SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
SOAP MAKING— INFORMATION WANTED. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — I liave been reading 
your valuable paper for sometime, and find in it much 
useful information for housekeepers, and as I am inex- 
perienced in that line, I have determined to apply to you 
lo assist me in a dilemma. 
As we live in the country, and my husband is in debt, 
it is entirely inconsistent with his ideas of economy to 
buy soap, and the art of soap making is a secret which I 
have not yet learned. If you could have heard all the 
scolding and reminding I have done this year to haveaslies 
and ley dripped, you would feel assured that it is not my j 
fault that I am not abundantly supplied with that most in- 
dispensable article. 
Now, there is a method by which nearly a barrelful of 
soap can be made at a very trifling expense without the 
use of ashes or ley ; but with the modus operandi I am en- 
tirely unacquainted ; and if you will consult your indus- 
trious, economical wives (I take it for granted you have 
them, and prattling little ones, too, whose aprons are as 
clean as their faces) 1 have no doubt you can be furnish- 
ed with the very identical recipe. If they cannot, some 
of your contributors can, and 1 should be much pleased to 
see an article in your paper, soon, upon the art of soap 
making with or without ley. Also, please remember the 
criticisms of “Green Horn.” Respectfully, 
Dora. 
FViars' Pond, Miss., Sept., 1855, 
Remarks. — The letter of our fair friend has been post- 
poned much longer than we intended, by the press of mat- 
ter in our columns. Our “better halves” disclaim a knowl- 
edge of the art of making soap without potash or ley. 
and while we are waiting to be enlightened on this sub- 
ject by our lady readers, we will offer the three following 
recipes, which come to us highly recommended : 
Recipe for Washing. — The night before washing day, 
put the clothes lo soak in cold water and also place on 
the hot stove, in a suitable vessel, two pounds soap, cut 
small; one ounce of borax, and two quarts of water. 
These may be left to simmer till the fire goes out ; in the 
morning the mixture will be solid. On washing day, 
operations are commenced by setting on a stove or fur- 
nace the wash kettle nearly filled with cold water. Into 
this put one-fourth of a pound of the compound, and then 
wring out the clothes that have been soaking and put 
them into the kettle. By the time that the water is scald- 
ing hot, the clothes will be ready to take out. Drain them 
well, and put them into clean, cold, water, and then 
thoroughly rinse them twice, and they are ready to be 
hung out. When more water is added to the wash-kettle, 
more soap should also be added, but the quantity needed 
will be very small. This process has many advantages 
over others. It is suited for washing every kind of fabric ; 
it is especially good for flannels, and seems to set colors 
rather than remove them from dresses or shawls, while the 
white clothes are rendered exceedingly white. It costs 
less for soap than the common mode of washing; it is only 
half as laborious, the clothes are thoroughly cleansed in 
much less time, without injury to them; and last, but not 
least, the soap does not act like caustic upon the hands, 
but after a day’s washing they have a peculiarly soft, silky 
feel, as far removed as is possible from the sensations pro- 
duced by washing with ordinary washing compounds. 
Labor-saving Soap — Take two pounds of sal-soda, two 
pounds of yellow bar soap, and ten quarts of water. Cut 
the soap in thin slices, and boil together two hours; strain 
and it will be fit for use. Put the clothes in soak the 
night before you wash, and to every pail of water in which 
you boil them, add a pound of this soap. They wil! 
no rubbing ; merely rinse them out, and they will be jjaa- - 
fectly clean and white. 
Cheap Soap. — A correspondent of the Southern 
ner gives the following recipe for soap making, and aditj-.. 
that it would be worth one thousand dollars in the hand:-.. ■ 
of a selfish person, and the world would have to untie 
purse string to get it, but here it is free gratis : 
Take six pounds of Potash 75 
Four pounds of Lard 
Four pounds of Rosin 25 
All amounting Si 50^ 
Beat up the rosin ; mix all together well, and set 
for five days, then put the wliole into a ten gallon- caois ' 
of warm water and stir twice a day for ten days; aS tilths 
expiration of which time, or sooner, yon will have 
hundred pounds of excellent soap for S' 50. 
PLANTING IN JEFFERSON, &C. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — In renewing my 
scription for the next volume (which is herewith sea 
you) 1 beg leave to ofter a fevv suggestions to the brotkes- 
hood of Planters. In your notice of the visit ta-Caill 
Warren’s place, and Major Douglas’ management, thesre, 
was much to admire, and something not to admire. TbesS 
the Major is a prince in his line, is certainly true ; ek&h&r- 
never could work the crops he does, and keep his bajiids- 
and teams in order ; but 1 felt a regret to see so much tabsc 
lost — so much land injured — when the same laborjdirset!-- 
ed properly, would have given as large returns of eifopsr 
and greatly increased value in land. When will theSosatfiA 
learn that it is bad policy to exhaust a valuable eslat-s^ in-* 
land ; to brag of large crops cultivated and so many 
ton bags made I 
I am just home from a short trip to Southwestern Ge'£w&--- 
gia, and find the same ruinous course in full blast, in t&iar?: 
section. Will men never reflect that no land will pro- 
duce, year after year, with half cultivation, a crop of €©££.■. 
and a crop of grass or cotton and grass, and not 
rapidly I Two crops in the year and no return, is £©2 ^ 
much ; and yet we go on increasing in the an of wearjusg;': 
out our land with grass. All true farmers think it n 8 ©« 2 - 
sary to help their land to make grass; but we think dififs::-'.- 
ently and act accordingly. 
1 have concluded to adopt a different course, and - 
pudiate this ‘ American notion” South, and at the ' 
being called an “old fogy;” progress backwards 
to produce increased crops from lewer acres and impw^S” 
all my estate together. I regard it better policy and mcar:?- 
patriotic and religious. What right have I to wear 
or injure one acre of old earth — the gitt of God to mac— 
the feeding mother and common inherritance of alS tfeffc- 
race 1 Surely none * 
I have planted as much as twenty acres to the kiSKtfr, : 
this year have fallen to fifteen acres and cannot hoi>3®- • 
crop, and have plenty of pork and corn to sell, and laeiu: • 
year propose to drop to about thirteen acres, and inaks isa • 
less. 
Perhaps at some leisure time I may say more oh' Sfedf- 
subject. “Clifton.-'* 
Clifton, Fla., 1855. 
*Our friend is correct. No man has a moral right: £o - 
leave land any poorer tlian God made it, and thns inSjuS-:,. 
untold evils on posterity. — Eds. 
