Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-08-17
Domestic Notes,

THE USES OF AMMoNIA.-Put a teaspoonful
OF ammonia in quart of warm SOapSudS, dip
looms. and see how rapidly the dirt will dis
appear: no Scrubbing will be necessary. To
pint of hot SoapSudS add a teaSpOOnful of the
spirits, dip in your fork or spoon Ior whatever
you wish to cieanl, rub with soft brush, and
then finish. with chamoiS skin. For wash
ing mirrors and windows 1t has no equal 1t
will remove grease spots from every fabric
ammonia nearly clear; lay on the blotting
paper, and set the hot iron on it for moment.
Also few drops in water will cleanse and
whiten laceS and musinS beautifully. A few
drops in bowl OF water, if the skin be oily,
viii remove all UncleanlineSS and disagree
able orders. Added to hot bath, it nearly
absorbs all noxious smell, and nothing is better
to remove dandrua from the hair. For clean
Ing Eail and hair brushes it is equally good.
For heartburn and dyspepsia the aromatic
SPLITS OF ammonia is especially prepared; ten
drops taken in wine glass of water will give
relief. For house plants, five or six drops to
every pint of water, once week, will make
them flourish. 1t is also good to clean plant
jars. So be sure and keep bottle OF it In the
house, and have glass stopper, as 1t cuts
away cork.
PROMOTION OF MOISTURE BY TREEs.-Th6
evaporation OF water In the forest at all sea
SonS is about IS per cent. less than in the open
fields. The mean temperature of the forest,
nn ever is but little below that Of the :, ,..,,s
The amount and rapidity Of evapors:!ng de-
ponds more upon the motion of the air than
upon the temperature, hence as the air is sub
iect TO less movement in the forest than in the
fields the evaporation is much less. Ibis sT5t
offers practical question to the farmer as TO
bow to guard against the excessive driving of
moisture from the land. Where the winds
!. have Tree course over the fields, vast amount
ing in one or two days after a refreshing rain
very large portion OF the whole amount of
Tafer which had fallen: BY surrounding the
RAIDS with hedges SO as to interSect the cou o
OF The Wind and secure toa certain extent still
air next 10 the ground the rapidity of eyapor-
atlon would thus be greatly absorbed and
nal.
An Efficient WEED EXTERMrNATOR-Wa
nave here found the use of drops of su,phuric
aSld Toll OF vltrl0D an easy, neat and entirely
effective way of destroying scattering weeds
In the grass of small lawn or front yard. Ia
Is farllculariy convenient for extrpating such
ll-hoklhg lnterioperS as plaintain. etc. To
cut THESE out with knife or a spade involves
,Or eacn one several motions and serious
LABOR; and even this is not elfectual unless
every root is completely severed. Even If done
effectively there is left either a hole or a loose
dead weed. But having spoonful of Vitriol
in small open mGGthed bottle, fastened on
the END OF a two foot handle, we have only to
0lp the bruised end Of small rod into il and
IOuch the neart OF weed, or Of three or four
SucceSSiyeiy before dipping again and they
are done fer. We have only to see if there ara
any more left.-I Country Gentleman.
LIE Use OF BIRDs.-The swallow, swift and
nighlha"k and bats, are the guardians of the
atmosphere. They cheek the increase of i'm
sectS that otherwise would overload it, Wood
peckers, crteperS and chickadeeS are the
guardians OF the trunks of trees WarbIerS
and fScatchers protect the foliage Black
pros, crows, thrushes and larks protect the
SUI under the surface. Each tribe has its re-
spectlFe duties 20 perform in the ecouomy of
azure, aud it is an undoubted fact that if
plIds were ali swept of the face of the earth
man Gould moi live upon it; vegetation would
@LIiher and die; insects would become so
numerous that no living being could with
stand their attacks. Farmers and all Others
tlink OF this. and assist in protecting the
bids