AROUND THE FARM. 275 



of carriages, as the lime which is in the hard water is Tery liable to injure 

 the varnish. 



Removing Carbonic Acid Ga» or Foul Air from Wellx. — A eorre- 



spondcnt gives an account of an extemporized apparatus for removing car- 

 bonic acid gaa from wells. It was simply an opened out umbrella let down and 

 rapidly hauled up a number of times in succession. The effect was to re- 

 move the gas in a few minutes from a well so foul as to instantly extinguish 

 a candle pre\-ious to the use of the umbrella. Whenever there ia an escape 

 of gas in an apartment, the adoption of this plan will be found useful. 



To Render Wood Cninflanunable. — Professor Kedzic, of the Agri- 

 cultural College of Michigan, au expert chemist, says that a paint or wash 

 made of skim milk, thoroughly skimmed, and water brine, will render wood 

 uninflammable, and he proved it by experiment. He said this paint, or white- 

 wash, is durable, very .cheap, impervious to water, of agreeable color, and, 

 as it will prevent wood from taking fire, urged its use, partictilarly on roofs, 

 outbuildings, bams, etc. 



Remedy for Bardoclcs. — It is Said that a certain and speedy remedy 

 for burdocks has been found in kerosene oil. A small quantity poured into 

 the heart of a plant, directly after cutting, leaves no trace of their existence 

 save a small hole in the earth where they stood, iicfined or crude oil will 

 accomphsh the purpose just as well. 



Paint for One C^-nt u. Pound. — To one gallon of soft, hot water, add 

 four pounds sulphate of zinc (crude). Let it dissolve perfectly, and a sedi- 

 ment will settle at the bottom. Turn the clear solution into another vessel. 

 To one gallon of paint (lead and oil), mix one gallon of the compound. Stir 

 it into the paint slowly for ten or fifteen minutes, and the compound and 

 paint will perfectly combine. If too thick thin it with turpentine. 



A Good AVord for Toadt — Toads, according to Prof. Miles, live almost 

 entirely upon slugs, caterpillars, beetles and other insects, making their 

 rounds at night, when the farmer is asleep— and the birds, too — and the in- 

 sects are supposed to be having their own way. French farmers understand 

 these facts so well that they purchase toads, at so much a dozen, and turn 

 them loose. 



Protect the Sw^allo^v. — Among insectivorous birds the swallow is 

 worthy of great encouragement. An examination of the stomachs of eight- 

 een swallows killed at difierent seasons of the year showed that they con- 

 tained an average of 406 undigested insects each, and not a single grain of 

 eoru (of any kind), or the least particle of fruit or a trace of any vegetable. 



Plan for Keeping Hams. — Avery good way of keeping hams ia to wrap 

 them in strong brown paper so that the ashes cannot come in contact with 

 them. Then pack them in clean, hard wood ashes, in dry boxes or barrels. 

 This will keep well cured hams quite sweet, as the ashes serve as a protec- 

 tion against insects. The boxes should be set in a cool, dry place. 



Improving La-v%-ns. — For ridding lawns of unsightly weeds, such as 

 plantain and dandeUons, the following plan is recommended by an experi- 

 enced gardener: To the end of a Ught wooden rod attach a small sponge, 

 or bettor, wind a few thicknesses of cloth around it, dip the sponge in oil of 



