814 THE HOUSEllOLI). 



pints of ammonia. The capacity is ucarly doubled by reducing the water to 

 the temperature of ice. Hence, water kept in a room awhile is unfit for use. 

 For the same reason, water from a pump should always be pumped out in 

 the morning before any of it be used. 



Bread-Mnking — A correspondent writes as follows: "I have lately 

 adopted a new way in bread making, which has given mo the bcsl satisfac- 

 tion. Make a hole in the middle of your pan of flour, pour in the required 

 amount of yeast and milk, and cover it over slightly with dry flour. If this 

 is done at night, you will find in the morning a light foamy mass which I 

 stir down once or twice before kneading for the bread tins. I think the 

 bread nicer for the ingredients being mixed so slowly. 



To Purify "Water. — A tablespoonful of pulverized alum sprinkled into 

 a hogshead of water (the water stirred at the same time) will, after a few 

 hours, by precipitating to the bottom the impure particles, so purify it, that 

 it will be found to possess nearly all the freshness and clearness of the finest 

 Bpring water. A pailful, containing four gallons, may bo thoroughly puri- 

 fied by a single teaspoonful of the alum. 



Save Your Sugar .^AU housekeepers should know that sugar boiled 

 with an acid, if it be but thi'eo minutes, will be converted into glucose, 

 which is the form of sugar found in sweet apples. One pound of sugar has 

 as much sweetening power as two and a quarter pounds of glucose. In 

 other words, one pound of sugar stirred into the fruit after it is cooked, and 

 while yet warm, will make the fruit as sweet as two and a quarter j^ounds 

 added while the fruit is boiling. 



To Make Sliell Fi-aiiies. — The part of the frame that is to be orna- 

 mented with shells must bo covered thickly with fresh putty; press the 

 shell down into the putty nearly or quite to the top edge of the shell; foirm 

 flowers or any fancy design; then carefully cut away any of the supeiHuous 

 putty that remains, using a sharp pen-knife; if any should unavoidably show, 

 it can be colored pink or white; let the frame remain in a flat position until 

 the putty hardens. 



To Restore tUe Pile of Velvet. — Stretch the velvet out tightly, and re- 

 move all dust from the surface with a clean brush; afterward, well clean it 

 with a piece of black flannel, slightly moistened with Florcniso oil. Then 

 lay a wet cloth over a hot iron, and place it under the velvet, allowing the 

 Bteam to pass through it, at the same time brushing the pile of the velvet 

 till restored as required. Should any fluff remain on the surface of the vel- 

 vet, remove it by brushing with a handful of crape. 



A Simplo Insertici<l«s — Hot alum water is the best insect destroyer 

 known. Put the alum into hot water and let it boil till it is all dissolved; 

 then apply the solution hot with a brush to all cracks, closets, bedsteads, 

 and other places, where any insects ai-c found. Ants, bedbugs, cockroaches 

 and creeping things are killed by it; while it has no danger of poisouyig the 

 family or injuring the property. 



To Remove Grease. — Aqua ammonia, two ounces; soft water, one 

 quart; saltpeter, one teaspoonful; shaving soap in shavings, one ounce; mix 

 together; dissolve the soap well, and any grease or dirt that cannot be re- 

 moved with this preparation, nothing else uood bo tried for it. 4 



