120 



French Frock, or Blouse. — Oil Soap. 



Vol. VI. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 French Frock, or Blouse. 



Sir, — I am indebted to the Farmers' Cab- 

 inet for many things, particularly for tlie in- 

 troduction of the French Frock, or Blouse, 

 which is first mentioned at p. 276, of the 4th 

 volume, but which I did not notice so soon as 

 I ought. Why, sir, it is the greatest comfort 

 I have, for, either at home or abroad, in the 

 hottest or coldest weather it is my constant 

 companion. My business is to attend market 

 twice a week with farm-produce, and before 

 I had furnished myself with one of these 

 frocks, the dust of the road had spoilt many 

 a good suit of clothes for me ; and then I was 

 never fit to be seen in the town until I had 

 changed my dress; but now, it is only, in very 

 hot weather, to put on one of these frocks, 

 without coat or waistcoat under, button it 

 loosely and pull it round me, and before reach- 

 ing the city take it off, give it a good shake 

 and tie it in a handkerchief, put on coat and 

 vest, and then I am as neat as if I had come 

 to market in a band-box ! The weather is 

 now cold, I have therefore taken to my wool- 

 len frock, putting it over coat and waistcoat, 

 thus enjoying the comfort of an extra gar- 

 ment, as well as a safeguard to my bettermost 

 clothing. Then again, every one knov/s how 

 often it happens that just before leaving home, 

 some little thing or other demands the atten- 

 tion of the farmer — the harness to be adjust- 

 ed, the wheels of the wagon to be examined, 

 a sudden call for inspection amongst the cat- 

 tle, another package to be made up to take 

 along — all requiring perhaps but a few min- 

 utes, but in that time great damage is often 

 done to one's clothing, especially in wet and 

 dirty weather. Again, while on the road the 

 harness may break and require repairing; a 

 shoe might become loose, and a thousand 

 other things happen, to attend to which a 

 good coat or pants may soon be injured, far 

 more in cost than the first price of a blouse. 

 And then, on a Sunday how often is a farmer 

 called forth amongst his out-door family for a 

 short time, when he may not think it worth 

 the while to change his dress, but it is pretty 

 certain he will have to repent not having 

 done it ; and even the fire-dust on a good suit 

 of clothes will soon change its appearance. 

 But in a time of storm and tempest, when 

 every kind-hearted man finds it impossible to 

 eit quietly in the house until he has seen that 

 his cattle are sheltered and cared for, the 

 blouse, made of woollen and put on over a 

 coat, or even a great-coat, will be found to 

 turn the water far better than any other gar- 

 ment that can be devised, warding off the 

 dirt and protecting the knees; and on enter- 

 ing the house, it can be thrown ofl^and spread 

 before the kitchen fire to dry, to be ready for 



use again in an hour at any time — I tell you 

 it is the greatest of all luxuries to the man 

 whose business lies much abroad, and I am 

 greatly indebted to the Cabinet, where the 

 use of it was first recommended. 



But now, I wish that some of your readers 

 would inform nie how I can clean and revive 

 black cloth ; the fact is, I spoilt a good suit 

 of black before I got a fiock, and wish to 

 know how to recover it. Would not a decoc- 

 tion of logwood and walnut-shells, or some- 

 thing of that kind, be suitable! I fear that 

 copperas and nut-galls would give to a liquid 

 too much body for the purpose, and thus prove 

 injurious to the texture of the cloth ; the same 

 article may be useful when applied to a rusty 

 hat. A few instructions on the easiest and 

 best modes of cleaning clothes would be very 

 acceptable to those who are f.o much exposed 

 to the climate, compelled to weather it early 

 and late, with so much of the rough to mix 

 with the smootli ; would, therefore, those who 

 have the ability do us the kindness, and oblige 

 one, who would be grateful for the favour ? 



Oil Soap. 



I HAVE lately noticed advertisements and 

 communications of oil soap, for destroying 

 insects upon rose-bushes, small trees, &c. If 

 ought to be known to those who cannot ob- 

 tain the oil soap, that strong suds made of 

 common soft soap will answer most of the 

 purposes attributed to the former. It kills 

 the snail, keeps off the rose bug, and I have 

 preserved my plants by it, for several years, 

 against the attacks of the curculio. In sprin- 

 kling the plant, it is necessary to do it early 

 in the morning, while the dew is on, because 

 it is difficult to wet dry, green foliage. 



Willis' brass syringe is recommended for 

 using the soap. I would not willingly be in- 

 strumental in discouraging tlie use or sale 

 of that almost indispensable implement; but 

 for the purpose of throwing suds upon small 

 single trees or shrubbery, a smaller syringe 

 than any I have seen of Mr. Willis' make, is 

 much more convenient and economical. Go 

 to a tin-shop and get a tube made 10 or 12 

 inches long, which will hold from a gill to 

 half a pint, with three or four small holes in 

 the end to produce as many streams, and the 

 jack-knife of any Yankee of common ingenu- 

 ity, will make a good piston in a few minutes. 

 This will save your suds, is managed more 

 readily, and with equal if not greater effect 

 upon the trees. — N. E. Far. 



Your enemy is against you, because he 

 thinks you are against him— an expression 

 of sympathy or an act of compassion disa- 

 buses his mind, and lays his suspicion to rest 



