Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-12-01
Worth Knowing.

To drive out lice from the hen-house keep
tobacco leaves crumbled up in the nest among
the litter where the hens lay and sit Also
wash the roost poles with a solution made by
boiling the leaf stems Of tobacco in soft or
rain water If this is done there will be no
.--..ti- --.:.t A. r~-..i- - 'L;- -ooraot
Horsc-radish grated into a cup of cold sour
milk-et it stand twelve hours, then strain
and apply two or three times day, will re-
move freckles from hands or face in a short
time. One ounce of lemon-juice mixed with
a quarter Of drachm of pulverized borax
and half drachm of sugar will also remove
freckles. Keep this lotion in a glass bottle
corked tightly few days before using and
apply occasionally, and it will soon remove
them.
Lovely fern pictcres may be made by COW
erng piece Of board Of the requisite size
tsay ten by lS inchcs) with black velvet
cen, stretched smooth, and tackled on the back
with very small tacks Then arrange your
fern in a group. mixing white, yellow and
green ones in graceful contrast, and leaving
margin all around of at least two inches -
The ferns can be gummed to the velveteen,
with a drop Of gum here and there, sufficient
to hold them in place. 4 couple Of little
screw eyes on the back will enable you to
hang your pictures. and they will surprise you
by their effect.
A gentleman has discovered a method Of
keeping caterpillars off trees, that may prove
of great value. The thought occurred that he
could prevent them from ascending his trees,
and he formed ring round the trees few
feet from the ground with liberal quantity
of axle grease The crawlers ascend till they
reach that ring, and dare not cross it. The
same result may possibly be attained with
the use Of other viscous substance, but how
ever that may be, this experiment has resulted
in perfect success, aud is worth a thorough
trial. If this success be permanent, the idea
is very important one
The following is an exact rule for measuring
corn in the crib: Find the number Of cubic
feet in the crib and divide by 25O75. Sup
pose the crib is 80 feet long, 10 feet wide, and
feet high 80 multiplied by 10 is equal TO
800, and tha. multiplied by is equal to
2,4OO; 2,4OO divided by 2.5075 is equal to
957 l1-lOO bushels. This is founded on the
English Winchester Busbel rule, and is mathe
matcally correct. An English Winchester
busbel is a cylinder 1s4 inches in diameter
and inches ip depth, which makes 2l5O 1852
cubic inches"
The season for sore throsts has arrived, aud
it is safe to be on the alst. Some of the
remedies used, though they may afford relief
at the time, are calculated to aggravate the
Inflammation. The free nse Of salt, vinegar,
honey, and the like, may even produce this
Inflammation, and yet they are sometimes used
for palIiation. Indeed, the excessive use Of
sal, has much to do with csnker-irritation.- -
The arst and most important thing to be done
is 10 learn the cause. aud avoid it in the future.
But for the present gargie the throat with alum
and water, and borax and water, frequently,
and bind up the outside with wet cloths -four
thicknesses) sprinkle on the wet surface
thin coat Of mustard or cayenne pepper, or
both in alienation. OF course, such wet
cloths must be covered with as many thick
pesses Of thick and dry fannels, so as to keep
the neck comfortably warm, while a single
flannel may be worn during the day, after the
wet cloth Is removed