STANDARD RECEIPTS. 523 



consequently of that of the house itself; for the inch flooring is but slight 

 defense against the cold, which must necessarily find its way beneath. 

 A far better mode of flooring basements, cottages, dairies, etc. , is to 

 spread ou the ground a bed of air-slacked lime, on which the joists 

 should rest and be sunk, say an inch or two deep, so as to leave no 

 chance for the air to enter, and at the same time effectually keep out all 

 vermin, as they will not attempt to burrow in lime. This is one of the 

 cheapest ways of securing comfort and durability. Ten bushels of lime 

 is ample for a square of ten feet, (one hundred square feet), and there 

 are very few localities in which lime is not cheap and plenty. Such an 

 underlaying of lime will prove a most desirable preservative of basement 

 floors, and render a dwelling sanitary, warm and sound. 



Carbonic Gas in Wells. It is well known that many accidents 

 occur to persons going down into wells to clean them, owing to the gas 

 (carbonic dioxide) in such places. To remove the gas, before going 

 down into the well a quantity of burned but unslacked lime should be 

 sprinkled down. This, when it comes in contact with the water, sets 

 free a great quantity of heat in the water and lime, which rushes up- 

 ward, carrying all the deleterious gas with it; after which, the descent 

 may be made with perfect safety. The lime also absorbs the gas in the 

 well. Always lower a Hght before descending, if it goes out there is 

 still danger of suffocation. 



Another simple method is to let an umbrella down and rapidly haul it 

 up a number of times in succession. The effect is to remove the gas in 

 a few minutes from a well so foul as to instantly put out a candle previ- 

 ous to the use of the umbrella. 



Castor Oil. The fact that castor oil is as useful in the trades as in 

 medicine, is not as commonly known as should be. A few of the uses 

 are here given, as it is very useful on the farm, in the barn, carriage- 

 house and dwelling. 



It will soften and renew old leather better than any other oil known. 

 When boots and shoes are greased with it, the oil will not at all inter- 

 fere with the polishing afterwards, as is the case with lard, olive, or any 

 other kind of oil. I^eather belts for transmitting motion in machinery 

 will usually last from three to five years, according to the wear and tear 

 they are exposed to; when greased with castor oil they will last ten 

 years or more, as they always remain flexible and do not crack. Besides 

 this advantage, castor oil prevents slipping, so that a belt three inches 

 wide, impregnated with it, will be'equal to a belt four and a half inches 



