HOME ECONOMICS FOR SOUTHERN SCHOOLS. 25 



effect of a cold plunge, it decreases considerably the tendency to catch 

 cold. Toilet soaps should never contain a large excess of alkali. 

 They should be made of pure fat. Perfume is frequently used to 

 hide poor materials in soap making. The amount of water present 

 in the soap determines the hardness of the latter. Since the way in 

 which soap "spends" depends upon this hardness, it is wise to let the 

 cake stand exposed to air for a while before using it. 



References. — Books on personal hygiene and household chemistry. 



Correlation. — : English: Outline ways in which running water can 

 be put into a detached farmhouse ; a shower bath improvised. Deter- 

 mine the difference in the time a soft cake of soap lasts compared with 

 a hard cake of the same kind. 



LESSON 52. 



Problem. — To cook dried fruit. 



Points to be brought out. — Slow cooking helps to soften dried fruit 

 and makes it absorb more completely the water lost in drying. Soak- 

 ing is valuable as a means of decreasing the length of time necessary 

 for cooking. 



References. — Langworthy: Raisins, Figs, and Other Dried Fruits, 

 and Their Use, U. S. Dept. Agr. Yearbook Separate 610; Farmers' 

 Bui. 771. 



Correlation. — Arithmetic: Determine the percentage of water ab- 

 sorbed in cooking soaked and unsoaked dried fruit. Compare the 

 composition of cooked dried fruit with fresh fruit. 



Supplementary topic. — List the kinds of dry fruit available, with 

 prices. (Stores and catalogues.) 



LESSON 53. 



Problem. — Food as building material. 



Points to be brought out. — Food does two things in the body — it fur- 

 nishes energy and it furnishes the material from which the body fluids 

 and tissues are formed. About 6 per cent of the body is made up of 

 mineral material, and unless this is supplied in the food we soon see 

 the effects of such a deficiency. It is ordinarily conceded that suffi- 

 cient mineral matter is present in the diet as usually selected. This 

 is true only if we select our foods wisely and prepare them so as to 

 retain as much as possible of this mineral material. 



References.— V. S. Dept. Agr., Office Expt. Stas. Buls. 185 and 227. 



Correlation. — Chemistry: List the elements present in the body. 

 Divide them into two groups, acidic and basic. 



LESSON 54. 



Problem. — To prepare mashed potatoes. These should be cooked 

 in different ways — baked, boiled with the skin on, boiled with the 

 skin off, and boiled after being peeled and cut into cubes. Cream each, 



