The Florida agriculturist., 1885-02-04
LADIES DEPARTMENT.
Household Notes.
ITEMS TO BE REMEMBERED

Water used for drinking or culinary
purposes should not be left uncovered.
IN the kitchen or living room, as it alb
serbs the impurities of the air, and be-
comes unhealthful.
For cover to a common wooden nail
cut round board, the size of the pail.
with peg in the center for handle. or a
curved one cut out of wood that will not
split easily, and screwed to the round
board. Or tin one can easily be pro-
cured at tin shop. An eight gallon can
with handles on each side and a cover to
tit, is very convenient thing for water
when large quantity is used.
Do not put coal or wood ashes in boxes
or barrels, or in anything combustible,
IN or near dwellings or out-buildings,
even II you think they contain no fire.
Many OF our most terrible fires have been
caused by the unseen spark that has lain
hidden therein.
If oil-cloths are washed in tepid water
containing little sweet skim-milk, they
will retain their lustre, and look as fresh
as new for long time. Washing them
in hot soap suds will ruin them very
speedily.
Grease spots on the carpet or floor, or
on any washable goods, can be more
easily removed by rubbing with a cloth
dipped in cool soapy water, than when
the water is hot. The heat causes the
grease to spread, but when the water is
cool it unites with the soap, and the spot
generally departs. When kerosene is
spilled it will usually evaporate, if the
article is kept dry and exposed to the
air where dust cannot settle on it.
Flour used for stifening bread sponge
should always be warmed in some way
in cold weather; otherwise when the
dough is kneaded it will become verv
cold, cause delay in the bread making,
and injure its quality.
When kerosene lights are put out, the
wicks should be lowered below the top
of the tube in the burner, or the oil will
gradually rise by capillary attraction,
and pass out over the burner and on the
lamp, making it oily and unpleasant to
handle. 1t also wastes the oil and makes
a disagreeable odor in the room. Care
should be taken, when lamps are trim
med to cut the wick very evenly and
round the corners slightly. When lamp
chimneys are washed, if much smoked
or oily, warm soft water, with little am
monia and soap should be used, or
saleratus if the water is hard. They
should be rinsed in clear water OF the
same temperature, and wiped perfectly
dry with a soft cloth that is free from
lint. If rubbed afterward with soft paper
they will be cleaner. If a single drop of
water is left upon the chimney you may
be sure it is doomed to be broken when
the lamp is lighted. When lamps are
cleaned every day, by simply breathing
in the chimney or holding them over
steam, then rubbing with cloth and pa
per, they will look as well when washed
and are much less likely to break easily.
When one does not wish to be at the
expense of getting hanging lamps in the
kitchen or dining-room, a side-wall lamp
with.a reflector is much better than the
standing lamps in general use, especially
where there are children, as there is no
danger of their being over turned and
taking fire, and water cannot be splashed
on them while dishes are being washed.
Many chimneys can thus be saved. AS
they may be turned in different directions
: the light can be thrown where most
needed, and they are consequently more
convenient. So many sad accidents oc-
cur by the careless use of kerosene that
every precaution should be taken to
avoid them.-Nrs. Emma 4. King, IN
Prairie Farmer.