The Portland daily press., 1896-12-05
THE HOME,



SAFE II an inexpensive lamp is required,
have metal container by all means,
and sacrifice a little of the decorative
value of the lamp to its superior make.
See that the oontainer is of good size, as
lamp burning low after two or three
hours is not desirable. Many Of the
prettiest lamps have been made with two
small tanks.
The inside OF lamps and oil cans should
be cleansed with soda dissolved In wat
err. Be careful to drain them we'll, and
not to let any gliding or bronco be in
jured by the soda coming In contact with
| it. Use one ia blespoonful of soda to one
quart of water. About once month
the lamp should receive thorough
cleaning, the wick being removed, the
| burner unscrewed, we'll brushed and
placed in a dish of warm water in which
soda and little soap has been dissolved.
Having boiled thirty minutes, they
should be removed, rinsed with clear,
hot water, laid to drain, and afterward
carefully rubbed and polished with a
| flannel This will remove tho almost
imperceptible coating of dust and grease
always 80 ready to form on the brass. II
large china lamps are used where brass
tank holds the oil, the metal reneptable
may be boiled as we'll as the burner.
Chimneys of good crowned or tempered
glass ought to bear the heat we'll and
no. crack under any ordinary exposure ;
| but If put into the ~ servoir of water on
the cook stove where the water is cool in
the morning and left all day, while the
water is not all night, when it will
slowly cool, the glass will be toughened.
This rule applies equally well to all glass
utensils in common use. See that the
chimney tits closely at the base, thus
avoiding side draught, which makes
| the blaze unsteady. AS to the wick, II
boiled in water in which trife of soda
has been dissolved, it will burn with a
clearer and steadier light than If put into
the lamp without previous PREPARATION.
1t should fit exactly and be just long
enough to allow OF the end reaching the
bototm of the oil container when the
wick is first put in. 1t is mistake to
think that a wick must be fourteen or
fifteen inches long, sometimes even
more, as it leaves a coil of wick soaking
| in the oil, which becomes saturated and
cloggsd, then hardens and never burns
clearly and freely. A wick about ten
inches long is best, and should be re-
newed frequently, never being allowed
to burn shorter than an inch and half.
OF course the wick must be perfectly dry
when put in, and in starting a new
lamp, or an old o. . that has heen cleaned,
the utmost care should be taken that ev-
cry atom of moisture has been dried out
before the oil is put in, being sure to
give the wick time to fill with oil before
lighting it. Also remember when light
| ing it not to turn thu wick up too
high at first, for the fame grows as 1t
heats, and if it begins to smoke it is
not easy to get it right without retrim-
| ming it. Another important axiom is
that the lamp should never be left with
the wick turned down blow the wick
cone. 1t may result in an accident. 1t
the lamp 10 to be unused for some time
the oil should be carefully emptied out
and tbs wick removed. Oil left standing
will exude and cling to the container. and
when the lamp is lighted, it givas out
most obnoxious, but only too we'll
known odor. While the wick may be
cut, a good way is to simply turn the
end off. The blaze will make it's own
way artistically, and the after light will
have no ragged edges. Every morning
the burned edges should be ru bhs1 off
with flannel cloth.
It Is always better to fill aud trim a
lamp by daylight-never while it IL
lighted or near another lighted lamp or
gas jet, bearing in mind the import
fame. A lighted lamp should not be
allowed to remain in draueht, as it is
liable to smoke GUod Housekeeping.
Plants for the Window.
ia one of the most beautiful climbers
we have. Though novelty it possesses
real merit. 1t is rapid climber, cover
ing trellis several feet in height, and
having always bright and snowy flowers,
it Is desira BILE plant for winter.
Oampsidum felicifoldim, or climbing
fern, is lovely little vine from Chilli,
"A rapid grower and of the easiest Gull
ture.
1t produces no blossoms, but the beau
ty of the foliage makes 1t q favorite.
Nothing is prettier for window which
gets little or no sun than hoya, or wax
plant, as it is generally called. 1t re-
quires light, Itch soil and coed drainage.
The leaves are thick and leathery, and
the pink, waxy blossoms are borne in
umbels Never cut the UNI bells az the
flowers are produced from the same stems
many times. Hoya imperialis has dark
green leaves, shaded with yellow, while
the blossoms are scarlet. Hoya variegata
has varieeated foliage, and the leaves
are edged with white.
| You will want one or moro ivies, and
they delight in a cool, shady situation.
German, or parlor ivy, is rapid grower