Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-01-11
NO. 8.
Miseellaneous.
USEFUL ITEMS.

Cider Tipcgdr.-Cider vinegar is al
most necessity in every family. and is
very easily made. After the cider Is done
fermenting fill into keg. and. taking
strips OF straw paper, dip them into West
India molasses and put them into the keg
of cider. After which Rset in warm
place near the kitchen stove or chimney.
where there is no danger of freezing. and
in few weeks the contents will have
turned 10 pure. sharp vinegar. lf il is
desired for use in Il shorter time, pour in
to the keg pint of the molasses and u
teacup ot Yeast for every gallon Of the ci-
der: fill jug with the mixture and let
stand. uncorked. back of the cookstove.
where il will keep warm In twenty -four
honrs il will commence fermenting. and
not take over two weeks to make splendid
sharp vinegar, when it should be drawn
of into tightly corked bottles. leaving the
dregs behind. The straw paper acts like
mother. to which in iew days It bears
close resemblance.
To dry punlpkins.-Take ripe pumpkins
pare. cut into small pieces. stew soft.
mash and strain through colandcr. as If
for making pies. Spread this pulp on
plates in layers some halt an inch thick:
dry il in stove oven. which should be-
kept bat SO low temperature as not Ia
scorch it. In about a day il will become
dry and crisp. The sheets thus made can
then be slowed away in a dry place. and
are always ready for use, either for pies
or stewing. The quick drying after cook
ing prevents the souring which is almost
always the ease when the uncooked pieces
are dried. while the flavor is much better
preserved and the the after-cooking dis
pensed with. On going 10 use soak por-
tons of the article in a little milk over
night. when ii will return to as delicious
a pulp as If made OF pumpkin when
fresh
Mending Chinaware. very ready and
efficient means of mending broken china.
ware is to take a very thick solution of
gum arabic and stir into il as much plas-
ter OF paris as will bring il to the proper
consistency Apply it with brush to the
edges oi the fractured parts and stick
them together, holding them in place for
a few moments until they adhere. In
few days it will be impossible to break
them in the same place.
TO Get Rid Of nts.-Wrap piece of
gum camphor in cloth or paper to keep II
from dissolving. and place Il in or about
the cupboard or sugar. and it will drive
them away. It is said to prove equally
efficient about beehives.
To Extract fnk from Cotton, SILK or
Wooden Goods s--Saturate the spots with
spirits of turpentine. and let it remain for
several hours: then rub il between the
hands. and the ink will crumble away
without iniuring either the color or text
rTe Of the article.
Keeping CeierY-From time to time We
have printed our mode and the modes of
others. for keeping and blanching celery
through the winter. We have covered Il
carefully in the rows in which it grew.
and found it TO answer very well. when
applied 10 that which is intended to be
first used. We have found il to answer
better to take it up. and set il up in rows
close together, leaving only enough space
to prevent the plants from touching. and
packing the earth firmly around them.
leaving only AN inch or two of the tops
sticking out. then covering either with
boards. placed so that the water cannot
penetrate. or with cornstalks thickly bent
over and fastened. Drains should be dug
around the celery 10 carry off the water
We have kept ii in this way until May and
well blanchcd
1t is well known that stalks of celery
stood in spring water under shed. where
it is not likely to be frozen. will become
perfectly white and tender. But It is only
a few persons who can have the spring
wafer at hand ior that use.
We have known celery to be perfectly
blanched and preserved by packing the
roots in wet earth and keeping them In n
cellar. Large boxes were obtained and q
few inches thick OF earth placed on the
bottom and made as wet rs possible. The
plants were then packed upright. side bv
side. as close as they could stand. until
the boxes were full. The upper leaves
were ofcourse exposed. and attempting tn
grow little by the encouragement given
to the roots by the wet earth. caused
growth enough 10 blanch the whole.
There is an advantage in this over keep
ing IL in the cellar. as many do, where IL
retains its greenness all winter, and Is
scarcely fit to eat. But we prefer the out
door plan, when 1t is we'll done.--Ger-