HINTS AXD HELPS. 508 



Gilding Witbont a Battery. — Clean the silver or other article to be 

 gilded with a brush and a little ammonia water, nutil it is evenly bright and 

 shows no tarnish. Take a small piece of gold and dissolve it in aboat four 

 times its volame of metallic mercorj-, which will be accomplished iu a few 

 minutes, forming an amalgam. Put a little of the amalgam on a piece of 

 dry cloth, rub it on the article to be gilded. Then place on a stone in a 

 furnace, and heat to the beginning of redness. After cooling, it must be 

 cleaned with a brush and a little cream of tartar, and a beaatiAil and per- 

 manent gUding will be found. 



Fluid for Soldering and Tinning. — The following compounds are 

 useful for soldering or tinning: Tin— one part muriatic acid, with as much 

 ziuc as it will dissolve; add two parts of water and some sal ammoniac. 

 Brass and copper— one pound muriatic acid, four ounces zinc, five ounces 

 sal ammoniac. Zinc — one pound muriatic acid, and two ounces sal ammo- 

 niac, with all the zinc it will dissolve, and three pints of water. Iron — one 

 pound of muriatic acid, six ounces sperm tallow, four ounces s&l ammoniac. 

 Gold and silver — one pound muriatic acid, eight ounces sperm tallow, and 

 eight ounces sal ammoniac. 



To Keep Cheese from Mold. —Dissolve a spoonful of bruised pepper, 

 two teaspoonfuls of salt, and the same quantity of boracic acid in a quarter 

 of a pint of brandy for a few days; then filter the fluid through a cloth and 

 dilute with an equal quantity of water. Some of the preparation is intro- 

 duced into the cracks of the cheese by means of a feather, or better with a 

 small glass syringe. If places which have been nibbled by mice are rubbed 

 with the liquid no mold will form. It will put "jumpers " to flight. 



Grease on Kitrlien Floors. — With the greatest care the housewife will 

 occasionally spill a little grease on the kitchen floor. When possible, the best 

 thing is immediately to pour over it cold water, and prevent it penetrating 

 the wood. Scrape ofl" all that is possible, rub thickly with soap, and wash off 

 with boiling water. When dry, fold thicknesses of brown wrapping paper, 

 lay over the spot, and place on it a hot smoothing iron; this will draw much 

 of the grease into the paper; then wash again with soap and hot water. This 

 will take out so much of the spot that it will hardly be noticed if daily washed 

 ofif as it draws out of the wood, for every particle has to come out at the top 

 of the boards, and the more i)er8istently one works at it, the sooner it will 

 disappear. 



To Clean Gloves. — The following is recommended as the best mode of 

 cleaning gloves: ilix one-fouirth ounce carbonate of ammonia, one-fourth 

 ounce fluid cliloroform, one-fourth ounce sulphuric ether, one quart distilled 

 benzine. Pour out a small quantity in a saucer, put on the gloves, and 

 wash as if washing the hands, changing solution until gloves are clean; take 

 off, squeeze tliem, replace on hands, and with a clean cloth rub fingers, etc., 

 until they are dry and perfectly fitted to the hand This cleaner is also an 

 excellent clothes, ribbon and silk cleaner; is perfectly harmless to the most 

 delicate tints. Apply with a soft sponge, rubbing gently witil spots disap- 

 pear; care must be taken not to use it near fixe, as the benzine is very in- 

 flammable. 



To Cure Meats. —For curing beef, pork, mutton, and hams, the follow- 

 ing recipe is good: To one gallon of water take one and a half pounds of 



