150 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[Mat, 
in which females are or might be engaged, and a 
large proportion of these come under the head 
of manufactures. 
In 1818, when Paris contained less than one mil- 
lion inhabitants, there were employed in only thir- 
teen branches of industrial labor, 112,891 women, 
7,851 girls between the ages of 13 and 16, and 869 
under 12. Over twelve hundred other occupations 
of females were officially reported. The following 
selections are interesting. 
Men Women 
Occupation. employed, employed. 
Boot and Shoe Makers 13,553 6,713 
Makers of Shoes to Order 7,511 1,555 
Chasers and Engravers 330 21 
Gilders and Silverers of Ware 442 163 
Gilders of Wood and Paper 878 329 
Makers of Military Equipments 1,649 2,254 
Dealers in Furs 232 399 
Makers of Kid and Cloth Gloves 1,064 1,076 
Copper-Plate Engravers 266 62 
Dealers in Linen Drapery 80 8,974 
Manufacturers of Linen Drapery 80 2,331 
Embroiderers of Furniture 473 941 
Makers of Painters' Pencils and Brushes. 114 1-9 
Feather Dressers 78 533 
Polishers and Burnishers of Gold 23 284 
Tailors 17,726 13,716 
Makers of Hat Morocco.... - 296 356 
The number of shop-keepers is not stated, the 
very thing we would like most to kuow, for during 
our visit last season we were specially interested in 
observing that both in Loudon and Paris, but espec- 
ially in Paris, the clerks or sellers in the retail es- 
tablishments of almost all kinds were chiefly fe- 
males. A majority of the ticket sellers at the rail- 
way stations were also females ; while in those sa- 
loons or eating and drinking houses where the lower 
classes of men were most apt to be fouud, men 
were employed as waiters, etc. An exception to 
this was seen in some of the beer shops of London, 
where well dressed and apparently modest females 
behind the counters were compelled to listen to the 
profanity and low language of drunkards and vile 
men. Throughout France the police regulations 
are so strict that females very appropriately occupy 
the railway ticket stations, and other public offices. 
We think that in this country there are tens of 
thousands of situations in our retail stores, and in 
ticket offices, etc., which might be occupied by 
women. The habitual respect and courtesy here 
shown to women, would protect them from insult, 
and perhaps a well dressed, well behaved woman 
in many of our public offices would tend to 
make them less the resort of boisterous men. 
In this city there are certainly many thousands 
of men becoming effeminated by standing be- 
hind the counters dabbling in tapes, silks, and rib- 
bons, who should give place to women, and them- 
selves go forth to the sterner employments of man. 
Another thought in this connection. There is an 
increasing demand for fruits and flowers, and may 
not these be more cultivated by females than they 
now are ? Near our cities and large villages espec- 
ially, many a widow with her dependent family, 
might, from an acre or two of grapes and other 
small fruits, derive a livelihood. The training of 
the trees and vines, their protection from insects, 
etc., are appropriate work for women and children, 
far more healthful and invigorating, than the now 
" everlastingstitch, stitch, stitch," which is thought 
to be about the only work a dependent woman 
may do for others, with credit to herself. 
For the American Agriculturist. 
Hints on House Cleaning, 
— • — 
The first place to attack is the cellar. It should 
not be neglected, because " nobody will 6ce it." 
Neatness is desirable for its own sake. A well kept 
cellar is essential for health as well as comfort. No 
person of common 6ense would think of building a 
dwelling over a swamp hole : yet many are living 
over cellars which arc little better. The dampness 
from want of ventilation in that dopartment, and 
the effluvia arising from decaying vegetables, are 
undoubtedly frequent causes of fever and ague. It 
is preferable to have the main portion of potatoes, 
roots, cabbages, etc., stored in a cellar apart from 
the house, and to bring in a 6upply occasionally as 
needed. But let everything be thoroughly over- 
hauled now, and all decomposing substances re- 
moved. Clear out every unoccupied box and bar- 
rel. Rout the spiders that have curtained the win- 
dows and festooned the beams overhead. Stop all 
rat boles, and repair places which they have gnawed. 
Caustic potash, or chloride of lime, scattered near 
their haunts, are said to be efficacious in driving 
them away. A good floor of cement is an excel- 
lent preventive of their sapping and mining. After a 
complete clearing out, give the walls and ceiling a 
good coat or two of whitewash, and when all things 
are " set to rights," it will be a pleasure to enter 
what is usually the most repulsive part of thedom- 
icil. The garret will next claim attention. Not a 
little dust will be fouud quietly resting there, hav- 
ing taken refuge from continued assaults with the 
broom in the lower rooms. Before disturbing it, 
pack away all extra bed clothing, woolen garments, 
and other apparel not needed for present wear. 
Tight trunks or boxes will keep them safe from 
moths, if they be occasionally taken out and thor- 
oughly beaten. Do not suffer an accumulation of 
rubbish in the garret. If an article is useless, it will 
not pay to store it ; sell it, give it away, or burn it. 
Before commencing with the other rooms, go 
through the pantries and closets. Clothes closets 
should not be neglected. Moths seek dusty, linty 
corners for breeding. Sweep and whitewash the 
walls, scrub the wood-work, and stop all cracks 
with mortar or putty. Rooms should be gone 
through with in order, commencing at the upper 
stories. There is no need to let even the good 
man of the house know that this operation is going 
on. Undertake no more at a time than can be well 
finished in one day, and the grand domestic revo- 
lution witnessed every Spring in some households 
may be avoided. An Old Housekeeper. 
Washing Cotton Comforters. 
" Economist " writes to the Agriculturist, that 
comforters can be made so that the cotton may be 
easily removed before washing. Her method is to 
place a layer of cotton between the calico, and tie 
it at points about six inches apart with coarse knit- 
ting cotton doubled. The needle is run through 
the whole thickness of calico and cotton, then re- 
turned, and the thread fastened with a knot. After 
the cotton is all properly secured, the edges of the 
calico are sewed together with a running stitch. 
When soiled, the threads are easily drawn from 
the edges, the ties are cut, and the cloth is remov- 
ed and washed, leaving the cotton in a continuous 
sheet, ready to be replaced when the calico is 
cleansed. She says this can be done in less time 
than by washing the whole together, and the cot- 
ton will remain lighter and more comfortable, than 
it could be made by whipping after washing. 
m I — ■— i . 
Mixed Cotton and Woolen Stockings. 
A HINT TO MANUFACTURERS. 
It is rather surprising that the improvement 
upon woolen stockings mentioned in the April 
Agriculturist, (page 118), should not have been 
adopted by manufacturers in this country. A valued 
correspondent "A" writes on this subject: "I 
found such stockings very common in Denmark 
and Russia thirty-seven years ago, and presume 
they are common all over the north of Europe ; and 
probably from time immemorial have been thus 
knit, or with linen and woolen thread as you recom- 
mend, now cotton is so dear. 
" Pure woolen stockings, I have given up wearing 
for many years, for I cut holes through the heels 
and toes of the strongest in three or four days — 
they doing me very little service. As I cannot find 
iu our country the mixed wooleu and cotton, I wear 
in the Winter thick, coarse cotton, and find these 
answer well, though I would prefer woolen if they 
did me any kiud of service. I used to have apiece 
of stout cotton cloth sewed over the heel of my 
woolen stockings ; but there were two objections 
to this ; it made the stocking too thick and bungling 
at the heel, and the cotton cloth would not shrink 
evenly with the woolen stocking, which thus 
caused wrinkles very uncomfortable to the heel." 
To Prevent Stammering. 
J. T. Hassett, Summit Co., O., writes to the Ag- 
riculturist. " When children see any thing remark- 
able (iu their view), they are always iu a great hur- 
ry to tell of it, and often the words crowd to the 
tongue faster than they fall from it, which induces 
stammering. On such occasions, the parent should 
instantly hush the child, until its excitement is 
over, and then give it the privilege to make the 
relation calmly." This is a good suggestion. It is 
known that an inveterate stutterer can be cured by 
practising some method which requires him to 
speak deliberately and in measured time. Some 
" Professors " who cure stammerers, require their 
pupils to beat time with the finger at each word, 
the same as iu singing, and iu this way the habit ol 
control over the organs of speech is acquired. But 
prevention is always better than cure, and a little 
care at the first will entirely break up the tendency 
to stammer, which children often have. 
"Hulling" Beans before Cooking. 
Mr. Editor : In response to your suggestion in 
the American Agriculturist last mouth, in reference 
to the very nutritious quality of beans, and theii 
indigestibility unless the skins are broken so as 
to allow the gastric juice to act upon the inner por 
tion, I send you my wife's mode of cooking them 
I will premise by saying that for many years we 
have raised for our own cooking a small, bright, 
white pole-bean, planted with corn. The corn 
stalks support the vines, and do not appear to be 
in the least injured by them. — Before cooking the 
beans, they are hulled with lye from wood ashes, 
ju6t as we prepare corn for what is called " lye 
hominy." There need not be the least taste of the 
lye left upon either beans or corn. Beans thus 
prepared speedily cook very tender, and make a 
wholesome and delicious dish, either as soup or 
mashed. G. M. 
Hancock County, Ind., March, 1863. 
Hints on Cooking. 
How to Cook Asparagus. — Cut the 
stalks when 6 to 13 inches high, and wash if need- 
ed. Some break the stems into short pieces, and 
others tie them whole in little bundles, a few stalks 
in each. They are then boiled in water slightly 
salted, for 25 to SO minutes, and dipped out and 
drained. Lay toast iu the bottom of a dish, and 
spread the asparagus over it. Pour over the whole 
a full supply of drawn butter, or what is better, 
gravy made of milk and flour — cream instead of 
milk makes it still richer. Add salt enough to sea- 
son it. The good quality of the dish will much de- 
pend upon the skill exercised in making the gravy. 
If eaten in large quantities, asparagus is diuretic, 
though producing no serious injury. Iu moderate 
quantity it is not only palatable and moderately nu- 
tritious, but believed to be healthful. 
Cheap Vegetable Soup. — Contributed 
to the Agriculturist by M. H. B. France, Susquehan 
na Co., Pa. Peel and 6lice a quart bowl of potatoes 
with two or three onions, and boil tender. Stii 
three tablespoonfuls of flour into cold water and 
add to the potatoes, with butter the size of an egg. 
Pour in water sufficient for four quarts of soup and 
6easou with pepper and salt to taste. Add a pint ot 
dry bread or biscuit, boil a few moments and serve. 
fflrs. Bunker's Soup.— A young house- 
keeper requests that Mrs. Tim Bunker will please 
communicate, for the benefit of the inexperienced, 
how to make that soup which her husband writes 
about with so much gusto, on page 87 (March Ho.). 
A Dish for Hard Times. — M. A. 
Johnson, Grasshopper Falls, Kansas, sends to the 
Agriculturist the following directions for cooking a 
