HINTS AND HELPS. 509 



A ValnaUe Discovery — ^It is said that a lady in Springfield, Mass., 

 has been making some interesting experiments in putting np canned goods 

 without cooking. Heating the fruit tends more or less to the injurj- of the 

 flavor, and the lady referred to has found that by filling the cans with fruit, 

 and then with pure cold water, and allowing them to stand until all the eon- 

 fined air has escaped, the fruit will, if then sealed perfectly, keep indefi- 

 nitely, without change or loss of original flavor. 



To Clean PlusU—That plush may be cleaned is a fact of interest; chil- 

 dren's plush coats that have become soiled on the front can be softly and 

 dehcately sponged with a Uttle borax and water, without injury; a teaspoon- 

 ful of powdered borax to nearly a quart of water is the proper proportion; 

 use a very soft sponge — and, by the way, a sponge may be softened by boil- 

 ing it in clear water; then take it out and rinse it in several waters; if not 

 softened sufficiently, repeat the boiling and rinsing process. 



Bottling Fmit. — Have ready some dry glass bottles, wide-mouthed 

 and clean. Bum a match in each to exhaust the air; place the fniit quickly 

 in each; cork with soft bungs or corks, and put in a cool oven; let them re- 

 main until the fruit has shrunken one-fourth. Take out the bottles; beat 

 the corks well in and cover them with melted rosin. If tlie fruit has been 

 picked dry, and is quite sound, it will keep for months in a cool, dry place, 

 and rptain all the flavor. 



To Reittove Stains from the Iland-s Ktc. — Dampen the hands first in 

 water, then rub them with tartaric acid or salt of lemons, as you would with 

 soap; rinse them and mb them dry. Tartaric acid or salt of lemons will 

 quickly remove stains from white muslins or linens. Put less than half a 

 teaspoonful in water; wet the stain with it, and lay it in the sun for an hour; 

 wet it once or twice with cold water during the time; if this does not quite 

 remove it, repeat the acid water and lay it in the sun. 



"Waterproof Blacking. — Dissolve an ounce of borax in water, and in 

 this dissolve gum shellac until it is the consistency of thin paste; add lamp- 

 black to color. This makes a cheap and excellent blacking for boots, giving 

 them the polish of new leather. The shellac makes the boots or shries al- 

 most entirely waterproof. Camphor dissolved in alcohol added to the black- 

 ing makes the leather more pliable and keeps it from cracking. This is sold 

 at 50 cents for a small bottle. By making it yourself $1 will buy materials 

 for a gallon. 



To Renovate Black Cloth.. -Clean the cloth from grease and dirt wiili 

 the following mixture thoroughly dissolved: Aqua ammonia, two ounces; 

 8i)ft water, one quart; saltpeter, one teaspoonful; shaving soap, in shavings, 

 oue ounce. Then when dry, make a strong decoction of log\^-ood by boiling 

 the extract in a gallon of scft water; strain, and when cool add two ounces 

 of gum arabic; apply evenly with a sponge over the surface and hang in the 

 shade. When thoroughly dry brush the nap down smooth and it will look 

 as well as new. Keep the liquid tightly corked in a Iwttle. 



To Determine if Pralt Can^^ are Air Tight. — A lady writes: " Do you 

 wish to know," said a man of science tome recently, "how to know that 

 your fruit can is certainly air tight?" I was that moment contemplating a 

 can which had a little neck on the upper edge, and it was hard to judge 

 vhether the rubber wo«ld effectually keep the air out The man lighted a 



