Seo. 25.] EXCERPTA OF USEFUL KNOWLEDGE FOR HOUSEWIVES. 



40& 



in a. stewpan with three quarts of water and a tablcspoonful of salt. Set it 

 on the fire and let it come to a boil; then set it where it will simmer an 

 liour; keep it well skimmed; then add one carrot, two turnips, two large 

 onions cut into small pieces, and half a dozen lettuce-heads, and let the 

 whole cook quite tender. 8kim oft' all the fat, and serve either witii the 

 meat in the soup or separately. A pint of green peas boiled in the soup will 

 be found to be a great addition. 



IlAiK-BitusHES are best cleaned by washing them in sal soda or saleratus 

 water, which removes all the oily coating. 



Sage and all other herbs for family use should be cut when the plant is 

 budding for blossom, and dried in the shade, and then stored in thick paper 

 bags, and there is no better place fur them than hanging fioin tlie garret 

 rafters. 



To Clkan Knives. — Take a potato, cut in halves, and dip the cut part in 

 brick-dust and rub the knives, the potato affording just enough moisture. 



For Cleaning Tainted Bakkels. — Put one peck of charcoal and one tea- 

 cup of saleratns into each barrel, fill them up with boiling water, cover tight, 

 and let them stand until cold. 



45T. Vcrmiu-Krmcdies— Moths, Biiks, Ants.— Moths are driven away, it is 

 generally believed, or rather the miller that lays the eggs is, by any strong 

 odor ; so that furs or woolens, packed in a chest of camj)hor-wood, or of 

 cedar, or sassafras, or with the shavings of those woods, or with gum-cam- 

 phor, or tobacco, snuff, or pepper, are preserved from the ravages of these 

 pests. After moths commence eating, they pay no regard to the presence of 

 camphor, cedar, or tobacco; in fact, I think they enjoy the latter, if any- 

 thing else than humanity can. The superiority of pepper to camphor,* as a 

 preventive of moths eating furs, consists in the fact that, while tiie eggs will 

 hatch among camphor, there is something in the aroma of pej)i>er which 

 destroys their vitality. Woolens may be safely stored in a close linen bag 

 if often looked after. And probably looking after is the beat of all the 

 jjreventivcs, for moths never work where they are frequently disturbed. 

 IJut if articles arc packed in linen bags, they should be taken out and aired 

 once a month during summer. 



liefore packing away furs, they should be well beaten, to dislodge tho 

 moths that, despite the most scrupulous care, may be deposited in tliem. 

 Hut the dreaded and inconvenient taking up and beating carpets will not 

 always insure success; but one who has tried it, says: "I contpiereil 

 them wliollv in this way — 1 took a coarse cr;ish toweJ and wrung it out of 

 cleuu water, and spread it smoothl}' on tho carpet, then ironed it dry with a 

 iTood hot iron, rejieating the operation on all suspected places, and thoso 

 least used. It does not injure the pile or color of the carpet in tho least, ns 

 it is not necessary to jiress hard, heat and steayi being tho agents ; and tiioy 

 do the work effectually on worms and eggs. Then the cain]>iiur will doubt- 

 less prevent future depredations of the niiller, by ])huing a few little crumbs 

 under the edges of the carpets without moving them." 



