5i6 Reading-Course for Farmers' Wives. 



it may be siphoned out. Then, if the dishes are quite greasy, the grease 

 stands on the dishes as they are hfted out. This may be remedied by 

 using boihng hot water, washing in a new water or rinsing more thor- 

 oughly in the sink. If you have solved the problem of dish- washing in 

 the house we should like to hear from you. 



As far as possible, castors should be jjlaced on tables and on other 

 kitchen furniture to secure easy moving. Have you not had difficulty 

 in moving the flour barrel every time you wanted to clean the floor ? Ask 

 the " handy man about the house " to place the barrel on a strong frame 

 with a castor at each corner. Then the barrel is moved easily for clean- 

 ing or for other purposes. It is a common sight, when the flour is low, 

 to see a woman with head and arms reaching into the barrel trying to 

 get a quantity of flour. This may be obviated by having the barrel 

 hung on a pivot so that it may be easily tipped and supported. 



A small zinc-covered kitchen table having strong castors, can be 

 moved from place to place in the kitchen, and is a great convenience. 

 I think you will not be without it after once trying it. The zinc is kept 

 clean very easily and wears much better than table oil-cloth. 



Without undertaking to decide upon the best washing machine, it 

 is certain that a good one should be added to the household stock of 

 conveniences. There may be man or boy power at the crank, or for 

 about $17 a machine may be purchased to run by water power. This 

 is better than the more laborious means of turning a crank. It is more 

 expensive but with a scarcity of help shall we not expend more money 

 in saving effort? On the farms where power is employed for threshing, 

 cutting wood, churning and separating, may it not be used for washing? 

 A small steam laundry plant, owned by several families and properly 

 managed, may be made materially to reduce the labor in the household. 

 An objection, is perhaps the expense of the equipment and the trouble of 

 running it. The same difficulties have been overcome in the use of 

 power for threshing the oats or separating the cream. A good subject 

 for club discussion is a sanitary and economic way of doing the family 

 wash. It is possible the power at the cheese factory might be utilized 

 to run the laundry and the delivery of clothes may easily be effected 

 by the same means as that used for carrying the milk. 



The kitchen fire has seen a series of improvements since the time of 

 the great chimneys in the back in which hiuig the " lug pole " of green 

 wood from which were suspended the pothooks and kettles, often the 

 precious possessions of the family. 



In strong contrast to the utensils of various sizes, shapes and materials 

 now covering a stove, were the heavy iron or brass kettles few in number 

 which hung above the crackling fire. Here the vegetables were often 



