Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-08
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

any compounds Of resinous character,
the use of flaxseed meal moistened with
water, is recommended. -Sctentifc Anler5-
cUn.
How TO TAKE Spots OUT OF A CALCI-
MINED WALL.-Spots which show are
generally of greasy nature. First moist
en- the spots with strong alum water.
When dry, apply prepared calcimine Of
the consistency of tn: * cream. EG-
chnnge
To REMOVE " RED Mites FROM CANA
RIEs.-Put into the cage as perch one
or more hollow sticks, with holes cut into
them at short distances, as in cane pipe.
The insects crawl into these, and can cas-
ily be knocked or shaken out, or de-
stroyed by letting hot water run through
the sticks. This should be done every
day till the bird is relieved
FLOWING WATER.-Water flowing in a
body, such as a river, will run sufficient
ly swift with fall of one foot per mile.
A smaller river will require fall of two
feet per mile. A brook will not keep
an open course under four feet per mile,
while the water in a small covered drain
will require at least a fall of ten feet per
mile to set the water in motion.
TANNING SKINs.-The following method
is recommended for private use in skin
tanning: Take equal parts of salt, alum
and Glauber's salt, and half part salt
peter; pulverIze and mix Handle the
skins and rub the mixture well in three or
four times a day; the oftener the better.
skin to dissolve the salts, put little water
into the latter. We are assured that no
moth will attack furs the pelts of which
have been thus repared.-RWr0J Neo0
YORKER.
TO RENovATE oil cloths, dissolve two
and one half pounds palaffine and one
gallon oil of turpentlne by the aid OF a
gentle heat, and apply with sponge or
piece Of flannel, while warm. Let it re-
main on the oilcloth tWenty-four hours;
then polish with flannel This solution
not only renowates but preserves the cloth.
| have used it on oilcloths which have
been down four years, and they look as
good as new. The same preparation may
also be used on painted floors. When
rubbed with flannel, it will have q beauti-
full gloss, equal to varnish.-C0r. Scientific
american.
STARCH paste is best prepared by first
rubbing the starch perfectly smooth with
sufficient cold water not to form too thick
a mass, and pouring into this boiling wa
ter very slowly, with rapid stirring, until
the paste begins to form, as indicated by
the increased transparency, and then rap
idly adding the rest of the boiling water
necessary for the paste. Boiling the paste
is very injurious, rendering it less adhe-
sive and liable to peel off. Rye flour at
lords more adhesive paste, but of a gray
color A little alum added to the water
with which paste is prepared renders it
more permanent, and the use Of boiling
lime water instead of pure water adds to
its adhesiveness. By incorporating with
the paste a quantity Of turpentine, equal
in weight to half of the starch employed,
and stirring well while the paste is still
hot, it will be rendered more impervious
to moisture, and at the same time more adj
hesive.-BGchGnge.
AS THE corn-cob contains less than one
and one-halt per cent. of albuminoids
and nearly forty per cent. of crude fiber,
ic ala lyr a tn
it with the grain for feeding purposes.
There is just one way to utilize the cob
of Indian corn. 1t is good for fuel, and
the ash is an excellent manure. Though
the total value resulting from these uses
is not very large, it makes avery percepti-
bic addition to the aggregate value of the
yearly crop. The weight of the cob
averages about one-fifth the weight of the
ear, or one-fourth the weight of the grain,
while the ash of the cob is very nearly
equal to three per cent. of its weight.
Hence for every hundred bushels of cobs
that farmers raise, the cobs are equivalent
to / 400 pounds of fuel, plus forty two
pounds of valuable manure. In a larger
view of the case, the annual corn crop OF
the country produces, in addition to the
grain and slower, about : 100000 tons OF
fuel in the cobs, and 100000 tons of fer
tility in the ashes of the cob. If this two
fold value of the cob is not realized by
the farmer, it is not the fault of the cob,
but the fault of the man.-Christiaa
Union.
Mock TURTLE SoUP.-Split calls
head and take out the brains and tongue;
put the head on the fire with five quarts
of cold water and some salt, and let it
boil until the flesh will come off the bones
easily, but not in rags. Take the flesh all
off, and put the bones of the head back
into the water in which it was boiled,
with four or five pounds of shin Of beef,
two carrots, one turnip, leek, some Gel
cry tops, a sprig OF thyme, two Of parsley
and one-half a bay leaf, and let it simmer
very slowly for four or five hours, skim
ming carefully. Then strain and set
away. This stock should be made the
day before the soup is wanted. The next
day chop two onions and fry them in two
large tablespoonfuls of butter, and three
heaping tablespoonful of flour. and stir
until il is bright brown; then add the