806 
Su2>plement  to  the  “ Tropical  Agriculturists  [May  1,  1896. 
and  concerning  the  pursuer,  and  falsely  and 
calumniously  represented  that  the  pursuer  in  the 
course  of  his  tenancy  worked  Droughtag  farm 
carelessly  and  unskilfully,  and  that  the  farm  was 
left  in  an  exhausted  condition. 
HOUSEHOLD  HINTS. 
In  ordinary  burns  and  scalds  tlie  only  i-eraedy 
required,  is  to  thoroughly  exclude  tlie  air  from 
the  injured  part.  Cotton  batting  will  do  this 
effectually. 
Bits  of  toilet  soap  which  are  very  small  may  be 
utilized.  Make  a bag  of  Turkish  towelling  about 
9 in.  square,  and  put  in  it  all  the  small  pieces  of 
soap.  When  three-quarters  filled,  sew  up  the  end 
and  use  it  the  same  as  if  it  were  a cake  of  soap. 
Preparation  for  Polishing  Brass. — Pound  fine 
and  then  sift  half  pint  of  rotten  stone.  Add  to 
this  half  a gill  of  turpentine  and  enough  sweet 
oil  to  make  a thick  paste.  Wash  the  brass  first 
in  soap  and  water ; wipe  dry,  and  then  rub 
with  the  paste.  Rub  with  a soft,  clean  rag,  and 
finish  with  a piece  of  chamois  skin. 
In  cooking  green  vegetables,  such  a.s  peas,  beans, 
and  asparagus,  it  will  be  found  that  by  .soaking 
them  for  an  hour  or  two  in  cold  water  they  will 
regain  much  of  that  fresh,  delicious  flavour  which 
is  the  principal  charm  of  country  vegetables.  Also 
a spoonful  of  salt  in  the  boiling  water  in  which 
they  are  cooked  will  preserve  their  green  colour. 
White  sugar  is  an  e.xcellent  application  for  cuts, 
wounds  and  bruises,  quickly  subduing  inflamma- 
tion. Salt  pork,  raw,  is  also  good  and  in  some 
cases  easier  to  apply. 
Matting  should  not  be  washed  with  soap  and 
water.  Lift  it  from  the  floor,  dust  well  on  both 
sides,  and  wipe  it  carefully  with  a fairly  strong 
solution  of  .salt  water. 
An  ink  splash  on  the  carpet  should  be  first 
washed  out  with  milk,  and  cleaned  up  afterwards 
with  warm  and  nice  soapsiuls. 
Rusty  black  lace,  which  may  have  been  long  in 
the  family,  can  be  revived  and  made  as  fresh  as 
new  by  the  steam  of  green  tea. 
When  the  eyes  are  tired,  or  inflamed  from  loss 
of  sleep,  apply  an  old  linen  handkerchief  dripping 
with  water  as  hot  as  you  can  possibly  bear  it. 
To  throw  water  on  burning  kerosene  only  in- 
creases the  danger  by  causing  the  oil  to  spread, 
but  salt,  hour,  or  conimeal  will  quickly  smother 
the  flames. 
Always  keep  the  inside  of  your  coffeepot  bright 
to  insure  good  coffee.  Boil  it  out  occasionally 
with  soap,  water  and  wood  ashes  and  scour 
thoroughly. 
To  relieve  pain  from  bruises,  and  i>revent  dis 
coloration  and  subsequent  stiffness,  nothing  is 
more  efficacious  than  fomentations  of  water  as 
hot  as  It  can  be  borne. 
Flour  "warmed  before  using  it  for  mixing 
hastens  the  lightening  process. 
^ 
GENERAL  ITEMS 
Mr.  Alexander  Macdonald,  a friend  and  fellow- 
student,  has  ])as.sed  at  an  early  age.  He  began 
life  as  a journalist  on  the  Elgin  Courant  and 
later  as  assistant  Editor  of  the  North  British 
Agriculturist.  He  achieved  distinction  in  the 
agricultural  classes  in  the  Edinburgh  University, 
and  was  afterwards  Editor  first  of  the  Marie 
Lane  Express  and  next  of  the  Farmer  and  Stock- 
breeder.  Later,  we  hear  of  his  going  to  South 
Africa  in  search  of  health,  and  even  here  he 
was  not  idle  to  judge  from  an  exhau.stive  report 
on  dairying  in  Australia  that  reached  our  hands. 
The  Scottish  Farmer,  referring  to  his  death,  says  : 
“ When  but  a little  over  the  threshold  of 
thirty  years,  Alexander  IMacdonald’s  career  has 
come  to  an  end.  Energetic  and  daring  to  a 
degree,  our  late  comrade  bade  fair,  had  his  life 
been  .si)ared,  to  accomplish  .something  worthy  of 
his  name.” 
Linder  the  head  of  Practical  Vegetable  and 
Flower  Gai'de7iing,  the  N.S.W.  Agricxdtural  Gaz- 
ette writes  as  follows  ; — 
The  value  of  a thick  mulch  of  animal  droppings, 
rotten  straw.  Sec.,  does  not  seem  to  be  j)roperly 
understood  by  many  persons  who  desire  to  grow 
vegetables.  It  is  surprising  how  many  are  under 
the  impression  that  cow  or  horse  dung  will  do 
injury  if  spread  over  the  surface  of  the  soil 
amongst  the  vegetables.  This  need  not  be  feared, 
but,  on  the  contrary,  it  will  be  found  to  be  most  I 
beneficial.  Farmers  should  have  no  difficulty  in 
collecting  an  abundance  of  dung,  both  for  digging  | 
into  the  soil  and  for  a mulch.  That  for  digging 
into  the  soil  will  be  all  the  better  for  being 
decouqiosed  or  rotted  before  it  be  used.  The  > 
manure  had  better  be  rotted  under  some  kind 
of  shelter,  where  the  rain  cannot  wash  through 
it  and  wash  out  some  of  the  most  valuable  part 
of  it.  It  should  be  kept  moist  whilst  it  is 
rotting,  so  that  it  may  not  become  too  heated  j 
and  burn,  for  in  such  a case  its  value  is  con- 
siderably diminished.  As  much  of  the  liijuid  !j 
excrement  of  cattle  should  be  saved  as  pos.siblo  I 
if  the  best  of  manure  is  desired.  The  fresher  i 
the  ilung  the  better  the  manure  will  be,  for  old 
dung  that  has  been  lying  about  for  months  ex-  I 
IKised  to  the  Voather  is  but  of  little  value  ex-  J 
cept  for  its  mechanical  effects  in  the  soil  or  as 
an  absorbant  lor  saving  liquid  excrements.  It 
is  useful  for  a much,  however.  Liejuid  manure, 
which  can  be  made  from  the  dung  of  animals 
soaked  in  water,  is  of  great  value  for  vegetables, 
but  slujiild  not  be  used  w\er  strong,  especially 
if  it  has  fermented,  in  Avhich  case  it  should  be 
considerably  diluted  with  water.  Exjierience  will 
soon  show  the  best  strength  to  use  if  the  effects 
of  various  applications  be  noted  carefully.  Save 
all  waste  matter  from  the  house,  and  it  will  be 
found  of  much  value  when  the  water  supidy  is 
short.  If  liipiid  manure  be  uscil  if  should  on  no 
account  be  ]iourcd  over  the  leaves  of  vegetables, 
but  be  apj)lied  to  their  roots  only.  'Phis  can  most  | 
easily  be  done  by  drawing  away  the  soil,  or  rather  i 
by  making  a little  shallow  furrow  or  trench,  into  t 
which  the  manure  can  be  ])jnred,  and  when  it  i 
has  soaked  into  the  ground  the  soil  should  lie  ( 
covered  over  again.  There  is  but  little  trouble  li 
about  this  work,  which  can  be  effected  very  I 
quickly  with  a hoe.  I 
