The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-12-18

Worth Trying.-It is said that the application
of bit of ice, or even cold water, to the lobe of
the ear will stop hiccoughing.
Gloss on Linen.-To produce a good gloss on
linen, pour pint of boiling water upon two
ounces of gum arabic; cover it, and let it stand
over night. A teaspoonful Of this is added to the
starch.
Diphtheria and Manure Heaps.-M. Ferraud,
Lyon Medical, traces the relation between manure
heaps and rural epidemics of hiphtheria. On one
occasion the disease appeared the day following
general street cleaning. He argues that manure
should be kept in closed wells of stone, glazed
with bitumen, SO constructed that the fluids liter
away from the solid matter.
Spring Us. autumn Planting.-A correspondent
says: From long and extensive experience in
planting in different situations and soils, am in
favor of autumn planting of forest trees, and also
evergreen shrubs, unless in cold, bleak situations,
when the latter are best deferred until spring or
early summer. There may be situations where
the soil is too wet to admit of early planting, but
such is unfit for planting at any season till drain
ed. There is an old saying, which in practice
find to be correct, viz, "Plant tree in autumn
and command it to grow but in spring you must
coax it." Some are of opinion that severe frost
will injure early planted trees. This have
proved to be fallacy. In order to test it, left
young trees with their roots uncovered during
severe frost, and planted them when thawed, and
found that they sustained no injury. There is
more risk from drought in spring planting than
from frost in autumn or winter planting.
Care of Ldmps.-Look closely to the burners,
and see if the wick tube is not black with accumu-
lated wick smut and oil. To remedy such often
ders, take out the burner, remove the wick, and
thoroughly wash in boiling water and soap then,
with little sapolio on cloth, rub the wick-tube
till it is perfectly freed from all traces of black,
Put back the burner, and then insert the wick
from the top. By so doing you avoid twisting
the wick, and it will not annoy you by refusing
to come up when required. Never leave the wick
above the top of the wick-tube A drop of kere-
sene oil will run mile if it only has something
to climb by, and no matter how perfectly your
lamp may have been cleaned outside, by leaving
the wick turned up ready for lighting, enough oil
will have climbed up to smear not only the out
side of the lamp, but, if the room has been warm,
will probably have left its mark ON mat or stand.
Withdrawing Fruit Trees.-Josah Hopes, in
the New York Tribune, says one of the most cred
liable practices of old time orchardiSts, now am
sorry to say almost absolete, was that of white
washing the trunks and larger limbs of fruit
trees. 1t may prove unsightly from an aesthetic
point of view, but the result is death to all man
ner of insects and their eggs hidden away under
the rough, scaly bark, besides leaving in time q
vs.
the greater part of the lime away to act as fer
tilizer to the roots. Another old time idea had
its good uses. Scraping the barks of rough dis
eased trees and then scrubbing the surface with
soap suds made from good home made soft soap,
with little -four of sulphur. Above ALL let every
owning single tree or many, use around the
surface of the soil good top dressing of some
rich fertilizer. Bear in mind our trees exhaust
the plant food from the earth, and it needs to be
replaced Just as much as do vegetables of the
garden require annually liberal supply of fresh
nutriment.
Remedy an Gases of Diphtheria.-Th Annap-
oils Repubtcmn says: "Quick lime is an eficacious
remedy, and one that acts very promptly in cases
of diphtheria. Keep air tight jar filled with
mon half gallon fruit jar will answer the purpose
well. Keep also an empty jar and q common
funnel within reach in case of emergency. When
q choking spell comes on, or the patient expert
difficulty in getting rid of the obstruction in
the throat, put say teacupful of the lime in the
empty jar, pour hot water upon it, say half pint,
Tor cold water will answer) clap the wide part of
the funnel over the mouth of the jar and let the
patient inhale the steam and hot air through the
small end of the funnel. If too hot, tube made
of pasteboard or other material can be fitted over
the small end of the funnel. The heated vapor
will give relief to the sensation of choking. This
simple and cheap remedy ought to be in every
sick chamber. It requiaes very little time to pre-
pare. Be sure and use quick lime. This remedy
was used with very favorable results in the family
of Hon. John M. Robinson, judge of the Court of
Appeals. We reccommend its faithful trial not as
o cure, but as an auxiliary that will bring great
relief and probably in extreme cases prevent
strangulation."