The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-04-11

Thsve been asked to give directions
ar dong up mems shirts, etc , so that
.bsv will have the Stiffness and finish
,ivsn by the professional laundress
This IS a very d .hcult matter, and 1
3orbt il any one with common utensils
,sn give that absolute gloss and stiff
uess that is attained at the regular
laundry, where everything is specially
odspted to this purpose. I know a
vonsu who irons all her husbands
,,irts. collars and cuffs, and who has
.voalIent Luck" with them. She has
dome 90 many that she does not dread
;.,ning & shirt much more than she
rnId a beet. There is no secret in
hop method In the first place the
co.hes are washed perfectly clean, and
ksDt white and spotless There is a
great difference in muslin about keep
mo while, and the lighter grades keep
vbiter than the heavy, close ones.
When the washing is done the starch
i made in the most ordinary way, a
good brand of starch being used. One
great trouble 10 starching shirts, col
Isrs and cuffs is this: The articles to
Ia stsrched contain so many thick
nssses of cloth, that unless one takes
special care the starch ia not made to
penetrate to all parts alike, giving the
garment a superficial starching, which
cannot result in a smooth, even stiff
ness The ssarch should be stiff, aud
in order to make it penetrate every
fibre of muslin and linen, it should be
spread on evenly, say on a shirt bosom,
put % the back OF under side Of bosom
list then rubbed between the hands
thoroughly cover the front OF bosom
10 the same way, and again rub and
ruO until you are certain that the
starch has penetrated every part.
Ifr quently dip an article into the
starch r-peatedly, wringing out ano
redipplng until l feel quite sure the re
lIired suffaess will result The redip
ping Certainly does give an added stiff
ness Tnere should be no starcn left
upon the surface of the shirt bosom or
5:ner article; this is a point where
:1me fan They will use a stiff ssarcn,
and instead of wipIng iT eff after
SEARCHING, will leave what may adhere
% the surface, and il the starch is very
stiff, this will dry aud leave a sur ace
'naE can hardly be done up without
boxing "smeary" and untIdy.
Garments that require a special stiff
ness will De stsff9r if they are dried
ott0re sCarching. A bosom board l.
almOsE an ESSENTIAL in doing no fine
shirts know a woman who does up
great many fue shirts, who always
uses q folded sheet under the shirt
Nslms. but this is not as satisfactory
ass bosom board, which is softer and
cters less resistance. A bosom board
~aelghJeen inches long by eight wide,
Il is tapered towards one end similar
oa shirt bosom TINS board Is GOV
cred With two thicknesses OF flannel,
and this IN turn by two thicknesses oil
muslin This makes q smooth, hard
surface, II the coverings are tackled
smoothly in place and over the ends
So they should be. The face OF the
board is absolutely smooth and nm
Frlnkled
Having the board ready, the ironI
should BE considered These should bt
absolutely clean and free from dust
d heavy iron gives better results thar
'agse o' light weigh. Oae Of the mos
Important factors in giving gloss tt
srI5g Onzoms, collars or cuff Is the U.s.
%. tha Uohsning iron 1 dou0t II a rea
..l.a' can be produced with the or
--a~s I'D iron, no matter what kline
l -s-eh or enamel is used, unless tn
-.'snlas IRON is used also. You cal
ma r7.sa irons at any hardware store
a'l '.e.r cost is not exorbitant.
Ns" | will ell you how the woman
-ap"w does up shirts and atterward
via give some receipts for maxim
s4Fcl and so called enamel" 70
S'a5cDlng anything which requires
special gloss. Fold the shirt length