24 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



November, 



"^e Household 



How to starch and Iron Shirt Bosoms. 



To a neat and painstaking liousewife, few 

 things are more exasperating, than to have the 

 starching of shirt bosoms not turn out well. 

 The applying of the starch is au important 

 pai-t of the work. Some succeed with cold 

 starch, but a better course is to nse hot aud 

 cold both. If a little more work to use both, 

 this is repaid by a handsomer and more lasting 

 finish to the bosom, and there will rarely be a 

 shirt to go back into the wash. 



In using both hot and cold starch, the for- 

 mer is applied first, allowing it to ch*y before 

 using the other. For the hot starch, count on 

 a teaspoonful of good di'y starch for each 

 bosom. It should not be made very thick, and 

 iu applying, the hotter it can be put on the Ijet- 

 ter. Of this i>repared starch, spread on a table- 

 spoonful at a time, rubbing in well before put- 

 ting on more. Apply first on the right side 

 and later from the under side, keeping at 

 it iintil the linen will take up no more, with- 

 out showing a mussed appeai'ance. tThe starch 

 must be well rubbed in, if it is not, the iron will 

 stick, and sjiecks and blisters appear. 



Following on this, the shirt shctuld be di'ied, 

 after which the cold stai'diing may l_)e done. 

 In making uj) a batch of cold starch for use 

 ahead, as should always be done, the following 

 well tested receipt, will provide enough to last 

 for some months. Take two ounces borax, 

 one ounce white laumii-y wax, one teacup wa- 

 ter, three cups of starch. Dissolve the borax 

 and wax in the water, sufficiently heated for 

 the purpose, but not so hot as to scald the 

 starch ; into this mix the starch after pulver- 

 izing aud passing it through a flour seive. Dry 

 on platter ami keep iu box. In using, take a 

 teaspoonful of this prepare<l starch, dissolve in 

 water not so cold, but that the wax in it will 

 soften. Applj' by dipping the bdsom, already 

 treated with hot starch and dried, a.s described, 

 into this new batch, and i-inging (nit; rubbing 

 but slightly. After au hour or moi'e, iron. 



In ironing, tu'st rub the bosom carefullj' with 

 a cloth wrung out of hot water, to equalize the 

 starch on the surface. For the first time of 

 passing the iron over the bosom, lay a thin 

 cloth between. Then remove this, dampen the 

 sm-face of tbe bosom a little, and iron carefully, 

 repeating several times, and until the finish is 

 satisfactory. If the outside cover of the iron- 

 ing board he of flannel, the shirt will not stick. 

 Careful attention to these details, will be re- 

 warded by shirt bosoms so white and glossy as 

 to give full satisfaction for the pains taken. 



Some Facts About Unwholesome 

 Meat. 



Dr. Eli H. L<Mig, of Erie County, N. Y., 

 sends in the following interesting facts, about 

 unwholesome meat, to our columns. He says: 



" Our present knowledge, points to decompo- 

 sition in meat as the source of substances that 

 ai'e positively poisonous, and as such very dele- 

 terious to health. The odor of putrefying flesh 

 for example, it is well known, may cause vom- 

 iting and diari"h<ea. Probably the cases of 

 sausage poisoning we heai- of, come from this 

 kind of poison, iu old meat in the sausage. 



The notion that meat and game is the better 

 for hanging some time before using, becoming 

 more tender by the means, is a dangerous one 

 to ailopt. It is true that meat thus grows ten- 

 der, but let it be borne in mind, that this soft- 

 ening process, is the beginning of piitrefaction, 

 and with it, comes unwholesomeness. The 

 fresher meat is, the more wholesome it is. 



The practice of eating raw or rare meat, is 

 not a good oue. This not so nmch because 

 such meat is in itself unhealthy for f(jod, as of 

 the danger of introducing the parasites of tape 

 worm, trichina and the like, into the system. 

 The flesh of different animals, may contain 



these pai-asites in their undeveloped state, one 

 of the most familiar examples of which is 

 found iu " measly " pork. Swallowed alive in 

 flesh that is raw or partly so, the parasites, in 

 embryo in such pork, soon develop, into the 

 much dreaded tape worm. 



For readers to learn these facts, need not 

 alarm them lest they have tape worm, because 

 of eating rai-e meat, for not all meat contains 

 these parasites. But to be safe from all danger 

 in the future, eat no meat unless it be well 

 cooked. The cooking process, may be relied 

 upon as certainly desti'oyiug the miimte crea- 

 tures in their ever3'- form. 



Trichina, the other commonly dreaded meat 

 parasite, usually infests the muscles of animals, 

 but never the fat, as many people suppose. It 

 is not the flesh of swine alone, that contains 

 these, but that of a number of other animals, 

 as well. With these, as with most other such 

 parasites, they remain dorment in the flesh 

 until swallowed by some other animal, when 

 they become active, multiply and cause disease. 

 A sure preventive, as in the former case alluded 

 to, is found in thoroughly cooking the meat. 



Brieflets. 



Boiling, weakens vinegar. 



Pepper is half p's anyway. 



Keep cake in tin or a stone jar. 



Plenty of stove holders save the hands. 



Beef .tongue and ox-tail soup make both ends 

 meet. 



To dry wet shoes iu good shape, stuff with dry 

 paper. 



Prick pntatnes before baking, that they may not 

 bui-st in the fiven. 



In blacking the stove, slip the brnsh Jiand in a 

 paper ba^ for iiri)tectiou. 



Bar soap Iiought in quantity and dried before 

 usiuK. K'»"*s much farther than if used fresh. 



If Specks tlake otT from tlje tiat irons, wash hi 

 soap snds and dry quickly to prevent rusting. 



Strong lie will clean tainteil porl^barrels or other 

 vessels, also tin paint cans coated with paint. 



It is said that Sassafras bark scattered through 

 dried fruit, will keep out worms. Easily tried. 



Never tise tea, for washing out the eyes if weak 

 or intlauied; it is injurious. Tea is not a bad article 

 to nse on house-plants. 



A lamp standing for some time in a cold room 

 and then filled full of coa! oi!, will run over through 

 tlie expansion of the oil when taken to where it is 

 warm. Then the lamp may he blamed for leaking. 

 To tibviate this, never fill the lamp quite full. 



What nonsense is sometimes offered as advice. 

 Here it is again iu directions to hold a pin between 

 the teeth while peeling onions, to keep the eyes from 

 smartinji;. Have the onions under water in a dish 

 while paring them, aud you'll not be troubled. 



If the broom is wearing away unevenly, place its 

 bottom part in boiling water for a moment or two, 

 shake out as dry as possible, tie a string around it 

 to improve its shape, and finish drying in sun or 

 near the stove. When dry, trmi off the ends that 

 are inieven. Whisk brooms may l)e similarly treated. 



Cultivate in your ehiUlreu the hahit of breathing 

 only through the nose; many distressing ailments 

 are due to the evil effects of mouth brealhing. If 

 there is the disposition to throw the head back when 

 asleep, inducing breathing through the mouth, cor- 

 rect it as often as is necessary, by gently bringing 

 the head forward somewhat. 



Charcoal as Kindling. This is obtainable in most 

 places at twenty cents a bushel, or even less. At 

 this rate it affords 'one of the cheapest, handiest 

 and best articles to use as kindling, especially coal 

 fires. A good handful or two at most, of charcoal, 

 will be sufficient to ignite even hard coal. Paper 

 alone will serve to fire the charcoal. Tried once, it 

 will always be used. 



Here is how to get up a delicious dish that will 

 suit most all tastes. Boil one-fourth part of rice in 

 a pint and a half of milk, adding two ounces of 

 sweet almonds, anil white sugar to suit the sweet 

 tooth. Boil until the rice is soft, sturiug as little as 

 possible; to shake the vessel in which it boils will 

 save some stirring. It is to be served in cups, which 

 should be first wet with cold water. Fill to leave a 

 space at the top of each cup, in which put a 

 spoonful of jelly with cream poured around it, or 

 whipped cream and powdered sugar, or a chocolate 

 frosting like that for cake. 



Notes on Dress and Home Art. 



Beads are much worn. 



Plain black silks are stylish. 



Astrachan continues in favor. 



White skirts are going out of style. 



Cream is a favorite color for evening. 



How many shades of green are there? 



Water-proof cloth is again coming out. 



Striped mantles are among the novelties. 



Mats inq)rove cheap engravings in frames. 



Bonnets call for feathei-s more than flowei-s. 



Staining wood work, is in better taste than grain 

 ing. 



The rage for '■* crazy '' patch work is more modi- 

 fied, 



For a much used parlor, choose a medium dark 

 carpet. 



Carved wooden beads are very stylish for outside 

 adornment. 



Embroidered cloth bonnets go with embroidered 

 costumes. 



Kilt skirts continue to be proper for young ladies 

 aud misses. 



Short, plain waists are made slightly pointed in 

 front but round behind. 



On felt bonnets and hats, gay wool scarfs, in 

 bundled up bows, will be much used. 



Deep cherry paint for the wood work, and dark 

 red witli olive paper suit the dining room. 



Congress canvass or grenadines afford an inex- 

 pensive material, for bureau or table spreads. 



The pretty peasant dress, with full round skirt 

 and short plain waist, continue to be very stylish 

 for little girls. 



Little Jack.— "My mamma's new fan is hand- 

 painted." Little Dick— "Pooh! who cares? Our 

 wlnile fence is.'' 



The cloak of medium length has had its day; 

 they must either be very long or very shoit. For 

 these, dull red clotli is coming in favor. 



No more sensible and tasty outside wrap can be 

 made for children than the newmarket. For fabrics 

 plush, honiespun and astrachan are used. 



An elegant cover for a small table may be made 

 of a copjier colored jilush scarf, with silk tassels of 

 same cohir. run through crescents at the edge. 



If the little dog that is made to stand guard by 

 the parlor door or window, is placed upon a thin, 

 soft cushion, covered with scarlet, he will look more 

 lifelike aud at ease. 



Engravings Lhal are printed on tliick handsome 

 paprr should not have mats in framing. There 

 must however be a white margin of some inches 

 in width around the print. 



A curtain for the lower sash of a window, made 

 up plain of cotton scry m, painted in bold designs 

 of Morning Glories, Nasturtiums or other showy 

 flowers is very effective and pretty. 



The newest mantles and coats are made without 

 pleats in the back. Green billiard cloth very similar 

 to that used on billiard tables is a novelty for tailor 

 jackets, to be worn by young ladies with black, 

 green and brown dresses. 



Where windows are not wider than the usual 

 width, and one feels they cannot well afford double 

 curtains, single ones may be draped so gracefully 

 that they will answer well. Do not loop back with 

 ribbons, but pin or tack them back in several places. 

 The tacking should he started quite high, to prevent 

 a drawn and awkward apiJearauce lower down. 



The hideous black water-proofs must go, those of 

 fine cashmere or silk in desirable colors, taking their 

 place. Will the meufolks give up the gossamers 

 tooy While ladies could very sensibly use the gar- 

 ment as a complete protector from wet, nothing ev- 

 er occurred more ridiculous to the writer's eyes, 

 than to see the sterner sex adopt the same garment, 

 which .serving only to reach a little below the knees, 

 conveyed the th'ip into the pant bottoms and boots. 

 Table Screen. A novel and easily made screen 

 for the talile, is described in the October Aiiiericati 

 Agi'iriiltiirist. For a base, a wicker covered bottle 

 or flask is used. Such a one as the Italian wines 

 come iu, and which may usually lie had at hotels 

 for a very little or nothing, are admirable. Into 

 this insert the handles of three small Japanese 

 fans, spreading the fans as widely as possible above 

 to form the screen. A ribbon may be tied around 

 the fan handles at the moiith of the flask, with a 

 bow on one side. Silk cord ending tu a tassel, may 

 be twined loosely around the neck of the flask. The 

 fans selected should be light and brilliantly colored. 

 The covering of the flask may be adorned by staining 

 or gilding, and with ribbons. Sand or shot should 

 be filled into the flask to give it stability. 



