Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-02-11
FIELD AND FIREsiDE.
Take Care of the implements.

Il is a lamentable fact that largo major.
ity of our farmers loso as much from want
OF proper care of tools as from tho actual
uear~and-tear of them. Repeated wettiug
aud drying Injuries. sooner or later, any kind
of woodwork the moisture getting into the
cracks soon begins the work of decay. This
may be prevented by the timely aud occas ional
application of some cheap paint. Much has
been said and written upon the value of tool
houses aud it is hardly necessary for US to
add our mite TO the general array !; but pros
viding the tool house Is not all TINT should
be done, if the shovels, spades and forks are
brought into the Toulouse with the dirt
sticking TO them, and in that condition arc
allowed to remain through the winter, or un-
til they are again needed. Practical farmers
know how much better bright pillow turns
furrow, how much easier it is on the teal
and driver, and yet they will bring their
Ptows ard harrows in every fall with the ;rt
ticking 10 them, and let them be so until
gain wanted, much to their own loss
There are various mixtures which IN ;gh,
be applied to iron to prevent rusting, the
eli 'npest of which is common (unsalted)
gr. use. a bettor article may be found by
moi Ting together six pounds of fresh (not
saIte d. lard and two Of rosin. An old iron
pot is good thing to keep and compound
q
being used for the season clean it OF and
give it coat of this mixture and even if it
remains undisturbed for years. it will come
out AZ b. SIGHT as when put away. implements
properly cared for will not only last nearly
twice long as when this is no. tn case,
but, We said before, thoy are far better in
ever way GeT"a"toten Telegraph.
WHAT Is CASTLE SoAp?-A su hs.riber
l. In,r 81,
soap. The hard soaps made in shis ountry
are almost exclusively from animal ia ~ III
lie south OF Europe, where the olive grows
nbundar.tly, the poorer kinds of oiveo ii
used for so-p king. CUmmon soal IS
soda aud animal fat. Castle soap Is soda
and vegetable oil. In making CASTLE soap,
great care is taken to avoid en- exc ,ss Of
alkaIi, [tho soda} only just enough being
used to- nertrazc the oil. On this count
tho soap is much mider, and may be used
on wounds and other surfaces where con mon
soap would irritate and give pain. Tho r!ot-
tied appearance OF CASTLE soap is du, to
small quantity OF solution OF coppcras (su!>
phate of iTon) which is stirred into it efore
il hardens this leaves blush oxide of iron
III the soap which, when exposed to thu air,
becomes changed to the redrXidc. W bite
CASTLE soap is also sold, which is the Same
as the other, without tho cOlOrlng. Though
called Castillo it is by no means exclusively
made 10 Spain the largest share coming from
the south Of France, and indeed it is gon,
orally known in Europe Narcotics soap.
american 4gric"h"riSt/ for February l,
WATER>PRooF Bo0Ts.-It is net always
desirable that boots should be absolutely
water proof, as whatever Keeps it out will
keep it in. and whoever has worn lndia>rub
Der boots for any length OF time, knows that
retaining the Precipitation Of the feet soon
puts them in very unpleasant, half par
boiled condition that is not very desirable.
Still, waterproof boots are very useful in an.
emergency. to be worn for short tIme-as
in doing the chores in bad weather. a pair
OF good rubber boots will answer this purpose
or a pair Of common cOwhide boots may be
made waterproof after the method Of tie
New England fishermen. These people, ex>
posed to all weathers, have for a century
used the following compound Taliow,
or; rosin and beeswax, OF each melt
together. then stir in Neatsfoot oil, equal in
bulk to the melted articles. The boots are
warmed before a FIRE and this composition is
rubbed into the leather, soles aud uppcrs, by
means of arag. Two applications will make
the leather quite waterproof.
Ayriculturist for February 1.
BAKED. Beans Soak them over night.
then boil in fresh water until very uoary
done and tender, adding moro hot water oc>
easionally to keep them from getting too dry.
4 small piece of sweet pick led pork is cooked
with the beans. When all is dono, take out
the meat and run the beans and liquor tbro'
sieve, thus Kidding them of skins, which
we do not like. And when we want baked
beans fill a small tin pan with this bean
pulp and juice, place few bits of butter on
the top aud brown and bake it for dinner
Some mi ght prefer slices of the boiled pork
on top; anyhow, the butter is change.
HEN MANURE.-Hen manure is the most
potent and valuable of any made on the farm,
and should be carefully preserved in barrels
or boxes under cover, mixing it with alter
nate layers of dry earth and coal ashes It
Is very effective in the vegetable garden, and
some growers compute its value equal to that
OF Peruvian guano.-American Fu2nlcr
To POLISH FLAT>IRoNs.-Have the
irons quite hot rub q piece of beeswax