Year: 1875

1 eet~ = - - - W. = Ia


Farmers and farmers boys know


well what discomfort there is in a
pair of damp boots on chill morn
ing. Farmers wives also know what
litter is made o nights around the
kitchen stove by rank of wet, dirty
boots, placed there to dry, ready for
use in the morning. Not little for
bearance is necessary on the part
of father and "boys' as well as on
the wife and mother, in order to
avoid "family jars" In an exchange
we find the following which may
suggest TO some one OF the family,
who is "handy with tools, something
even better. The writer SAYS:


"Now, to have a neat kitchen,
there should be boot-rack placed
behind the stove, in which the damp
boots may be placed to dry. Such
contrivance as the following, which
has long been in use in some families,
is found to be great convenience.
1t has three shelves about four feet
long, ten inches wide, and placed
foot apart. At one end bootiack is
fixed by hinges SO that, when not in
use, it may be folded against the end
of the rack and secured by button.
There is also stand for cleaning
boots at the front, which also folds
up when not in use, and the blacking
brushes are placed on the shelves
behind the stand, and are out Of
sight. Such rack should be made
Of dressed pine boards and stained
some dark, durable color.


A writer in the Household gives
some directions as to how TO weave
hair: Take a smooth board one and
half feet long and six or eight in
ches wide. Near one end drive three
shingles nails in row, the nails be.
ing half an inch apart and the row
running parallel to the end of the
board. AT the other end, opposite
the middle nail, drive one nail. Wax
three pieces of linen thread, tie them
JopGltit1 AT Dllt Sbu, dilu dDouI u
quarter of inch from this knot tie
another Slip this knot over the mai
that stands alone, then tie one thread
to each of the three nails, drawing it
very tight. Take the board in your
lap, with the three nails toward the
right hand Next take bunch Of
hair. with both the ends made even,
the size OF a knitting needle. Wet one
end aud put it under the thread near
est you, over the middle thread and
under the last-then bring it back on
the left side, reversing the order.
Now push it up closer against the
knot. Proceed in this way until the
strip is of the required length. After
it is dry it can be pushed more close
ly. Twist is superior to linen for du-
rabiity.


Many persons who have the care
of window plants seem to think that
the operation Of watering is one of
the simplest matters incident to their
charge. 1t should be borne in mind
however, the duty of the water is to
dissolve and convey 10 the roots of
the plants the food which they need;
some plants must have season Of
comparative rest, and if such are wat
cred literally during this time they
will keep on growing, and the neces-
sary rest is not obtained. When any
one says that they succeed very well
with certain classes of plants, such
as the fuchsia, Gala, lobelia and ivy,
and fails with others, he may be at
once set down as n profuse waterer,
who by too much water Injuries or
destroys such plants as will not bear
ii. Many plants are permanently in
jured by water remaining in the
saucer; others often suffer from
bad selection of the soil. Some ANA
teur florist fail with certain class Of
plants, which the begonia may be
taken as type, because they shower
the leaves with cold water; but for
this very reason, they are eminently
successful with another class, Of
which the camelia will serve as
type. AS general rule, the texture
of the leaf may be taken as an in
dex Of its power to resist the appli-
cation of water. Plants having po-
rous, open. or neshy leaves covered
with soft down, should be seldom, if
ever, moistened, while those having
glossy or hard leaves will do all the
better if washed frequently. lvies,
hoyas and cobrs seem to laugh At us
after good dashing, but begoEias,
coleus, and plants Of the same class,
do not appear to appreciate It'll.


The following in regard to the
care of children's feet, if observed,
would save many child from a sick
ly existence and from premature
death:


Life fe-long discomfort, disease and
sudden death often come to children
through the inattention or careless
ness OF the parents. A child should
never be allowed to go to sleep with
cold feet; the thing to be last atten-
ted to is see that the feet are dry
and warm; neglect of this has often
resulted in dangerous attack of
Group, diptheria, or fatal sore throat.
Always on coming from school, on
entering the house from visit or er-
rand, in rainy, muddy or thawing
weather, the child should remove its
shoes, and the mother should herself
ascertain whether the stockings are
the least bit damp. If they are they
should be taken off, the feet held be-
fore the fire and rubbed with the
hand till perfectly dry, and another
pair of stockings should be kept
where they are good and dry, SO as
to be ready for use on a moments
notice.


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