The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-02-24
HELPS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Washing of Flannels
Reduced to a Minimum
Of Labor and Time.
CULTIVATION OF HOUSE PLANTS
How and When to Water Them
Recipes and Hints.

There certainly is a great trick in wash
ing fannels. know of a mistress who
kept a girl who in many ways was in-
competent just because shs washed
f~iannels and linen beautifully. Until very
recently l belonged TO the army OF those
who voted tue process Of washing hannels
one OF the most discouraging in the line
of homework. l AVE gone to a leading
store with The firm resolve never again TO
get all woollen underwear. l have been
handed garments, been told that there
was Just a mixture of wool In shenl, and
have seen at MY side another woman
handed the fac smile of the garment in
my hand, and have heard her being told
that it was all WOOL. / nav quieted my
suspicious and ave enjoyed the garments
for a snort time, aud AVE had the mis-
fortune of seeing and feeling them
steadily diminish in size and harden in
texture. | have had to look up little
nieces, who | suppose in turn clothed
their little dolls.
Not long ago a friend to whom l told
my experience, related hers in turn. and
l have since had occasion to thank her.
Her elder sister had left her to wash some
union garments, flannel, and as they were
quite expensive she advised her not to
rub soap or them, not to rub them and
TO use neither cold nor hot water. 1t
should be tepid. Sue followed directions
and labored one hour q n half, vowing
that she would never do it again, unless
she could invent a process which would
take less time and patience. Cold water
she felt she wouldn't dare risk; it would
harden, but she prepared a thick suds OF
CASTLE soap with boraX, and mixed it
with hot water n put the victim ill.,. 1t
cleansed beautifully in a few minutes,
and now she asserts tnat younger sisters
are some good after all. The drying pro-
cess should, she says. be accomplished as
specify as possible. and the hannels
should not be rubbed, but gently tossed
up and down and washed between the
hands. Ivory soap is said to answer as
well as CASTLE, and many add q few
drops OF ammonia.
CULTIVATION OF FLOWERS.
1t is sad that all good, tru women love
flowers. Like a great many rules aud
sayings this has probably many excep-
lions, but l think the love of them brings
great pleasure to their posseSsors and
cultiyators. When one enteSs y house
n sees well cared for, healthy plants.
the conclusion is rapidly reached that the
owner of them is possessed OF patience, of
love of the beautiful n bright side of
life. That he or she has an interest in life
and looks on the hopeful side of it.
The cultivation of plants is a study in
itself, and many a woman. forced
to spend much OF her time Indoors. has
round it Il recreation and pleasure. While
we are paying so much attention to dust
ing and airing our rooms on account of
the possible disease germs, we must not
forget hat plants also suffer both in
health and appearance from the evil of
dust.
Many of our most decorative plants are
yearly stunted in growth from lack Of
care in n vital respect, namely. that of
cleaning the foliage. Plants which rarely
bear flowers make up for the lack of them
by beauty Of foliage, and it certainly is
reasonable to suppose that this foliage to
increase i'll beauty must nave attention
and care. Crotons, pandanas. kentias,
aspidistras and all palms require that the
foliage be kept clean by frequent spong-
ing; this use of water will many times
prevent the apparent dying off Of the tips
of the leaves and the yellow appearance
so often seen on foliage plants. Even
the hardy century plants which will
stand almost any sort OF abuse will be
increased In beauty if the foliage is kept
clean.
USE OF WATER.
Another point is the use of water, es-
pecially on bright days when the atmos-
phere of the room is quite dry and close;
at such periods those large plants will
consume considerable water IL given
them. On dark days or, in damp, rainy
weather water should be given sparingly;
this rule holds good with all plants
grown in the house. These moist days
are often beneficial TO plants, giving them
the moisture in the atmosphere they need
and which they absorb through the foil
age: indeed, this moisture Will be all That
plants require during damp weather II
they have previously had proper treat
Ineht.
An occasional application of new soil
at the surface of the pots, mixed with
plant food of some kind, will enable the
decorative plants TO make a better show
ing.