The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-11-12
USEFUL HOUSEKEEPING HINTS.

Ordinarily starch for flour paste, such as
psperhangers use, is prepared by triturat-
ing the starch or -four with cold water until
no Jumps remain, and not too thiQk mass
is formed, and pouring into this boiling
water, very slowly, with rapid stirring,
until the psste begins to form, as indicated
by the increase Of transparency and then
apidly adding the rest of the water (abso.
lutely boiling necessary for the paste. Do
not make too thin.
Boiling the paste is very injurious, rem
deripQ - less adhesive and making il liable
to peel off
Rye -four gives a more adhesive paste
than starch or wheat flour, but it is darker
in color and not so easily spread.
The addition of little alum to the water
with which the paste is prepared renders it
more permanent, and the use OF boiling
limewater instead of pure soft water adds
to it's adhesiveness. An aqueous extract of
decomposed gluten, however, affords the
best paste with starch.
By Incorporating with the paste guam
tity of turpentine, equal in weight to half
of the starch employed, and stirring well
while the paste is still hot it will he rem
dered more impervous to moisture, and at
the same time more adhesive
Professor Winchell's formula for paste
adapted for most surfaces calls for two
ounces clear gum arabic, one-halt ounce
fine starch, one one-half ounce white sugar.
The gum is pulverized and dissolved in The
same quantity OF water as is commonly
employed in laundry preparations for the
same quantity Of starch. Both starch and
sugar are then dissolved in the gum solu-
ton, and the mass is suspended in vessel
of boiling water until the starch becomes
clear. The paste should be quite thick and
remain SO.
Rice paste, much used in China and
Japan, is prepared by mixing the best pow
} dered rice or lice -four, with little cold
water, and then gradually adding boiling
water until the proper consstence is oh
: tanned, being careful to stir the paste con-
stantly. Then boil it minute in clean
vessel This is a beautiful white, transpar-
ent paste, adapted to many PURPOSES
Soak flake tIagacanth in sufficient cold
water, so that the brush will not sink into
the paste when finished. A good paste.
, Soak glue in strong vinegar, then heat TO
boiling, and add flour until paste is
formed Or add starch paste, instead of
: also little Venice tnrpentine. Or a dilute
t solution of isinglass or gelatne may lie
. added instead of flour OF starch paste
Rye -four mixed in boiling solution of
D good glue, adding little Venice turpen-
: tine, makes strong, tenacious paste.
To stick labels to tin, dilute solution
of white gelatine, or, better still, isnglas4,
is useful. The strength should be no,
more than one part of isinglass or gelatine
to twenty parts of water. Apply with a
soft brush or sponge. The label does no,
adhere at once, and hence may be slid
about long enough to admit of proper ad
justment.
Another good paste, warranted t, stick
tight to almost everything, can be made az
follows: Take three parts lead acetate
, (sugar Of lead), three parts alum, five
parts gum arabic and 1G parts wheat flour
water When cold stir in the wheat fl ,ur
and add the sugar of lead and alum, both
: previously dissolved in warm water. Cook
\ the mass until it shows signs of boiling
Then set away to cool.
To stick paper to wood, take gum arabic
: one-half ounce; powdered gum tragacanth
one half ounce; water, one and one-hali
3 ounces acetic acid, 90 drops. II the paper
3 is good this paste will not stain it, Give
, the paper when dry coat or two Of gum
arabic.
paste that will keep several months il
7 made by dissovlng teaspoonful of alum
in a quart of warm water. When cold stiI
in flour to give the consistence of cream
beating out all the Jumps Then stir as in
7 much powdered rosin az will lie on dime
Pour boiling water over the mass and still
until it is thick astreacle which will occur
in few minutes. Cool in an earthan yes
sci by covering and putting in a cool, dry
place. When needed take out portion
thin with warm water.
Paste suitable for scrap books is made by
, taking equal quantities of glue and alum
r and dissolvng them in water. Add flour,
l and beat until the mass is mixed together
e and quite smooth, then add boiling water