.^38 DR. CHASE'S RECIPES. 



1 . GLOS S Y LINEN— How it is Done.— To give starched linen the 

 appearance so much desired put a small bit of paraffine (size of a small pea for 

 each bosom, or its equivalent of cuffs) into the hot starch, and when it comes 

 to ironing use a small iron having a rounded point that is very smooth, and rub 

 with great pressure and for a considerable time. A great deal of "elbow- 

 grease " is absolutely necessary. 



2. Scorched Linen in Ironing, To Whiten.— If a linen shirt 

 bosom, or any other article, has been scorched in ironing lay it in the bright 

 sunshine, which will remove it entirely. 



Plat-Irons, To Clean from Bust or Starch. — Flat-irons often have 

 starch stick to them, and occasionally a spot of rust from a drop of w^ater 

 shows upon them, and I have often seen directions for cleaning them with salt, 

 but the following plan is the only sensible way of doing it that I have seen; 

 Have a piece of yellow beeswax in a coarse cloth; when the iron is almost hot 

 enough to use, but not quite, rub it quickly with the beeswax cloth and then 

 with a coarse cloth. 



Oil-Cloth— To Keep Bright. — Oil-cloths should never be scrubbed 

 with suds, but carefully swept with a soft hair brush and washed with a cloth 

 dipped into milk and water, half-and-half, but no soap, and dry and polish with 

 an old soft cloth. In this way they will keep their original color a long time. 



Color of Plants and Flowers, to Retain, in Drying for Herb- 

 ariums. — Botanists who are grieved at the rapid loss of color in the plants and 

 flowers of their herbariums will be pleased to learn, says a Vienna journal, 

 that if plants or flowers be dipped in a warm mixture of 1 part of hydro' 

 chloric acid to 600 of alcohol before being placed between the driers they will 

 not only retain their natural colors, but will also dry with greater quickness.-^ 

 Sarper's Weekly. 



Remarks. — This is in the proportion of 1 dr. of the acid to 9 ozs. and 3 drs. 

 of alcohol, and must prove -very satisfactory. 



2. Another Way. — Another new way for preserving the color of 

 autumn leaves is given as follows: " Iron them fresh with a warm (not hot) 

 iron, on which some spermaceti has been hghtly rubbed. This method pre- 

 serves perfectly their lovely tints, and gives a wavy gloss which no other ofie 

 secures. The process is very rapid and very agreeable, and no lady who has 

 ever tried the tedious and uncertain experiment of pressing vnW ever again 

 resort to it after trying this new and better way." 



Remarks.— "Yhe iron must be kept hot enough to keep the spermaceti soft, 

 else it will not spread on the leaves. 



Tomatoes, To Bipen in December.— A Massachusetts gardener sells 

 ripe tomatoes in December, by sowing the seeds in July, then potting the plants 

 in a 9-inch jar, and maturing in a green-house with artificial heat as soon as 

 needed. An infusion of tomato leaves has been recently found to not only 

 destroy plant lice, but from its peculiar odor prevent their return for a 

 long time. See these destroyers. 



Plant Jars, To Paint and Bronze for House Use.— Plant jars 



