
I silk into mats of any shape desired. Ii
oval mats are to be made. the braid is TO
/ be folded side BY side of such a length as
/ the length of the mat is to exceed its
width. III the mat is to be round, or
! square, or six or eight sided, it is begun in
I the same shape, and each round very care
/ fully sewcd to the one preceding it in such
] "A manner as to retain the shape. When 1t i
/ finished it should be dampened once more
and ironed with hot flat-iron, and placed
J to dry beneath folded sheet aud a heavy
weight. Very pretty mats are made by
/ dyeing the husks of light neutral unts-
such as drab, lilac, or French gray. The
/ brighter colors of red, green, blue, or pur'
/ pie, are too glaring to look well upon q
4 table. and are not to be recommended.
! For heavier use the coarser husks may be
! selected, and very tasteful floor mats may
/ be made of them. For these mats the
/ brighter colOrs may be used with advan
/ tage, and a tasteful combination will have
a good effect. The Kitchen door may be
! furnished with mats made of husks. For
This rough use the thickest husks should
be chosen, and they should be plated
together thickly, buttightly. The tighter
and closer the braid. the more durable
will be the mat. There are several kinds
of kitchen mats that may be made. The
plain braid may be sewn together with
| Stout Irvine and coarse needle, OF any de-
sirable shape. Another method is tC
weave double husk into the plat at eact
/ turnover. These are put in as tinckly aS
/ possible. When enough has been plated
the braid is sewn together as before de
/ scrlbed, leaving the d0sble husks which
have been interviewer projecting at The
( upper side, in the manner of a brush
These are clipped eff evenly with pair o
! shears, and the result is a mat. This by
no means exhausts the list of variety o
mats. Ingenious boys and girls may de
wise many ways of using corn-husks, anC
these will occur to them as soon as they
commence to make one mat. For very
rough use. such as outdoor proposes, ant
/ for barns. husk mats may be made by tax
! ing the head of a -four barrel or board, ant
mailing two cleats across to keep them to
| gether firmly; then boring holes close 10
/ gether with an inch auger, and inserting
/ into each hole bunch Of husks tightly
rolled together. y wooden peg is driver
| into the center of'each bunch, at the undel
side of the mat to secure il firmly, anI
when every hole is filled, the top of the o
mat is clipped evenly. When a mat o
this kind becomes worn, it is easily renew
cd by replacing the old and broken husk
with new ones. - -- -.-s.