River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-12-04
THE HOUSEHOLD.

CLEANING SILVER SPooSs.-The disa-
greeable discoioration of egg can be
readily taken from silver spoons by
washing them in potato-water water IN
which potatoes have been boiled. 1t is
much better than salt, as it does not
scratch the metal. The taste of fish
may be removed very effectively from
steel knives and forks by rubbing them
with flesh orange or lemon peel.
On STAINS OUT OF WHITE Cloth
Make strong solution of borax water
one tablespoonful powdered borax to
pint of boiling water; place the cloth
ON clean board or table, and rub the
oil stains we'll, using clean brush dip
| ped into the solution; if the spots are OF
long standing very little soap may be
used with the borax water, using the
brush for that purpose, then rub dry
with a clean, soft cloth.
CARE OF PLANTS IN WINTER. Slips
should be cut smoothly from the plant
Just below Joint, or where they join
the main stem. Any time during the
growing season will do, though July,
August and September are the best
months. Most slips stand well in sand,
or mixture of half-and-half soil, kept
wet. If wanted cor the house in winter,
it is better to stand the slips in small
pots sunk in the ground, as they can be
left in the pots or transferred to larger
ones without disturbing the roots.
Oleanders, honeysuckles, southernwood
End some other plants are best started
by putting them in vial of water on a
partly-shaded window sill, putting a
piece of cotton around the stem at the
neck of the vial, both to steady and
protect the plant, and prevent too rapid
evaporation. Plants for the house in
winter will not do we'll in smaller than
four or five inch pots. Place saucer
under each. Water every day toward
night, putting on water till some runs
through into the saucer. The water
should always be tepid, and once a week
a few drops of ammonia or liquid ma
nure should be added to each quart of
water. Do not water if the soil is still
moist; some plants do not need so much
water as others. A little top-watering
only does more hurt than good; the
water should 60 to all the roots. After
January they will need more water, as
they then begin to grow; before that
most plants simply live. Cactuses and
aloes should have no water in the early
winter; they must rest if you wish them
TO bloom well later. Keep callas stand
ing in water. Keep the pots and leaves
clean by frequent washing. Plants will
not thrive if dusty. Some plants do
better in glazed pots or wooden boxes,
the common pots being so porous as to
extract all the moisture from the roots.
If you simply wish to keep slips for
next years garden, fill a starch box with
sandy soil, set a number of slips in it,
keep wet and in sunny window.
How TO MAKE Doors WATERPROOF
good composition for rendering boots
proof against snow and wet can be mac
of one part mutton tallow and two parts
beeswax melted together. II should be
applied to the leather at night, and then
wipe of the boots with bit of colored
flannel the next morning. Of course it
will be more difficult 10 make boots
thus treated good polish, but after
a brilliant polish as ever. Half an ounce
of Burgundy pitch, dissolved in half a
pint of drying oil, and mixed with half
an ounce of turpentine, will not only
make leather resist wet and damp, but
will also render it more durable, pliable
and softer. Warm the boots little
over the stove, and apply the mixture
with soft brush or swab. Let them
dry thoroughly, then paint them over
again. Put the m in a warm dry place
for twenty-four hours, and you will
have a pair of perfectly waterproof
boots. Still another waterproof COM
position can be made by dissolving an
ounce Of powdered resin in quarter of
a pint of linseed oil, over the stove; put
in tin basin, and place that in pan
of boiling water. When it is boiling
hot slice into it two ounces of mutton
tallow and apply while hot to the boots
letting it dry thoroughly.-Countfy Gen
Ue19qn