The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-05-13
THE HOME.
WASHING BLANKETS.

II they are washed with powdered
borax in the water to soften 1t, IL will
not only make them retain their soft.
fleecy wilderness. but will kill any baotsria
and dislnfect and purify them. All
wooden garments need borax In the water
in which they are washed to keep them
from getting hard or rough. Wash blank
cts in luke-warm water and little soan
well lathered in the water; then dissolve
good deal Of borax to soften 1t. Wiring
the blanksts dry through a wripoer.
Shake them out and WASH again in the
same way; rinse and hang out, pulling
into shape before doing so, and YOUR
blankets will look like now.
GARDENING NOTES.
4 Growing plants must be shaded through
the hotsest part of the day and should be
showered frequently to keep thelfoliage
clean and bright. for the plants breathe
through their leaves and cannot keep In
good health when they are covered with
dust.
For back porch, or any place where
vines are needed, wild cucumbers grow
quickly and are exceedingly pretty. Morn
irg glories trained up porch or wall, with
weet peas or nasturtiums growing in
front of them, are beautiful. The gourd
family, with the differently colored leaves
and fruit, make fast climbers and are
most. interesting
Where one has space which should be
fllcd with q tall, large, growing liant,
nothing Is better for the purpose than a
castor bean.
A handsome DO yer for a back yard, and
one that will delight the children, is
made BY long poles or sticks set Into the
ground, wigwam fashion, with the ends
coming together and tied near the top
Leave an opening on the shady side. Dig
up the soil on the outside to the depth Of
a foot, and the same In width; then
morning glory seed planted thickIy
around 1t and trained carefully converts
the wigwam into a lovely and unique
spot.
For flower seeds, to SOW out of doors in
May when the ground gets warm, there is
nothing better than the old FASHIONED an
nuals, such as asters, phlox, balsams,
bachelor buttons and dianthus, garden
pinks. These are all good flowers for
busy people, for they are sure to come UP
and bloom early and late, and once we'll
started require but little care. 10 save the
trouble Of tranpslanting, seed can be sown
thickly, then thin out and throw or give
away what Is not needed.
The flower beds can be made circular,
oblong, diamond, star or heart shaped.
When limited as to space circular bsd of
pansies Is eautiful ard easily cared for,
and is better the second year than the
first.
An important point in setting out
plants is to firm the soil well about the
plant after setting it in the ground. This
can be best done with the feet, stamping
the soil gently Immediately about the
base and against the stalk of the plant.
This serves to keen the plant in rosi-
ton, SO that it will not be whipped about
by the wind. and prevents the air from
, citing at the roots. As the plaI Is are
knocked out of the pots dip the ball OF
soil surrounding the roots in water, aud
pour little into the hole into which The
plant is to be set. Fill the soil in about
the plant, and compress it as suggested
above, and If no water Is applied for a
week: the plant will not suffer. BY the
former method only the surface of the soil
is wet, and the roots of the plant remain