JAM. M 
©ORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER 
Jomcstifl (LTonomir. 
TALX ABOUT WHITEWASH 
“ Handicraft " says :—Very few of our 
American women understand the art of 
whitewashing. Tf they did they might be 
endurable, just as the boy with the trumpet 
might Vic endurable if he had a good instru¬ 
ment and knew how to use it. In general, 
they nse quicklime, simply mixed with 
water, and laid ou. After a time they get 
worried by the constant anathemas hurled 
against their whitewash, which does not 
stick to the walls, and doer, stick to every¬ 
thing else. So they mix a little glue with 
the whitewash, in the hope of gluing it fast. 
Bat the limo kills the glue, and is as loose as 
ever. Then they add paste, which is a slight 
improvement, but in general they use paste 
made of wbeaten flour, which contains much 
gluten, and is acted upon by the lime, 
whereas in countries where paste is used 
successfully, the paste ia made of rice, either 
ground into Dour or boiled very soft, and 
beaten until the grains are thoroughly 
broken up. Various other additions are 
recommended, such as plaster-of-Paris, 
! white vitriol, etc., all of which serve a good 
! purpose, but are not entirely efficient. 
f But the best whitewash contains no quick¬ 
lime at all, but is made of pure whiting, 
which is a soft kind of chalk, ground very 
Hue, washed so as to separate all the course 
aud gritty pa icicles, aud formed into lumps 
in tho process of drying. Good whiting, 
beaten up with water so as to form a milky 
liquid free from lumps, aud mixed with a 
little good, strong size, forms a whitewash 
that cannot be nibbed off, and will give a 
very brilliant white surface. This is sub¬ 
stantially the material known as kaisomine, 
something very old, but never appreciated 
until it received a high-sounding name. The 
whiting used for making this whitewash or 
kaisomine is sometimes called Spanish white, 
Paris white, etc,, etc. They are all the 
same thing, and the only point is to select 
the finest and whitest material offered to 
you, and take it under any name the vender 
chooses to sell it, provided he. doc « not auk 
too much for it, for it is only whiting after 
all. 
Some recipes name sulphate of baryta, a 
beautiful white, powder, as the only material 
for making kaisomine. It answers very 
well, but is not easily procured, and more 
than half the time common whiting is sold 
for it. The size for mixing with the whiting 
is most easily prepared from glue, and as it 
is necessary that the whitewash should be 
permanent and as little liable to decay as 
possible, we must select a good article of 
glue. Directions upon this point could not 
be easily followed by housekeepers ; let us 
therefore advise them to go to a respectable 
dealer and buy the best. Professional ar¬ 
tists in the science of kalsomining generally 
use the cheapest, and most recipes direct the 
use of a cheap article, but it will be found 
that it is most judicious to use the very 
best. The better the glue is, the less liable 
is it to decay in damp weather, and thus 
create disease. Moreover, when it is good, 
less of it is required, and the less glue you 
use, the purer will be the color of your 
kaisomine. 
To prepare the glue, soak it in water over 
night—not any longer, however, or it will 
begin to decay. It will uhsprb water and 
swell up, but will not dissolve. Pour the 
water off, add a little fresh, and boil until it 
melts and forms* a thin fluid. Beware of 
burning it, and to avoid this, the glue is best 
melted in a tin pail, set in an iron pot which 
contains some water. The whiting having 
been mixed with boiling water, as previously 
directed, the melted glue is added, and the 
whole diluted with hot water until it is of 
the consistency of ordinary whitewash. A 
quarter of a pound of good glue to eight 
pounds of whiling is a very good proportion. 
It should be applied while hot, with a com¬ 
mon whitewash brush. Owing to the fact 
that in damp places glue easily decays and 
produces poisonous vapors, kaisomine should 
not be used in damp basements aud cellars. 
Any color may be given to this material, and 
in Europe many houses have the walls fin¬ 
ished with light shades of pink, blue, green, 
etc:, instead of paper, and the effect is very 
pleasing. 
When walls have been previously covered 
with successive coats of common whitewash, 
it will be necessary either to remove this or 
“ kill ” the lime. After taking off what will 
come away by scraping and washing, the 
wall should be washed with a solution of 
whit e vitriol—two ounces dissolved in a pail 
-of water. This will “kill’’ the lime; in 
other words, the white vitriol will be de¬ 
composed, and tho wall will be coated with 
plaster-of-Paris and white zinc, to which the 
kaisomine will adhere very readily. If these 
precautions be not taken, the kaisomine will 
very probably poel off. ^ 
.-♦ ♦» .. — W ] 
SELECTED RECIPES. 
_ lr 
Economical use of Nutmegs.—If a person 
begins to grate a nutmeg at the stalk end, it 
wifi prove hollow throughout; whereas the 
same nutmeg, grated at the other end. would 
have proved sound and solid to the last . This 
circumstance may thus be accounted for: 
The center of a nutmeg consists of a number 
of fihers issuing from the stalks ami its con- ; 
tinuation through the center of the fruit, 
the other ends of which fibers, though closely 
surrounded and pressed by the fruit, do not. 
adhere to it. When the stalk is grated 
away, these fibers, having lost their hold, 
gradually drop out in succession, and the 
hollow continues through the whole nut. By 
beginning at the contrary e*d, the fibers 
above mentioned are grated off at their core 
end, with the surrounding fruit, and do not 
drop out and cause a hole. 
Miner-Meat ,—Three and a half pounds of 
chopped beef, a pound of suet, three and a 
halt pounds of raisins (half of them stoned 
and chopped, the other half left whole), the 
same quantity of currants ns of raisins, sev¬ 
en pounds of chopped apples ; one pound of 
candied citron cut in thin slices ; two lbs. of 
sugar ; one ounce of nutmegs ; three pints of 
cider or canned grape juice ; one pint of 
golden sirup, or best molasses. These ingre¬ 
dients, put down in a close jar, will last all 
winter. 
IJtadejs and Dftumet[s. 
FA8HI0N PARAGRAPHS. 
One of the most fashionable garments for 
ordinary wear is of bege cashmere. It is ; 
made into a polonaise and trimmed with gui¬ 
pure of the same shade. Above the guipure 
is a band of fur. That of the marmot is pre¬ 
ferred, which Is not only very pretty but not 
expensive. At the. side is placed a wide rib¬ 
bon sash, fastened with a steal or smoked 
pearl buckle. There is a trimming resem¬ 
bling the old-fashioned moss trimming, which 
is exceedingly pretty. It. comes in gray, ashes 
of roses and deep-brown tints, and is even 
more effective than fur. 
Jackets are very much worn—not only the 
English jackets trimmed in military braid, 
of which we have spoken, but jackets made 
of heavy cloth, the color of the costume. 
We have seen a very pretty dark blue, cut 
very full over the panier, with square pockets 
in the bock and trimmed with buttons of 
dark red ; gilt, steel and oxydized silver are 
also used. A vej-y pretty trimming for these 
jackets is made of dark green cocks' feathers. 
It is lighter than fur, and trims hats and vel¬ 
vet muffs very prettily. 
Since the holiday rush is over, goods are 
again marked down. Double-width vigogne j 
can be bought for $1.50 a yard, and the finest 
varieties of serge for 75 cents. A very pretty 
serge in all the new colors has a polka dot. 
It will make a suitable skill to plain serge 
polonaise ; price, 05 cents. There ate also 
striped serges, tho stripes made by the twills 
running different directions. Plain, single 
width, vigognes and serges, can be bought, 
for 50 cents. i 
Irish poplins of very good quality arc re¬ 
duced to $1, although stiff goods d© not enjoy 
the favor of the softer, clinging materials. 
After «]1, there are no goods that compare 
with cashmere ; its soft folds, line grain and 
general usefulness render it the most desir¬ 
able material a lady can buy. 
Deep cashmere flounces, faced with silk, 
retrin* old silk skirts very nicely. Kilt plait- 
ings, three to four inches deep, with plain 
bands of silk above, are very stylish. All 
trimmings on the fronts of dresses now are 
made flat as possible. Flounces are only per¬ 
mitted on the back of the skirt. The front 
widths it is better to tie back with strings to 
insure the plainness now insisted upon. Of 
course it is understood that no hoops are' 
worn in front or even at the sides, except at 
the bottom of the skirt. The upper part is 
very narrow and very bouffant. 
For retrimming party dresses use plaited 
tulle, organdie, or crepe lisse ; the latter is 
most beautiful. Embroidered flounces are 
imported for this purpose. Footing sewed 
on white flounces is very pretty. There is a 
preference, now, for old-fashioned thread 
lace, which is known as Mechlin or Malines. 
Over dresses, fichus made with puffs and Ma- 
Jines insertion are exceedingly pretty. Every 
lady who is a neat sewer can make herself a 
variety of toilettes by fashioning these mus¬ 
lin garments, which, with gay sashes, are as 
pretty and stylish as the most expensive silks. 
The nfteks of evening dresses are no longer 
low. They always nover the tips of the 
shoulders and are filled up with t ullc and lace. 
Square, Pompadour necks are becoming to 
those who are rather large : but in general 
the heart-shaped neck is preferred. With 
pretty full meltings mid plaiting of tulle, 
they are very becoming. 
Sleeves to evening dresses, if short, are 
scarcely anything more than a puff or band 
edged with lace. Otherwise, demi-long are 
worn with a full ruffle at the end. 
Sashes of tulle are worn. They arc passed 
over the shoulder and tied under the arm, 
Highland fashion. Bright cherry sashes are 
worn by brunettes, and sashes with polka 
dots are in favor again. Brocaded and striped 
sashes, with deep fringe, are worn with 
darker dresses. 
The nosegay which gentlemen have appro¬ 
priated so long is no longer confined to them. 
Ladies now wear them fastened in a knot on 
the left shoulder or in the sash which passes 
over it,. The vests of colored silks, which 
have keen so popular, have little nosegayB of 
artificial flowers on the lappel, and it is a 
passing fashion to wear them at t he throat. 
The only overdress worn to an evening 
dress is an apron front, tied with sash-ends 
the back. Tulle, puffed en tablirr, is a very 
pretty fasliiou. Bows of silk, fringed, orna¬ 
ment the sides. 
The trains of evening dresses are, quite 
pointed and finished with narrow flounces. 
G'hambery gauze makes a very handsome 
evening dress. That with the satin stripe, 
white or in colors, is very pretty. It is 
trimmed with kilt plaiting, arranged so that 
the stripe shall form the plait, 
COSTUME FOR YOUNO GIRLS. 
In the fashion ent. (see page M), we give a 
costume for young girls of 15 and 16 years. 
The material Is plum-colored serge, trimmed 
with ball fringe. The jacket lifts a Watteau 
fold in the back ; if more becoming, ft tight- 
fitting jacket may be substituted. It opens 
over a vest of pruno-colorod velvet. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Orem Dresses.'- Kittie D. —To fix the ! 
color of green muslin, put a lump of ammo¬ 
nia In the water. A square inch to a gallon 
may he used. Another recipe is spirits of 
turpentine, in hot water, with a little tur¬ 
pentine in the starch. 
Tubleaux.— E..T.A and Fannie.—You need 
a background of dark crimson and a screen 
of coarse, green torlatane. Even in a parlor, 
the stage should be raised. It is difficult to 
suggest subjects in our limited space ; but 
we may mention Tennyson’S Dream of Fair 
Women ; Helen, Cleopatra, Iphlgeniu, Jeph- 
t-ha’s Daughter, with appropriate costumes ; 
Hater and Ishmael ; Coming thro’ the ltye ; 
scenes from the Vicar of Wakefield ; Hitting 
on the Style. Spanish scenes are very rich 
in color ; the greater variety the better. 
(Jap (Kctmomtr. 
POTASH 
PLATTE VALLEY SOIL. 
In the Great Platte Valley we think we 
derive great advantages over Eastern farms, 
from tho large amount, of potasli in our soils. 
This has been added by two processes of 
nature, or rather, one of nature alone, and 
one of nature assisted by man. In the orig¬ 
inal formation of this valley, tho waters from 
the molting snows of the Rocky Mountains 
washed the potash from the Great Potash 
Plains over and into all the soil which they 
deposited in their course toward the Gulf of 
Mexico. That was nature’s mode of intro¬ 
ducing the alkali. 
Since then man, unwittingly, has continued 
tho deposit, by annually burning the prairie 
grass. In fact the Indians, the locomotive, 
and the white men, have by means of flee, 
annually added a large share of potash, and 
have also improved upon nature’s process by 
adding all the unburnt roots of annual plants 
to be turned into humus by their natural 
decay in tho earth. 
I suggest to Eastern farmers an imitation 
of tho latter method. Suppose that, imme¬ 
diately after harvest. the stubble fields (un¬ 
plowed) be sown, broadcast, heavily with 
oats (or any other cheap grain bearing heavy 
tops) then harrowed in well, aud allowed to 
grow till killed by frost. If then burned off, 
the surface will be heavily coated •.vith ashes, 
spread evenly, the weeds andi/icrd seeds will 
be totally destroyed, the roots will be left hi 
tho ground to perform their share in manur¬ 
ing and loosening the soil, and the land can 
be plowed the same fall or the next spring as 
the frost may permit. This will add alkali, 
and humus to the soil, and 1 belie ve would 
be better by that much, at least, than sum¬ 
mer fallowing, while the destruction of 
weeds would be just as effectual.. Would it 
prove as economical ? S. Rufus Mason. 
Purple Cane, Dodge Co., Nebraska. 
!®0W (Information:. 
NARCOTICS AND STIMULANTS. 
The Chicago Tribune says :—We had occa¬ 
sion, last year, to notice the third annual 
report of the Massachusetts Board of Health, 
prepared by the Chairman of tho Board, 
Henry I, Bowdlteh, In which the question of 
“ Stimulants’’ was discussed at considerable 
length. As the matter seems to possess a 
renewed interest at the present time, we 
reproduce the article which we then pub¬ 
lished : 
Correspondence bearing on the question of 
stimulants had been solicited from persons at 
iiftv-three widely separated points upon the 
earth's surface, including each of the leading 
or more popular nations. Many of t hese were 
the Ministers and Consuls of our Government. 
In analysing these the Board states its own 
conclusions, which are to the effect that the 
appetite for stimulants is universal ; that its 
gratification may bo curbed within, healthy 
limits by tho spread of more intelligent views 
of the kinds of stimulants that ought Lo bo 
used, and the circumstances under which, 
anti extent, to which, they may be used ; that 
in hot countries or hot weather the use of 
alcohol is unnatural, ancl should be avoided, 
while the “nervines”—tea, coffee, opium, 
hasheesh and the like—are, and should bo 
substituted. 
The cultivation of the vine, and the free use 
of wines, and the use of ale are the influences 
which, on a large scale, tend most to diminish 
intoxication, and, especially, to lessen the 
crazy form of intemperance, by substituting 
liquors that admit of but little adulteration, 
and which satisfy the appetite long before 
they intoxicate, for those of which the small¬ 
est draught tends to intoxicate, and which 
tempt to vile adulterations that craze the 
brain even more than alcohol. 
The southern and wine producing coun¬ 
tries of Europe have much less crime as the 
result of alcohol than the colder and more 
changeable climates of Northern Europe and 
the United States, which drink ardent spirits 
that are from-50 to iiO per cent, alcohol; that 
all public bars for the sale of spirits should 
be suppressed, while those for the sale of ales 
and wines should be permitted ; that the 
growt h of native wines should be encouraged, 
aud the duties on foreign light wines removed, 
so that the kinds of wine which are favorable 
to health may be clienpandabundant.; those 
that narcotize by the use of small quantities 
should bo sold only as poisons by druggists, 
on the prescript ions of physicians ; drunken¬ 
ness and not the sale of liquor should he pun¬ 
ished as a, crime ; but, where liquor L sold 
no as to produce drunkenness tile seller should 
be obliged to support the drunkard and his 
family for some specified time. 
Dipsomania, the depraved ancl uncontroll¬ 
able thirst for drink—should be treated by 
confinement in State Inebriate Asylums, of 
which three or four are needed for the State, 
of Massachusetts, after many years of exper¬ 
iment in the prohibitory line. It is not a 
little remarkable that the views of medical 
men and scientific investigators generally, 
are not only in very general accord with 
each other, but are in conflict, equally, with 
the course of legislation, the views of philan¬ 
thropists, and the customs of American 
society. . 
•> —-- 
YELLOW PORK. 
The people, of this vicinity have, been in¬ 
terested and startled by the appearance of 
yellow pork. Many of our best butchers and 
dairymen have been consulted with, but no 
one has yet given its cause or seen its appear¬ 
ance before. Tho facts I gather are as fol¬ 
lows : — Mr. J. H, Moss, a farmer of cur 
town, killed four hogs, two of which were 
white and unquestionable and two were very 
yellow; the pork and l.aid had more the ap¬ 
pearance of tallow. There was no difference 
in [breed, age, color, treatment or health; 
they were Chester White breed, all from one 
litter ; were t wenty months old and weighed 
275 pounds each. During the summer, and 
till October 1st, they were allowed to run in 
tho open field, since which time they have 
been penned and cared for in the usnal man¬ 
ner for fattening, eating one and a half 
I bushels of corn, in ear. per day. They were 
! butchered by competent persons, mid no 
traces of decay or disease could be seen. 
We would be pleased to hear something on 
the subject through your paper. J. What is 
the cause ? 2, Is there any remedy ? I!. 
Should we dafe eat ft ? Hope to hear from 
you at your convenience.--C, A, Hart, Ful¬ 
ton, N' V, 
Of course, we can give no advice in this 
i matter, for we are not at all certain that it 
indicates disease; and yet it may. We should 
consult a chemist. 
