Year: 1878

Household Hints.


WASHING FLUID.-Half pound of sal
soda, quarter of pound of borax, dis
solved in one gallon of hot soft water;
let it settle; pour off in bottles. One
gill of this mixture with a pint of soft
soap, or half bar of soap dissolved in
hot water, is enough for washing.


To DYE CoTToN OR SILK SCARLET
Three gallons warm water, add one
ounce cream tartar, one ounce powdered
cochineal, two ounces solution of tin;
wet the goods in warm water, and, when
the dye boils, put in the goods and boil
one hour, frequently stirring them; then
take out the goods and rinse in cold
water.


To SOFTEN AND PURIFY WATERs.-A
correspondent states that he has made
the simple discovery that hard waters
are rendered very soft and pure, rival
ing distilled water, by merely boiling a
two-ounce phial, say in a kettleful of
water. The carbonate of lime and any
impurities will be found adhering to the
phial. The water boils very much quick
er at the same time. The knowledge of
this fact will prove boon to housewives
and laundresses. THE Builder.


To RENovATE BLACK MER1No. - Rip
the dress apart; then soak the goods in
warm soap-suds two hours; dissolve one
ounce of extract of logwood in bowl of
warm water; add sufficient warm water
to cover the goods, which is to be taken
from the suds without wringing; let the
dress stand in the logwood.water all
night; in the morning rinse in several
waters without wringing in the last
water; add one pint of sweet milk; iron
while damp; it will look like new.


Breeding Poultry.


Here is the experience of the editor of
the New England Farmer in breeding
poultry: We became heartily tired of
chasing from one city to the other in
pursuit of a perfect Brahma cock every
year to breed from, and should proba-
bly, have given up breeding Brahmas
long ago, had not one of our friends, and
a successful breeder, put us upon new
track, by confidentially advising the use
of our own best birds for breeding; for,
said he, eve who raise birds to sell like
to have the masses believe it necessary
to change stock every year. 1t makes
demand for great many cocks which
would go to the pot were it not for this
fear of breeding in-and-in." "But, !"
said he, "breed close" And we have
bred close ever since, some four or five
years, not having taken in single drop
of fresh blood during the time; and,
although we have bred only for home
use, the stock is more uniform in color,
will average as heavy, and the pullets
are as good layers, sitters and mothers
as formerly, and the chickens as bright
and healthy as when produced by mix
ture of flesh and blood every spring;
and, although there is always chance
to select some birds that are more de.
sirable for breeding than others, we have
not been mortified by the appearance of
either white or black chickens, SINCE
ceasing to buy males for breeding.


With this experience we have felt con-
siderable confidence in carrying the ex-
pertinent into higher order, and more
valuable class of animals, and thus far
our hopes have not been blasted.


What Farmers Succeed.


That farmer will succeed who makes
up his mind that the whole secret of
success is in himself; that it is the man
and not the business that tells. He will
succeed if he brings to bear the same
amount of skill, forethought, energy,
economy and Judgment that any other
branch of business requires. He will
succeed if he sticks close to his farm, as
the mechanic does to his shop, and not
expect to work three or four months and
then take his ease the rest of the year.
That farmer will succeed who takes the
papers, and digests what he reads, and is
not afraid of new ideas and new methods
of industry. He will succeed if it is his
intention that whatever he sends to mar
ket shall be the very best, and 80 made
and put up that when seen it will be
captivating for it's freshness, cleanliness
and purity, and will be unhesitatingly
taken on account of his well-known
character for honesty of weight, measure
and count. Those who have farms may
think themselves fortunate, for although
they will not thereby find sudden roads
to wealth, they will certainly prove that
persistent farm labor will bring sure
reward. 1t is worthy of notice, that the
adventurer and speculator, with blasted
hopes AMI shattered health and fortune,
have in the end to come back to the farm
for health and safety. Agriculture is
the basis of national strength and wealth,
and a most certain and liberal support
of all who follow it intelligently.