1876 .] 
105 i 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
creek; and did I think that radishes would grow 
there, for Lieut. — was so fond of them. This lady 
had quite fallen in with her new mode of life, and 
managed to find a daily pleasure in it, and though 
she could grace the society of the older posts, she 
found too many duties on the frontier to allow r her 
time for repining, and there was so much to inter¬ 
est her in the present, that her conversation rare¬ 
ly rarely run upon past pleasures. I am hap¬ 
py to say that the majority of the officers’ wives 
on the frontier were of the last described class. 
The great distance of many of these posts from all 
ordinary routes of travel, made the transportation 
by wagons cost from 25 cents to 81.25 for every 
pound of material brought to them ; furniture of 
most kinds was quite out of the question, yet 
rooms were often neatly, even liaudsomely fur¬ 
nished through the ingenuity of these excellent 
wives. We recollect a marked instance of this, in 
which Mrs. Col. W., with an admirable foresight, 
had all the effects they were to bring from “ the 
states ” packed in boxes of uniform sizes. Three of 
these boxes, laid one upon another, with their open 
tops outward, and properly curtained and draped, 
formed a useful bureau; others put upon legs 
and the edges covered with some proper material, 
made a “ china closet,” though the ware was mostly 
of tin, and the Col.’s books were thoughtfully sent 
out in boxes, which, placed one upon another, made 
as useful a book-case as need be. Lumber at all 
these posts is exceedingly rare, but these ingenious 
ladies would turn the boxes, barrels, and kegs from 
the commissary’s and quartermaster’s department 
to a great variety of uses, and what would other¬ 
wise go to waste, appeared as ottomans, foot-stools, 
and various other conveniences. I have seen most 
comfortable easy-cliairs made from casks, and a 
lounge made with a pole frame-work, across which 
split barrel staves were nailed, to make a com¬ 
fortable spring seat. All this was done where 
it was a matter of necessity, this or nothing; but 
there are many cases where the same ingenuity 
can construct household furniture from cheap ma¬ 
terials which will answer all the uses of expensive 
articles, and save a considerable outlay. 
-- ■ 8 >« - 
Household Notes and Queries. 
Under this head we propose to keep up a sort of 
“ intelligence office ” for housekeepers, where 
questions may be asked and answered; where 
short items may find a place and useful “ scraps ” 
may be saved. 
Pies often have their juices cooked out; Mrs. J. 
A. Williams, of Wisconsin, prevents this by having 
some water handy, and when the pie is filled, she 
wets the edge of the lower crust, puts on the upper 
crust, and pinches the two together where they 
come in contact. 
Keeping Eggs. —“ J. L. T.,” Middletown, Ohio, 
has kept eggs for the past 20 years thus : Paper is 
cut in pieces of the proper size, and each egg is 
wrapped up, the paper being folded closely around 
it and twisted firmly at the large end; the eggs are 
then packed in a vessel with the small ends down, 
and kept as cold as possible without freezing. The 
eggs packed in Sept, to Nov., keep until April. 
Wanted, a good recipe for rye-bread. In our 
experience the trouble with rye and Indian bread 
is due to the difficulty of getting rye meal; that 
sold in the stores is bolted too fine ; we cannot say 
how it is with bread of clear rye. Another: a recipe 
for ginger snaps, snaps that will snap , is asked for. 
Tea Stains on linen are what Mrs. II. A. Y. 
would like to remove, and she would also like to 
know how fo use chloride of lime to remove mil¬ 
dew. The numerous inquiries that we have of late 
received as to removing stains from articles of 
clothing and furniture, and concerning the repair 
and renovation of various household articles is a 
good sign; it shows that our people are studying 
the art of saving, and this is a matter in which we 
shall gladly aid. In regard to stains in general, we 
had already prepared some notes on the subject, 
which we hope to give when there is room, but we 
answer this by itself. All fruit stains and all ordi¬ 
nary vegetable stains, including mildew, may be 
removed by the use of chloride of potash ; this, 
(like chloride of lime), is not a proper chemical 
name, but a name by which it is known in the 
shops ; it is also called Javelle water. It has the 
same bleaching qualities as chloride of lime, aud is 
much preferable to that, as the lime makes the ma¬ 
terials harsh. Wet the mildew and tea stains with 
this for a few minutes before they go into the wash; 
rinse thoroughly, and wash as usual. 
Javelle Water is sold at most drug stores, but 
it is easily and much more cheaply made. Take 1 
lb. chloride of lime, 2 lbs. pearlash, and sufficient 
water. Saleratus, (not soda), will answer, but not 
so well as pearlash. Put the chloride of lime in a jar 
with 1 gallon of water, adding the water gradually 
at first, and mashing the lumps with a stick to get 
all thoroughly mixed ; stir thoroughly and let stand 
for a day or two ; pour off the liquid from the sedi¬ 
ment, no matter if it is a little cloudy ; wash out the 
jar and return the liquid ; dissolve the pearlash in 
hot water, about 3 pints, and add this to the liquid 
in the jar ; let stand until clear, and pour off, keep¬ 
ing it in a bottle or a jug for use. A teacupful of 
this added to a boiler of cotton or linen goods, 
bleaches them finely. It should not be used too 
often, and then special care should be given to 
rinsing, or the materials may be weakened. 
Kestoring Gilt Picture Frames.—“M. P. B.,” 
It is difficult to say unless we know what kind of a 
frame. Many frames called gilt, have no gold leaf 
on them; they are first covered with the vastly 
The Uses of Euttermilk. 
BY MISS A. D. WALKER, MORRIS CO., N. J. 
In our farm-home we make great use of butter¬ 
milk, and the following recipes have been well 
tested. We often use fresh buttermilk in mixing 
bread, and find it increases the lightness and white¬ 
ness. Buckwheat cakes are not considered very 
wholesome, and we have almost discarded them. 
Griddle Cakes are made with buttermilk, one 
quart; baking soda and salt, each, one even table¬ 
spoonful ; one teacupful of Indian meal, and five 
of wheat flour. Cakes made in this way, will, if 
the rule is followed, be tender, light, and excellent. 
To make muffins we leave out the Indian meal, aud 
bake in muffin rings. “What, muffins without 
eggs?” some will ask. Yes, and if you try them 
you will like them, as the buttermilk makes them 
very light and puffy. 
Indian Cake, or pone, as it is sometimes called, 
makes a delightful breakfast dish. Our method is 
as follows : 1 quart of buttermiik, 4 teacupfuls of 
Indian meal, 2 of wheat flour, 4 tablespoonfuls of 
.molasses, or brown sugar, 1 even tablespoonful 
each of soda and salt. Bake in a quick oven. This 
rule makes two handsome cakes. It is eaten warm, 
with butter. The same batter we prepare for muf¬ 
fins, makes excellent fritters, if fried in hot lard. 
No» 448. — A Prefix Puzzle. —By Frank. Prefix each letter of the alphabet, (excepting I, Q, and X,) not 
in regular order, to its required object in this picture, using no objector letter more than once, and obtain: 
cheaper silver leaf, and then lacquered. Lacquer 
is a varnish made from light colored gums dissolved 
in alcohol and colored with tumeric. This laid on 
over the silver, gives it the color of gold. If the 
frames are really covered with gold-leaf, it will be 
better to hare them regilded ; if they are cheap 
frames, they can be improved by a coat of lac¬ 
quer, first carefully removing all dust and specks. 
1. Property. 
2. Used in chess. 
3. To injure. 
4. A kind of nut. 
5. A fault. 
6. A girdle. 
7. Complete. 
8. Cold. 
9. A glimpse. 
10. A discordant sound. 
11. Exposed. 
12. Layers. 
13. A rapid current of water. 
14. Limited. 
15. Mode of treating. 
16. Closed. 
17. A common superlative. 
18. A musical instrument. 
19. A military command. 
20. A flower. 
21. A kind of boat. 
22. An animal. 
23. A story. [Sue. 
Answers to be sent to Aunt 
