1876.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
8T5 
lined with brick, stone, or cement, so as to be fire¬ 
proof. The sill of the shed crosses it on a level 
with the ground, and as the ashes are never per¬ 
mitted to reach this sill, there can be no danger 
that fire may be communicated to it by live coals 
which are sometimes thrown out amongst the ashes. 
The larger part or the bin is outside of the shed, 
and it would be well when making it to have it 
large enough to hold at least a wagon load. When 
this quantity has accumulated, it should be re¬ 
moved. Where earth closets are used, fine coal 
ashes are an excellent substitute for dry earth, and 
they may then go from the earth eloset to the com¬ 
post heap. The ashes make useful material for 
walks and roads about the farm or garden, and 
when employed for this purpose, it is desirable 
to have a large quantity at once. 
Household Notes and Queries. 
Varnishing Lithographs.— “ Sadie,” Bent Co., 
Colorado. If a lithograph or any other paper be 
varnished without previous preparation, the var¬ 
nish will sink into the paper, rendering it partly 
transparent, and giving it a very spotted and unsight¬ 
ly appearance. Before varnishing, the pores of the 
paper must be filled with some material which will 
not allow the varnish to penetrate, and this opera¬ 
tion is called “sizing,” and the material used a 
“size.” For engravings, some form of glue makes 
the best size ; the whitest glue or gelatine, will an¬ 
swer quite as well as the more expensive isinglass 
sometimes recommended. An ounce to an ounce- 
and-a-half of gelatine or white glue to a pint of 
water, will make a size sufficiently strong. Soak 
the glue in cold water until soft, then heat and add 
the rest of the water. Try one coat on a piece of 
paper similar to that of the engraving; when thor¬ 
oughly dry, apply the varnish ; if that sinks in, it 
shows another coat of size to be needed. 
Rye Bread.— Several responses have been re¬ 
ceived to our request for instructions to make Rye 
Bread. The following comes from “ W. A. R.,” 
Allegheny, Pa., who says : “ The American Agricul¬ 
turist has been useful to me, and I would like to 
make some return if it is in my power.” “ For 
Rye Bread I set the sponge with wheat flour, the 
same as for wheat bread. After the sponge has 
raised well, I mix the dough with rye flour, work¬ 
ing it well; after the dough has raised well, I mold 
it into loaves, and raise again. Bake on an oven 
bottom, and when almost done, take the loaves out 
of the oven and wash them on top with a little 
brown sugar and water, and then set them back to 
finish baking. Those who like caraway seeds in 
rye bread, can put them in while mixing the dough.” 
_Mrs. “M. H. K.,” says : “As our family are 
very fond of rye bread, we have used it almost en¬ 
tirely this winter, and think our recipe a good one. 
It is : Take two quarts warm water, and melt in 
this one table-spoonful of lard, then add the same 
quantity of sugar and salt, stir in rye flour, making 
a thin batter ; then add a cup of yeast, and let it 
stand over night to raise. In the morning stir in 
more flour, making a thick batter, and when it 
again becomes light, put into pans and bake, either 
with or without raising a third time.” 
Staining or Painting a Floor.— “Mrs. E. B. 
N.,” whose request, being appended to some re¬ 
cipes, was overlooked until now, wishes to know 
how to stain a common pine floor to look like black 
walnut. The staining in imitation of walnut is 
done with burnt umber mixed with water. It is 
prepared by color makers for the use of those who 
grain in imitation of walnut, and this would, per¬ 
haps, be too expensive to use upon a floor, and the 
ordinary dry burnt umber would probably answer. 
The color mixed to a thin mud, should be applied 
to the floor, and well rubbed in with a woolen cloth. 
Some boards will take up more than others, and 
thus make a pleasing variety. The staining de¬ 
pends upon the sinking of the fine particles of the 
paint into the pores of the wood, and none should re¬ 
main upon the surface, as in painting, but as much 
as possible should be rubbed into the pores of the 
wood. When the water dries away, the color will 
look very dull and unpromising, but will be brought 
out by varnishing, or waxing the floor. In 
Painting Floors, we have had no experience. 
Those we have seen have been covered with a paint 
of yellow ochre. Any painter will tell you which 
will be the best paint for the purpose. If any of 
our readers can give any advice as to a useful meth¬ 
od of treating kitchen floors, either by staining or 
by painting, we shall be glad to hear from them. 
WY2 & imw (OrnWHTOo 
'I'Sae CliilUlrcaas’ l*ljay»IIoaise. 
We many years ago visited a place celebrated ail over 
tlie country for its great beauty. A grand house was 
surrounded by equally grand grounds; there were broad 
and carpet-like lawn's, smoothly rolled walks ; there were 
tall old trees and rare flowers ; there were statues and 
vases brought from Europe ; there were covered seats, a 
fountain, a water-fall, and a bridge, and it seemed as if 
everything that money could buy, had been brought to¬ 
gether to make the place beautiful. We spent many 
hours in these charming grounds, and now, after these 
many years, when we think of our visit there, what do 
you suppose first comes to mind as the prettiest thing on 
the whole place ?—Not statue, vase, or fountain, but a 
little hut built of poles and bark, hidden among the tall 
shrubs in a quiet nook—a play-house for the ohildren! 
Here was good sense. The owner was wealthy enough 
to have had it made of marble, or it might have been of 
nice wood work, with carving and painting, but he had 
not forgotten that he was once a child, and that children 
when they have a good time, do not wish to be in fear of 
scratching the paint or disfiguring the marble, so a neat 
bark house was built for them, and right cosy it looked. 
The sketch by our artist of a rude play-house reminded 
us of that, and reminded us to say to the larger boys that 
they can not better please their younger brothers and sis¬ 
ters, than by putting them up a play-hopse. Children 
like some place which they can call theirs, where they 
can have their playthings, and where they can invite their 
young friends. It need not be very nice, but it should 
be a shelter from the sun, and all the better if the roof 
can be tight enough to keep out the rain, so that it can be 
used in stormy as well as in bright days. A tent will 
answer pretty well, but it is not so good as a house built 
of boards. Those who live where trees are plenty, can 
easily make a neat rustic house. The roof is the princi¬ 
pal thing, for the sides need to be pretty much all doors 
and windows, to give plenty of air. Pine loaves make a 
capital carpet, or you can cut rushes to lay down on the 
floor. In choosing a place, see that it is one front which 
the water will runaway when it rains, else it will be very 
unpleasant. A very pretty house may be made by put¬ 
ting up a roof—only let it be a good broad one—supported 
by posts, and then plant vines all around to serve for the 
sides. Morning glories, beans—especially scarlet run¬ 
ners—Cypress vine, and others, can be trained upon 
strings to make a nice shady arbor. Then boxes, kegs, 
and other articles can soon be turned into furniture that 
you need not be afraid of scratching. Youngsters do not 
need to be told what to do with such a house. The 
school keeping, the tea-parties, the going a visiting, will 
all come of themselves. Then it can be the childrens’ 
museum, where all the curious and pretty things that yon 
find can be collected. Here the curious stones that are 
found about the place, the shells from the brook, the pine 
cones, the wax-work berries, will all be brought, and 
here will come the gay bunches of autumn leaves. Don’t 
forget to make friends of the birds and the squirrels, as 
they may be taught to come about the house and be very 
tame. It is not the most expensive things that bring the 
most enjoyment, and a boy can make his young brothers 
and sisters happier by providing them with a simple 
play-house, than in any other way we can think of. It is 
perhaps rather late in the season, but a house built in 
these fine autumn days will be all ready for another year. 
-- 
r T5ae Doctor’* ilorrosposuleiice. 
I can save a number of young people some trouble, or 
what is the same thing, tell them how they can save it 
themselves. Do not ask me to “answer in the next 
number.”—Here is a letter that asks for a reply in the 
August number, and when it came the August number 
was not only printed, but I have no doubt that a copy of 
it was in the mail-bag and on its way to that boy’s 
father. I have not received a question yet from a boy or 
girl so important that a delay in the answer should affect 
their health or happiness. Don’t be impatient, young- 
O-l'N- ^ 
THE CHILDREN’S PLAY-HOUSE. 
