Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-22
HOUSE AND GROUNDS.

/
GRAINED WOOD should be washed with cold
| tea.
| It Will not be clammy.
CAMPHOR placed In drawers or trunks will pre-
vent mice from doing them any injury.
CEILINGS that have been smoked by kerosene
lamp should be washed off with soda water.
SOFT SOAP should be kept In a dry place in
the cellar, and not used until three months
CAYENNE PEPPER blown into the cracks where
ants congregate will drive them away The same
remedy Is good also for MICE
FURNITURE needs cleaning as much as other
WOODWORK IL may be washed with warm soap
an oily cloth.
GARLIC IN LAwNs.-Apply salt at the rate of
t w bushels per acre. Two applications,
duce a luXur1ant growth of grass.
NICE SOFT SOAP for washing dishes can be
securtd by placing In an old dish land occa-
slonaIly add1ng water all the scraps, and bits
washing.
To STlFFEN GRAPE VEIL always keep 1t folded
and pressed under heavy book, and when it
LOOKS gray take alcohol enough to wet it thor
ougnly, then shake it dry, fold it nicely and
press.
A LUMP OF BREAD about the size of a billiard
ball. tied up in linen bag and placed In the pot
In which greens are boiling win absorb the
ant odor to the regions above.
ALL SORTS OF vessels and utensils may be pu-
rlhed from long-retained smells OF every kind
In inc easiest and most perfect manner by rims
ing them out well with charcoal powder after
the grOSSer Impurities have been secured off
with sand and water.
To CLEANSE JEwELRY.-Use hot water and a
clean brush; rub very little soap On the
Sc0ur well; rinse in hot water, and rub dry
with clean towel or chamDis is better silver
bangles are frightened quickly in the same
way.
To WASH STRAW HATS Use lemon Juice and
salt and lay in the hot sun TO bleach. Straw as
We'll as wooden and other goods can be bleached
In tight box or barrel, with the fumes OF burn
Ing sulphur. suspend the goods and place
pan OF live GOALS with the sulphur over them,
ON the floor beneath; close the box tight.
To PREPARE AN INv1GoRATING BATH.-A tea
spoonful or more Of powdered borax thrown
into the bath tub while bathing will commune
cate yelvety SOftneSS to the water and at the
same time tnyigorate and rest the bather per-
sons troubled with nervousness or Wakeful
benefit.
CARPETS should be thoroughly beaten On the
wrong side first and then On the right, after
which spots may be removed by the use OF OK
gall or ammonia and water II paper has been
laid under the carpet, all dust may be easily
removed with 1t without raising any. The
warmth OF floors Is greatly Increased By having
carpet lining or layers OF paper under 1t.
DIX d. N FARRER, OF New YORK, In paper
contributed to the transactions OF the American
Dental Association, gives some interesting state
mentS as to the direct benefits OF having sun
light In living rooms. He found that when the
his health sensibly improved; While, when ope-
rating In room with a northern exposure his
health Froportionately declined.
To CLEANSE Partnerships a gallon of
water with pound OF quick lime let 1t stand
for tWenty-four hours, then pour Off the clear
water and pour 1t over the feathers In tub.
There should be enough water to cover them
three or four inches deep. Let them soak for
lhree or four days then drain well and rinse
them In fresh water When dry put the feathers
into bags and beat them until light and lively.
THE attachment of ivy to walls is an advan-
tage. = the walls are damp before the ivy is
planted the damp will disappear as 1t over
spreads their surfaces If they are dry Ivy Will
keep them so, and suck out the moisture In
the event OF driving rains the hard LEAKAGE will
prevent The access OF rain to the walls Ivy is
hot only remover but preventer Of damp
ness, except where 1t prevents the sun from
shining into your house by hanging In front of
windows. This should not be allowed-Saui-
tdI'D Engineer.
The Use OF BENZrNE Is recommended for the
removal OF moths and ants from furniture and
WOOllen garments. A small wateringpot with
line nozzle sprinkler, is filled with the banzine
which can be bought for forty-fiye cen gal
lon, and the upholstery, carpets Or garments to
be clea1sed are thoroughly sprinkled with the
liquid. FurS, tannels, etc, may be subjected to
the same process. In few hours the benZine
Will dry out, and In day or two the odor will
have entirely disappeared, and much sooner If
Inc articles are placed in the open air. Consider
atle caution Is necessary In the use OF benzine,
as 1t Is highly inflammable Have no fire burn.
Ing light or matches in the room.
ALL WHO HAVE TRIED oiled floors cordially
recon- mend them for kitchens, or other rooms
where carpets are not used These are pre-
tered to painted floors, because the color does
lot wear away and leave bare places. Some
use burnt lumber with the Oil, and SO give
darker color TO the wood. Others use oil alone.
Boiled linsesd oil is used and 1t IS applied hot,
CT even With cloth. Rub it In well
and henceforth have no fear OF grease
spots OH the floor. Farewell to all scruobing
hereafter. The oiled floor needs only washing
(cr mopptnGl with clear warm water or course
soap would only tend to undo the work you
have done In oiling. The. hot oil should be re-
applied occasionally. 1t comes In well as a part
OF each years house cleaning.
FRUIT TREES ON LAwNs-A CORRESPONDENT In
the Gardeners Chronicle propounds the ques.
ton why fruit trees are not more generally
planted On lawns and In gardens, instead OF
purely ornamental trees. The Idea seems to
prevail that fruit trees must be confined to the
orchard or kitchen garden yet what can be
more beautiful than the pale pink and white OF
the apple blossom, the pure white OF the cherry
and pear, and the deep rose OF the peach :?
Cherry trees literally white with blossoms are
or no rare sight, and what Is more charming
than the graceful branches clad in spotleSs
tiers upon them Is no less pleasing to the eye
than gratifying TO the taste. There are many
varieties or trees which are planted
III yards and lawns which have no more slightly
appearance than an apple tree, without It's
wealth OF fragrant bloom, Or its showers OF lus-
ciOuS fruit. On the continent, fruit trees are
planted along the sides OF highways and lanes.
aid the fallen produce is looked upon as COM
mon property, provided the traveller does not
trespass for Ii. Even in SUBURBS OF cities and
large towns, where but few feet OF land are
allotted TO each home, and where one would
suppose that each inch OF room would be made
available, the front yards are planted with ever
green trees or purely ornamental shrubs to the
utter exclusion OF apple, pear or plum trees
any OF Which would be Tar preferable In every
respect
TINE TO PRUNE MAPLE TREEs.-A correspon-
dent OF the Country Gp',tlentdn differs from the
common opinion that the time TO trim maple
trees Is 'in the spring, before the buds start
and says: lt is my belief that all free sap How
ing trees, fruit trees and grapevineS should not
be trimmed in the Sprinp, While the sap is pass.
ing freely from the roots to the branches as all
wounds made at that time will bleed and that
pro1usely, II the tree is trimmed to any extent
The health and vigor Of the tree will suffer In
proportion to the quantity OF sap wasted. The
bark around and below the cut will become
black and diScolored, and decay will begin In the
stock before the wound heals over. l believe the
proper time to trim trees is I'm June
after the spring flow OF sap has ceased
and is being converted into wood Then the
wounds Will not bleed and the haalinp.ovar