84 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



April, 



'^e Household 



Fussiness in Housekeeping. 



We are of the belief that there is no one com- 

 mon foe to domestic peace and comfort, like 

 that of fussiness— a making much ado about 

 trifles. It arises more often, perhaps, from 

 a lack Of system or plan in managing the 

 affairs of the house than otherwise. The house- 

 cleaning season, now upon us, proves to be a 

 time for aggravating this unpleasant quality 

 in a more than ordinary measure. It is there- 

 fore a fit time to study to avoid it. Some 

 women when cleaning stir up every room in 

 the house at one time, a step that must add 

 directly to the discomfort of the family. The 

 riglit plan of procedure, is to sit down at the 

 beginning of the cleaning campaign and quietly 

 survey the field of work, deciding promptly 

 what must be done to begin with and what 

 will bear deferring. This done, then begin at 

 the beginning, and 1 oUow out systematically the 

 course decided upon. The vrise housekeeper 

 never gets into a "stew"; she aims right at 

 the maj-k through every movement of hand 

 and foot. She studies especially to take no 

 useless steps in doing her work. 



System is as essential in the government of 

 the household a,s to that of the State. Order, 

 punctuality, industry and good judgment ai-e 

 necessary and efficient forces in the home; by 

 adding cheerfulness, patience, and a thoughtful 

 care for the general comfort and happiness of 

 its members,you will avoid unpleasant friction, 

 and make the home what it should be— the 

 center of all that is best and dearest to the 

 human heart. 



Brieflets. 



A wet knife cuts hard soap, with ease. 



Plates are more aiul more Japanese in tone. 



Narrow plaiting on the edge of skirts tends to 

 graceful etTects. 



Half a teaspoonful o£ table salt dissolved in cold 

 water, will relieve heart-burn or dyspepsia. 



Salt-cellars are looking up; a favorite device is a 

 silvei' vase, about two inches high, with a shell to 

 hoUl the salt. 



Stand at your work when you must, of course, 

 but never, when the work is of a kind that can be 

 done as well seated. 



How much easier it is to get along with damp 

 wtuxi for fuel, if you till the oven with it after each 

 meal to dry it for getting the next one. 



In French Cashmeres for early spring ilresses, 

 the nutst prominent colors are the bronze and moss 

 green shades, and all ecru and beige tints. 



Knives and forks are now to be had with crystal 

 handles set in silver. These come from Bohemia, 

 and are very ornamental and clean-looking. 



" One who knows " writes to Popular Garden- 

 ing thus; If you want bal)5- to learn to go to sleep 

 without being rocked, choose a day when he has 

 been unusually bright and happy; keep him up and 

 awake, until a little after his regular hour for sleep, 

 then give him a cup of milk nicely sweetened and 

 warm; have the bed soft and cosy, and on this lay 

 him down gentlj- and soothe him with a httle kissing 

 and patting, and, if not spoilt, he will soon close his 

 eyes in the sweetest kind of sleep. 



A cleaning mixture, excellent for removing 

 grease and stains fro[n carpets and clothing, accor- 

 ding to a popular English journal, may be made as 

 follows: 2 oz. lump ammonia, 2 oz. white Castile 

 soap, 1 oz. glycerine. 1 oz. ether. Cut the soap 

 fine, and dissolve in a pint of water over the fire; 

 afterwards adding 2 quarts of water. This article 

 should then be well mixed with water at the rate of 

 one teacupful to a common pailful of water. In 

 this, wash any soiled and greasy articles. To remove 

 spots, apply with a sponge or clean flannel, and rub 

 well afterwards with a dry cloth. 



It is well for every mother and girl (not to say 

 every young man), to face the fact, that a yonng 

 woman who deliberately marries without under- 

 standing the art of cooking, is taking upon herself 

 a serious burden. Especially is this true of those 

 in modest circumstances. Sour bread, leathery 

 steaks and wishy-washy coffee are not conducive to 

 happiness. One may thoroughly understand art. 



music, science and philosophy, be familiar with 

 astronomy, mythology, politics, &c., yet if the sim- 

 ple ai t of maidng a loaf of good bread has been 

 neglected, the education is sadly incomplete. 



Here is an idea from " Babyhood," that.ought to 

 interest mothers who have young children. It re- 

 lates to what the one who gives it, calls a " Palace 

 Car." It is designed for protecting babies from 

 draughts while on the Hoor. To make it, take a box 

 three feet long by two feet wide, or larger, if you 

 choose, and just high enough for baby to look over 

 as .she sits in the box. Fasten strong cleats to each 

 end underneath, and into these put good casters, 

 that it may be readily wheeled. Pad the inner sides 

 and cover with pretty calico; cut pictures from 

 linen picture books and " button hole " them on the 

 sides. Place several layers of newspapers in the 

 bottom, and over this, a piece of carpet. The child 

 will soon get to like its palace car and with it can 

 learn to creep as well as to stand; the sides being 

 soft, a bump will not hurt her. 



poviltP/. 



Summing Up the Necessaries in Poul- 

 try Raising. 



Thore are many thiugs and appliances about 

 poultry keeping that are useful, convenieut 

 and ornamental, but not strictly necessary to 

 success in the business, yome other things, 

 are indispensable to the best, or even good 

 results, and these should be made much of, 

 by all who keep poultry. The Paulfri/ 

 Wnrfti has something to say on indispensables 

 lately, from which we condense the following: 



A good house is one. It may be a part of 

 some other building, or it may be a separate 

 structure. It must be comfortable, light and 

 properly ventilated. The style of architecture 

 may be anything from a low shed up, but it 

 must be suitable for the fowls, and the sanitary 

 conditions be complied with. 



Variety in food is another need. Fowls can 

 live upon a single article of diet, but protits 

 under such circmustances are not to be expect- 

 ed. Variety in diet promotes health, health 

 secures activity of the reproductive organs 

 and upon this profits largely depend. 



Fresh water is indispensable.' Without it 

 there will be disease, and sick hens are not a 

 paying investment. To expect dividends in 

 eggs, if fresh water is not provided, will surely 

 end in disappointment. 



Cleanliness must be provided. The drop- 

 pings corrupt the air, which leads to disease, 

 then to vermin, to sap the life of the fowl. The 

 health of hens demands its frequent removal. 



Good stock is also indispensable. Get the 

 best. Beauty in figure, carriage and plumage 

 may not add to usefulness but they do add 

 much pleasure to the business. But what is 

 necessai-y to success is strong, vigorous and 

 productive fowls. If eggs are an object, a lay- 

 ing strain of the chosen breed should be select- 

 ed, for there is a great difference in strains of 

 fowls of given breeds. It is not enough to pro- 

 cure Leghorns, but it is necessary to procure 

 a good family of Leghorns. It does not suffice 

 to purchase Plymouth Rocks, but it is requisite 

 that a good strain be obtained. 



Good care is decidedly indispensable. This 

 means, that in addition to providing proper 

 food and drink and keeping things clean, that 

 every little detail should be attended to when 

 it needs attention. Flowers flourish best when 

 attended by those who love them; the same 

 is true of poultry. Loving care is the best of 

 all care; it sees little wants and ministers unto 

 them. It sees what others would overlook, and 

 to see a thing means with it to do that thing. 



CONDENSED POULTRY NOTES. 



Clean cai-e, clean profits. 



Don't give lip tlie incubator on one trial. 



Pale combs may indicate lice on the fowls. 



Fowl diseases often spring from the use of foul 

 water. 



Burning the old nests: A sure cure for vermin 

 in them. 



Very small chicks need very small seeds. Millet 

 answers well here. 



Nearly all the winter shows of poultry have 

 been successful financially. We like to hear this. 



Enough of dust the year around, to suit the hens' 

 desires, will play havoc with the thrift of vermin on 

 their bodies. 



A Michigan Plymouth Rock hen leads in earli- 

 ness of bringing off a brood we think. A full hatch 

 came off on the 27th of January. 



Equal rights for the sexes prevail in poultry 

 raising; in fact we think the woman ahead in this, 

 because possessing some superior natural qualifica- 

 tions for the work. _ 



One of the first jobs of spring should be to scrape 

 up all manure, and decayed refuse about the yard, 

 and sprinkling afterwards with some dry lime to 

 sweeten up the place. 



Few Against Many. One correspondent from 

 the Badger State, has found greater profit in keeping 

 tweuty-five hens well fed and cared for, than a hun- 

 dred after a fashion that is yet too common in her 

 section and elsewhere. 



Sand alone is not the materia! that hens would 

 fii-st choose for a dust bath ; in fact, they can hardly 

 be said to like it. Common soil is about the best 

 material— that from the chip yard or barn yard, 

 and containing more or less foreign matter being 

 much enjoyed. 



Green food is so necessary to the well-doing of 

 confined fowls, that the matter of providing some 

 should always hold a prominent place in the keep- 

 er's miud. Where there is no grass run, some grass 

 sods thrown to them are excellent. Fresh-cut grass 

 is good. At this season some quick growing plants 

 like Lettuce, Spinach or Oats could be sowed to 

 permit green food later. Onions chopped fine and 

 mixed with the soft food of non-layers and chickens, 

 is wholesome and often prevents or checks disease; 

 if fed to laying hens they will taint the flavor. 



Food for Young Turkeys. Not so many young 

 turkeys would die, if greater attention was devoted 

 to their food, from the start. For the first week 

 equal quantities of hard-boiled eggs chopped fine, 

 and good wheat bread will suit them. This may be 

 followed by curd made of sour milk, and bread 

 made of coarse flour or wheat shorts. If confined, 

 some chopped roots or Dandelions, as well as some 

 clean sharp sand should be furnished. Beyond six 

 weeks old, screenings or small wheat may consti- 

 tute a large part of the food. Young turkeys need 

 frequent feeding and pure water. 



He Don't Lay It to a Revolving Chair. Mr. F. 

 A. Mortimer, a correspontleut of the Poultry 

 Monthly^ writes as follows about successful man- 

 agement: We are frequently asked the secret of 

 our success. It is this: We do our own work, and 

 know at all times the condition of every bird on the 

 place. We know of no other way to be a successful 

 fancier. We do not run a poultry farm as some do, 

 on a revolving chair in front of an office desk. Now 

 that the spring months are upon us, we look out 

 for dampness. If the floor of the poultry house is 

 not perfectly dry, look out for roup. Board it over 

 and cover with dirt and ashes. A stitch in time 

 saves nine. Also keep an ej'e on the chicks; keep 

 them perfectly dry, and keep them confined morn- 

 ings until the dew is off the grass. If you expect 

 success, breed only from your best birds Pay 

 strict attention to health, vigor, S5^mmetry and 

 plumage, and j'ou can mate to produce any desired 

 results. Cockerels and hens, vica versa, make the 

 best matings. Remember, in mating, that the male 

 influences symmetry and style, the female size of 

 the progeny. A word to the wise is sufficient. 



Going for Them Sharp. <^ur friend of the Ohio 

 J^or;(if'r believes in doing so when he wants eggs, 

 or else he would not deal out such sharp directions 

 as these which follow, but which w'e believe are 

 well worthy of being observed by readers of Popi'- 

 LAR Gardening: To make hens lay, put two or 

 more quarts of water in a kettle, and one large seed 

 pepper or two small ones, then put the kettle over 

 the fire, ^^^len the water boils stir in the coarse 

 Indian meal until you have a thick mush. Let it 

 cook an hour or so: feed warm. Horse-radish is 

 chopped fine and stirred into mush as prepared in 

 the above directions, and for results we are getting 

 from five to ten eggs per day; whereas, previously 

 we had not had eggs for a long time. We hear a 

 good deal of complaint from other people .about 

 not getting eggs. To such we would warmly recom- 

 mend cooked and spiced feed given warm. Boiled 

 apple skins seasoned with red pepper, or boiled 

 potatoes seasoned with horse-radish, are good. 

 Corn, when fed alone, has a tendency to fatten, 

 rather than produce the more profitable egg laying. 

 A spoonful of flowers of sulphur stirred witii their 

 feed occasionally, will rid them of vermin and tone 

 up the system with fine effect. 



