ORE’S  RURAL  NEW-YORRER, 
EATING  BEFOEE  SLEEPING. 
Mr.  W.  B.vrkeb  writing  to  one  of  your  city  co- 
temporaricB  takes  pretty  strong  exceptions  t<i  ft 
brief  note  wliich  appears  in  anotlier  journal  to 
wit : 
“It  is  a  mistake  to  suppose  it  is  unhealthy  to 
sleep  after  eating.  Man  is  an  annual,  and*  all 
animals  guided  by  instinct  .sleep  inuuediatoly 
after  eating.”  And  from  tlio  same  ailiole : — Pcas- 
anta  as  a  rule  enjoy  robust  health  ;  supper  is 
their  hearlicst  ropaat  and  they  go  to  sloop  imme¬ 
diately  after  their  last  meal.  Mi-.  B.  disputes 
Oio  assertion  that  peasants  as  a  rule  are  Loalthy, 
and  further  on  disputes  also  in  ioto  the  assertion 
that  peasants  (or  farmers)  do  generally  go  to 
sleep  (to  bed)  immediately  after  eating  the  last 
meal  of  the  day. 
Now  did  friend  13.  never  suspect  that  the  uu- 
hcalthinesa  of  farmers  of  the  \)re.sent  ago  might 
bo  caused  l>y  sleeping  on  an  empty  stomar^h, 
contrary  to  nature’s  laws  and  the  niitm-al  habits 
of  tho  whole  animal  creation  ?  The  babo  wakes 
and  tho  motlicr  understands  its  cull  for  food, 
and  knows  that  when  that  ui  obtained  it  will  go 
to  sloop  and  not  before.  ITio  child  is  sleepy 
after  supper  and  would  follow  tho  practice  into 
manhood  and  old  ago  of  tlms  rotuing,  wore  not 
artilicial  habits  forced  upon  him  by  Um  nsagos 
and  oonvonioncoH  of  society.  Tho  old  man 
whose  working  days  of  mind  or  muscle  axe  over 
falls  back  uixm  nature  and  sleeps  after  diimer 
as  well  as  after  supper.  Man  in  as  near  a  state 
of  nature  as  wo  can  find  liim,  oats  his  principal 
meal  just  before  aleoping. 
Tlie  half  civilized  wliite  hunter  and  voyager 
and  soldiers  on  tlie  march  do  tho  same.  Siu'- 
voyors  and  land  hunters  in  the  uninhabited 
i-egions  niul  overland  travelers  to  the  great 
West  learn  to  eat  light  till  camped  for  night  and 
hardly  n:ove  after  eating.  There  may  bo  tn- 
ceptions  to  tlioso  rules,  but  Uuj  to  one  you  will 
in  such  cases  flud  them  like  friend  11. ’s  neighbors 
unhealtliy,  because  tliey  Ixavo  been  too  long 
lured  or  fortHxl  inbx  imhoalthy  Imbits. 
Neitlier  do  1  luxld  with  ^Ir.  Tl.  that  we  can 
learn  nothing  of  value  to  us  from  the  natural 
habits  of  tho  lower  animals.  They  rest  and 
sleep  dining  digestion.  A  colt,  calf,  lamb  or 
pig,  does  not  sloop  when  hungry.  Teamsters  on 
long  journeys  and  many  of  tho  most  intelligent 
farmers  and  loggers  in  the  pine  woods  have 
leamofl  to  give  their  teams  their  heaviest  meal 
at  night. 
I  admit,  that  when  wearied  with  labor  some 
time  should  bo  given  for  rest  hcfoi-o  taxing  tho 
stomach  with  a  full  meal,  but  it  is  a  matter 
settled  long  ago  by  careful  and  sdontillo  experi¬ 
ment  that  digestion  goes  on  more  quietly  and 
•perfectly  and  is  axicoxoplisbcd  in  less  time  when 
rooting  and  bleeping  than  at  other  tixues.  I  ad¬ 
mit  also  the  fact,  tlxat  had  dreams,  nightmares, 
apoplexy  and  death  have  followed  excessive  or 
irregular  late  suppers,  and  I  advise  any  one  dis¬ 
posed  to  indulge  a  gluttonous  apiietite  that  ho 
had  better  do  it  in  broad  daylight  for  ailments 
generally  axe  exaccibated  at  xxxght. 
“  Man  is  the  creature  of  habit  ”  and  whexi  ar¬ 
tificial  habits  have  with  him  “  become  a  second 
nature,”  it  may  be  dangerous  to  meddle  with 
them.  Those  injurious,  late  suixpers  arc  how¬ 
ever  generally  in  excess  of  the  fixed  habits  and 
natural  wants  of  tlxe  body. 
I  am  well  awaxe  that  Mr.  B.vbickr  in  his  cen¬ 
sure  of  tho  Beutimunts  expressoil  above  but 
speaks  tho  soutiments  of  tho  public  generally, 
and  that  his  charge  of  hex'esy  is  not  without 
foiuxdation,  but  those  who  have  read  the  history 
of  the  rise  and  fall  of  public  opiixiou  for  the  past 
fifty  years  must  know  that  much  that  was  once 
popular  opinion  has  since  proved  to  be  popixlar 
error,  as  well  ixi  hygiene  as  in  inarxy  other  tliiiigs. 
The  most  strenuous  advocate  of  nocturnal 
starvation  of  tlxe  present  age  was  the  late  Dr. 
Hall  of  the  Journal  of  Health,  who  recom¬ 
mended  to  cat  nothing  after  three  o’clock  P.  M. 
but  he,  though  good  authority  in  most  matters 
know  little  of  coimtiy  life  and  habits,  and  died  I 
think  at  mid-age,  and  if  he  died  for  the  want  of 
sufiicieut  nutriment  with  plenty  before  him,  he 
is  ixot  the  first  martyr  of  the  luud. 
A  phy.sician  lately  pnhlisliod  a  remedy  for 
sleeplessness  as  practiced  by  himself,  and  that  | 
is  to  eat  onions  before  going  to  bod,  1  hailed  ' 
this  as  a  straw  ixidieating  a  change  in  ixuLlic  ' 
opiiiion ;  probably  the  eating  of  any  other  palat¬ 
able  food  would  have  produced  tho  desired 
effect,  i  also  hailed  the  opinion  expressed  as 
above  as  a  whole  bundle  of  straws  pointitig  the 
same  way.  The  correspondent  notes  correctly 
the  habits  and  healthfulness  of  the  loira]  popu¬ 
lation  of  tlxe  New  England  States  of  50  to  60 
years  ago,  at  which  time  and  place  if  the  word 
dysiKqjsia  was  seen  or  heard,  the  dictionary 
would  have  been  ruqnired  to  learn  its  rnoaniag. 
Mr.  Barker  represxmts  tho  jiractices,  opinions 
and  sanitary  condition  of  tho  faiiners  of  tho 
present  age  who  come  in  fi-om  the  field  at  six  p. 
m.  to  tea  and  go  again  to  work,  and  at  dark  or 
after  go  supperless  to  bed  and  have  dyspepsia 
and  other  diseases,  tho  cffocts  of  modern  im¬ 
provements  in  hygiene. 
Sotting  aside  all  statistics,  instincts  and 
natm'al  habits,  and  reasoning  alone  from  physio¬ 
logical  facts  as  known  and  established  and 
generally  admitted,  how  could  wo  reason  our¬ 
selves  into  tho  belief  tliat  man  or  any  other 
animal  is  the  hotter  off,  for  sleeping  on  an  empty 
stcimach  ?  The  blood  is  the  life  of  the  animal 
and  in  all  efforts  of  the  mind  and  body  it  flows 
in  uxerea-sod  quantities  where  most  wanted,  Ut 
tho  lu'ain  to  tlie  nmscloB,  the  lungs,  tho  heart  or 
the  stomach  ;  it  never  was  intemded  to  work  all 
those  organs  in  riill  force  at  tho  same  time. 
Tlic  lungs  and  heart  ixnver  entirely  suspend 
their  action,  bnt  in  sloop  they  and  tlxe  brain  and 
mnsolos  have  a  jiarUal  rest,  labor  less  hard,  and 
give  tJie  stomach,  then  px’cparod  hx  work,  all 
tho  blood  and  rital  force  necessary  for  its  use. 
Dysxxspsia  has  nm  an  oven  race  witli  tlio  modern 
I'dforms  in  the  habits  of  living,  and  is  likely  to 
udn  in  the  end  if  Uxo  latter  does  not  bolt  the 
track. 
Now  my  friend  Barker,  if  this  meets  yonr  eye 
and  you  should  wish  to  discuss  this  matter 
further,  we  will  do  it  in  good  humor  and  I  will,  if 
yon  wish,  cito  to  you  many  changes  of  current 
opinion,  occtu-ring  within  the  past  fifty  years  on 
hygiene  and  tlio  treatment  of  disease,  eqiiaJly 
strange  with  tho  change  that  is  to  liapiien  on 
this  subject  of  late  suppers.  Changes,  too,  not 
alone  amnng  the  illiterate,  but  with  tho  scien¬ 
tific  and  professional.  8.  B.  Beck. 
Muskegon,  Mich.,  June  s,  iSTfl. 
SEASONABLE  ADVICE. 
Txik  Health  Board  of  New  Yoxk  at  a  late 
meeting  adopted  tho  following  report  of  the 
Sanitary  committee  on  the  provailiug  disease  of 
infants,  and  ordered  20,000  published  and  dis¬ 
tributed  : 
Never  neglect  looseness  of  tho  bowels  in  an  in¬ 
fant.  Consult  tho  family  or  dispensary  physi¬ 
cian  at  once  and  ho  will  give  you  x’ules  about 
what  it  should  take  and  how  it  should  bo  nursed. 
Keep  yonr  rooms  as  cool  as  possible ;  have  them 
well  ventilated  and  do  not  allow  any  bad  smells 
to  conio  from  sinks,  garbage-boxes,  gnttars,  etc., 
about  tho  house  whore  you  live.  Seo  to  your 
own  p.art  being  right  and  complain  to  tlie  Board 
of  Health,  3(11  Mott  street,  if  tlio  neighbors’ 
houses  aro  offeiisivo.  When  un  infant  is  cross 
and  irritahlo  in  the  hot  weatlicr  a  trip  on  the 
water  will  do  it  a  groat  deal  of  good,  and  may 
prevent  choleia  infantxun.  Do  not  allow  your 
cbildx'cn  to  cat  unripo  or  drie<l  fruit.  An  uifaxit 
under  a  year  old  should  not  have  any  fniit  ex¬ 
cept  by  a  jibysieinn’s  orders.  In  very  hot 
weatJier  dress  your  children  in  tliin  clothing  and 
bathe  thorn  with  cool  w'atex'  one,  two  or  more 
times  a  day. 
Ciiildron  under  ten  months  to  a  year  do  not 
need  anything  but  tho  hroafit  or  good  milk. 
CoAv’s  milk,  when  pure,  is  ma<le  like  mothers’ 
milli  by  adding  one-third  water  to  two-thirds 
milk  and  warming  to  blood  heat  and  a  little  over 
one  and  a  quarter  ounces  of  wliito  sugar  to  a 
pint  of  tlie  mixture  ;  but  in  the  city  a  good  deal 
of  tho  millf  has  plenty  of,  water  and  too  little 
cream.  If  you  do  not  nurse  tho  cliild  sw  that 
the  nursing-bottle  tube  and  month-piece  are 
kept  in  clean  water  when  not  used.  The  addition 
of  a  little  soda  xvill  keep  them  from  turning 
sour.  If  tho  Baby  does  not  tlix’ive  well  on  cows’ 
milk  consult  a  physician  and  take  him  some  of 
the  milk  you  ai-o  using,  or  bring  it  to  301  Mott 
street  and  the  Boanl  of  Health  will  examine  it 
for  you. 
SUN  STROKE  IS  CAUSED 
by  excessive  heat,  and  especially  if  the  weather 
is  ninggy.  It  i.s  more  apt  to  occur  in  the  second, 
tliird  or  fourth  day  of  a  heated  term  than  on  the 
flx-st.  Loss  of  sleep,  worry,  excitement,  close 
sleeping  rooms,  debility,  abuse  of  stimulant, 
eto.,  ])re<lisp080  it  It  is  much  more  apt  to 
attack  those  working  in  the  sun,  and  especially 
between  tlie  Ixoiu’s  of  eleven  o’clock  in  the  morn¬ 
ing  and  four  o’clock  in  tho  afternoon.  On  hot 
days  wear  thin  clotlilng  and  have  sleeping 
rooms  as  cool  as  jsjssxhle.  If  woi'king  indoors 
where  there  is  a  stx-ong  heat  see  that  the  room  is 
well  voiitilatcd.  If  working  In  the  sun  wear  a 
h'glit  hat  i  not  black,  as  it  absorbs  heat,  and  put 
oil  the  inside  of  it  a  wet  clotli  or  gx'ceuleaf.  Fre¬ 
quently  lift  the  hat  from  the  head  and  see  that 
tlic  cloth  i.s  wet.  Do  not  check  perspiration, 
but  drink  what  water  you  need  to  keep  It 
up,  as  perspiration  pre  vents  the  body  from  being 
overheated.  Have,  wherever  possible,  an  addi¬ 
tional  shade,  as  a  big  umbrella.  When  much 
fatigued  do  not  go  to  w-ork,  rather  be  excused 
from  work  after  11  o’clock  in  tho  morning  on 
very  hot  days,  esix-cially  if  the  work  is  in  the 
sun. 
If  a  feeling  of  fatigue,  dizziness,  headache  or 
exhaustion  occur,  cease  work  at  once ;  lie  down 
in  a  shady,  cool  ajiartmcnt  and  apply  cold  cloths 
to,  and  iKxur  cool  water  .jver,  bead  and  neck.  If 
anyone  is  overcome  by  tlxe  heat,  send  at  once  for 
the  nearest  good  physician.  Give  water,  or  cool 
block  tea,  or  coffee,  if  jable  to''8wallow.’  If  the 
skin  is  hot  and  dry.Hpriiig  water  over  tlxe  body  is 
good  and  apply  to  the  head  pounded  ice  in 
addition. 
- - - 
BEWAEE  OF  OPIATES, 
In  order  to  induce  natural  and  healthful  sleep 
snoli  methods  are  to  bo  adopted  as  will  abstract 
an  excess  of  blood  from  the  brain.  This  may  be 
accomplished  by  exercise,  which  dxaws  off  the 
blood  to  tho  more  weary  organs ;  wliilo  a  well- 
ordered  digestion  demands  the  blood  that  keeps 
the  brain  in  too  great  an  activity  for  the  stomaoh  ; 
where  it  is  needed.  To  sleep  well,  too,  accord¬ 
ing  to  Dr.  Ferrior,  one  must,  if  possible  rid  him- 
Htiir  of  all  earn,  anxiety  and  dl-sturbing  tlioughts 
as  tho  natural  season  of  repose  approaches.  A 
brisk  walk  toward  the  close  of  the  day,  and  when 
tho  brain  has  been  overtaxed,  is  commended  to 
us.  But  Dr.  Fcmer  Ararns  us—  and  it  wore  avoII 
if  be  could  be  heard  ovorywhero  ami  liocdod — 
from  opiates  as  “dangerous  ground.”  They  do 
not  pi'odiico  sleep  so  much  as  torpor.  If  you  can¬ 
not  got  sleep  by  methods  which  natime  itself 
dictates,  he  says,  it  is  full  time  to  call  in  the 
family  doctor. 
Dorafstic  (gtonoiui). 
WASHING  VEGETABLES. 
We  find  the  folloAving  floating  about  and  al¬ 
though  somewhat  on  the  “  oxtx'omo  order”  still 
it  contains  some  hints  Avorthy  of  attention. 
Tho.se  Avho  value  fresh  vegetables  and  sweet 
salads  will  have  none  Avashed  in  Uio  garden. 
Neither  tho  one  nor  tho  other  should  ho  Avaslicd 
until  they  are  just  about  to  bo  cooked  or  oaten. 
Even  potatoes  lose  flavor  quickly  after  being 
Avasliod ;  so  do  carrots  and  tiimips  ;  while  water 
Avill  speedily  become  taiiitwl  in  summer  in  con¬ 
tact  Avith  caulilloAvers  and  cabbages,  and  thus 
destroy  their  freshness  and  flavor.  Tho  case  is 
still  worse  Avith  salads.  If  Avaalxed  at  all,  it 
ahoiild  bo  only  hofore  they  aro  dressed,  and  they 
should  be  dricil  and  dressed  immediately.  Noth¬ 
ing  xixins  tho  flavor  of  vegetables  and  renders 
good  salading  uneatable  sooner  tlian  water  hang¬ 
ing  about  tliem.  T f  lettuce  aro  quite  clean,  they 
make  the  best  salail  uiiAvashed ;  but  if  wasliod 
tho  operation  should  bo  done  quickly,  and  the 
Avator  instantly  shaken  out.  and  tho  loaves  th  ied 
Avith  a  clean  cloth.  But  alas!  how  often  aio 
they  cut  and  Avaslxod  in  tho  garden  in  tho  morn¬ 
ing,  and  pitched  into  water  in  tho  scullery  sitdi 
until  wanted.  \VTiat  French  arliule  would  bo 
mad  enough  to  xinso  out  his  salad  juice  and  then 
rechargo  his  lettuces  and  his  endives  with  senxi- 
putrid-Avator  ? 
Tho  best  practice  is  simixly  to  remove  al'  super¬ 
fluous  earth  by  scraping  or  rubbing,  and  all 
rough  tops  or  leaves  by  cutting.  F.rioiigh  tender 
loaves  may  still  bo  left  on  canliflOAvers  and 
brocoli  to  ovorlaii  tho  flowers.  Salad  should  be 
sent  in  from  tlio  garden  with  most  of  tho  out¬ 
side  loaves  and  main  root  on.  'rho  tender  loaves 
aro  easily  tainted  and  injured  by  exposure, 
and  if  the  cluof  root  is  cut  off  sluii-p,  much  of 
the  Juico  oozes  out  at  tlie  wound.  When  vege¬ 
tables  and  salading  have  to  he  bought  fx'om  a 
toAvn  grcen-gx’ocer,  the  conditions  are  aliogother 
different.  Not  only  washing,  but  soaking  often 
becomes  requisite  to  restore  something  Lke  pris¬ 
tine  crispness. 
—  ■ 
DIRECTIONS  FOR  KALSOMINING. 
Buy  the  best  bleached  glue,  if  the  walls  aro  to 
be  wliite  or  some  light  tint  (if  liark,  it  is  immate¬ 
rial,  so  the  glue  is  clean),  and  use  it  in  the  pro¬ 
portion  of  a  quarter  of  a  pound  to  eight  pounds 
of  whiting.  Soak  tlxe  glue  over  night,  in  tho 
morning  pour  off  the  water,  as  it  simply  sAvells 
while  soaking.  Add  fresh  water,  put  it  in  a  pail, 
and  set  tlxat  in  a  kottlo  of  boihiig  wateir.  When 
dissolved,  stir  it  into  tho  whiting,  ailding  enough 
water  to  make  it,  after  mixing,  of  tho  same  con¬ 
sistency  as  common  whiteAvaali.  It  may  be  tint¬ 
ed  any  color,  and  is  applied  Avith  a  whitewash 
brush.  If  tho  coloris  ruhbexl  sunxith  in  a  little 
water  and  then  mixed  Avith  the  Avash,  it  wiU  be 
more  even.  If  the  Avails  have  been  pre¬ 
viously  whitewashed,  scrape  away  all  that  Avill 
come  off,  and  wash  with  a  solution  of  Avhite 
vitriol— tAVO  ounces  in  a  pail  of  water.  Tho 
vitrol  will  be  decomposed,  forming  zinc  white 
and  plaster  of  Paris,  to  Avliich  tho  kalsomino 
easily  adheres.  It  is  important  to  dissolve  the 
gliio  in  a  hot  water  bath,  for  if  scorched  by  t/xo 
great  heat,  its  tenacity  is  impaired  or  destroyed. 
COOK  AND  HOUSEKEEPER. 
A  GOoxj  cook  is  not  the  one  who  uses  the  most 
and  richest  ingredients,  regardless  of  the  ex¬ 
pense  ;  but  she  who  studies  economy,  and  is  able  i 
to  concoct  a  delicious  meal  from  scanty  mate-  1 
lials.  I 
'To  be  a  successful  bousekeeiier,  a  Avoman  re-  ! 
quires  as  much  system  and  tact  as  she  would  to 
caxTy  ou  any  other  business.  It  is  in  this  partlou- 
tliat  so  many  of  our  foi'oigu  “help”  proA’e  nn- 
satisfactoxy. 
- - 
ORIGINAL  RECIPES, 
Chof'idale  Cakc.—'Mv.  Editor,  I  see  through 
your  paper,  (tho  Rxtral)  a  recipe  Avaiited  of 
chocolate  cake.  Hero  is  an  excellent  one,  and 
uovor  fails,  if  foUoAvod  by  nilo.  cups  of 
sugar,  1  ditto  sweet  milk,  2  tablespoons  melted 
butter,  2  teaspoons  cream  tartar,  1  ditto  sotla, 
1  pint  of  fliiuf,  Avhitcs  of  3  eggs,  hako  as  jelly 
cake.  Frosting  for  uiside. — Whites  of  Ijjj  eggs, 
boat  to  a  frotli,  and  add  cup  of  sugar,  cup 
of  grated  chocolate,  flavor  with  AranUla.  Frost¬ 
ing  for  ontsldo.— jj  cup  of  grated  chocolate,  1 
ditto  broAvn  sugar,  Avine  glass  Avatcr,  boil 
luitilitwill  harden  in  water.— Mrs.  J.  L.  G, 
Cho<io(o(e  Marble  Cake  for  J.  V, — One  cupful 
of  butter,  two  cupfuls  of  sugar.  One  of  sAvect 
milk,  three  of  flour ;  Avliites  of  five  eggs ;  Iavo 
teaspooiifuls  of  cream  tartar  and  one  of  soda. 
Take  one  tcacupful  of  tlxe  latter  and  stir  into  it 
one  largo  spoonful  of  grated  chocolate,  Avet  Avith 
a  small  tablespoonful  of  milk,  fill  a  cake-dish 
about  ouo  inch  tlocp  with  tho  white  batter,  Oxen 
drop  in  two  or  throe  places  a  spoonful  of  tho  dark 
mixture ;  continue  this  until  tho  batter  is  all 
used.-  MArriE  Hiatt,  WinelueHler,  Ind. 
iin^i  ftlscful. 
THE  SODA  MINES  OF  WYOMING. 
Tup,  soda  consmned  in  tlio  United  HlatosisuoAV 
imported  from  England.  During  tho  year  1875 
about20(),000ton8AVoro  used,  costing  $12,000,000. 
There  is  a  prospect  iioav,  however,  Uiat  the  time 
will  soon  come  when  not  only  tho  consumption  of 
this  coxmtry  can  he  supplied  from  the  production 
in  its  OAvu  borders,  but  tliat  ouough  can  bo  mined 
to  supply  tlio  Avorld.  Tlio  deposits  lately  dis¬ 
covered,  says  tlie  Omaha  1  Icrald,  and  for  which 
laiiil  patents  have  boon  issued  lie  on  tho  north 
sldo  of  the  Hwoetivater  llivcr,  in  Carbon  County, 
Wyoming,  about  55  miles  north  of  tho  town  of 
llaAvlins  on  tlio  Union  Pacific  Railroad.  Tho 
soda  is  found  in  a  chrystalizcd  state,  solid  as  ice. 
Tho  doixjsit  is  something  over  400  acres  in  extent 
and  of  unknown  dojith,  and  OBtiniated  to  contain 
enough  soda  to  supply  tho  world  for  a  tliousand 
years.  1'ho  mineral  is  a  carbonate  of  soda,  con¬ 
taining  a  small  quantity  of  common  salt  and  sul¬ 
phate  of  common  soda.  Analysis  has  shown  it 
to  be  of  about  the  same  purity  as  soda  ash  of 
commerce.  I’lie  owners  it  is  said,  will  immediate¬ 
ly  commence  to  build  a  railroad  from  tho  deposit 
to  connect  with  the  Pacific  road.  A  capital  of 
$1,500,000  is  to  be  employed,  aud  to  fully  utilize 
these  deposits  there  will  bo  omplojTuent  for  2,500 
persons. 
- - 
FURNITURE  POLISH. 
If  you  Avish  one  of  the  simplest  and  best,  get  a 
pint  bottle  and  fill  it  with  equal  parts  of  boiled 
litiHoed  oil  and  korosono  oil;  any  druggist  has 
the  fonner :  mix  and  apply  witli  a  flannel,  and 
rub  dry  Avith  a  second  flannel.  It  Avill  remove  all 
scratches  and  white  marks  maile  by  bruising. 
Destroy  tho  rags  or  keep  in  opi>n  sight,  as  oiled 
cloths  have  been  known  to  ignite  spoutuncously. 
Have  used  this  for  yeai's. 
-  #  ♦  » 
STRENGTHENING  SACKS. 
A  German  paper  recommends  tho  following 
recipe  for  making  sacks  stronger  and  more  de¬ 
sirable:— Take  a  proportion  of  Iavo  fioundB  of 
oaken  ashes  to  tAvo  and  three-quarter  gahons  of 
boiling  water,  let  tho  mixture  boil  for  an  hour, 
and  ixmr  off  the  liquid,  in  Avhich  tho  sacks  are 
to  ho  soaked  twenty-four  hours.  It  is  said  that 
this  process  “  tans  ”  tho  vegetable  fibers  in  tho 
sacks,  just  as  hides  are  tanned.” 
- ♦♦♦• - 
SCIENTIFIC  AND  USEFUL  NOTES. 
Clue. — A  teaspoonfiil  of  saltpetre  added  to  a 
large  potful  of  glue  Avill  offecdnally  prevent  it 
from  smelling  ;  besides,  it  causes  it  to  dry  faster 
and  harder  than  it  would  without  it. 
A  AVio  Miinlatje. — Tho  Journal  do  Pharmacia 
states  that  If,  to  a  strong  solution  of  gum  arabic, 
measuring  8)'^  fluid  ozs..  a  solution  of  30  grains 
sulphate  of  aluminum  dissohed  in  Jj'  oz,  water 
bo  added,  a  very  strong  mucilage  is  formed, 
capable  of  fastening  wood  together,  or  of  mend¬ 
ing  jKircelain  or  glass. 
To  Presence  Hood,  Skine,  Woven  Tissues,  &c., 
from,  Ike  Attacks  of  Insects,  Decay,  die. — The 
first  step  is  to  form  a  metallic  soap  insoluble  in 
water  by  uieaiia  of  a  metallic  solution,  such  as 
tho  sulphates  of  alumina,  copper  or  iron,  and  a 
soluble  soap,  like  that  of  Marseilles,  or  even  a 
rosin  soap.  This  may  bo  done  eithef  hot  or  cold, 
sturing  AA'ell  to  effect  the  mixture.  In  tho  hot 
process  the  insoluble  soap  molts. 
