together. When watering them, do not use more water than will be absorbed during the day. A few experiments will soon enable one to judge correctly in regard to the amount, and it is surprising to see how the plants will thrive in utter defiance of all the wise things that are said about drainage. The tin or zinc cases in which thread is packed will also, when painted and placed in a stand, make very good window gardens. Water in which the gridiron and frying-pan have been washed is an excellent fertilizer. How to Start a Fire — Keep the kerosene-can in the wood- house. If you have no kindling, and feel that oil must be used to start the fire, try this method : Take a small paper bag, pour a little oil into it, and run with it to the stove ; in this way you can start a fire quickly without dropping oil on the floor, or endangering your life. It would be bet- ter not to use oil at all for this purpose. How to Use the Oil Stove. — A few suggestions in regard to the use of the oil stove may be of value to some one who does not succeed well in using it. Complaints are fre- quently made that a meal can not be put hot upon the table if cooked on the single oil stove. My plan is this : If I am to get breakfast by it, the first thing is to boil the water for coffee, have the coffee in the pot, with some soft paper stuffed in the nose. When the water boils, pour a lit- tle on the coffee, cover closely, and set it one side. Then warm the potatoes ; when thoroughly cooked, cover them and set one side. If beefsteak is preferred to cold meat, cook that ; the stove being very hot, it will cook quickly. Then, as you take the steak off with one hand, with the other set the potatoes back on the stove. While you are preparing the steak for the table, the potatoes will be get- ting hot ; while taking them off, set the coffee-pot back on the stove. Of course, one must be very quick in her mo- tions. Dinner may in the same way be put smoking on MISCELLANEOUS HINTS, 75 the table, and the housewife herself, cool and fresh, will enjoy the meal as well as any member of the family. Any one who keeps plants in a room where there is no fire at night, or in a bay window, may prevent their freez- ing by lighting the oil stove and placing it near them. Canned fruit and vegetables may, also, in this way be kept from freezing. One who has never tried it will be surprised to notice how much heat is given out. Cleaning Gloves. — The best preparation I have ever tried for cleaning kid gloves can be bought for a small sum at any drug store. Get one quart of deodorized benzine, one drachm of sulphuric ether, one drachm of chloroform, and two drachms of alcohol. Cologne oil can be added if desired. Pour a little of this into a clean bowl, and wash the gloves in it as you would wash anything. After the dirt is nearly out, rinse in more of the clean fluid. Usually one rinsing is enough, but if the gloves are very much soiled, rinse the second time. If the gloves are of cheap kid, it is best to dry them on the hand ; but a nice glove, after having been rubbed with a soft cloth to smooth out wrinkles, may be hung on a line to dry. This preparation is an excellent thing to keep in the house, not only for cleaning gloves, but for taking out grease-spots from car- pets and clothing, and for sponging coat-collars and felt hats.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

together. When watering them, do not use more water than will be absorbed during the day. A few experiments will soon enable one to judge correctly in regard to the amount, and it is surprising to see how the plants will thrive in utter defiance of all the wise things that are said about drainage. The tin or zinc cases in which thread is packed will also, when painted and placed in a stand, make very good window gardens. Water in which the gridiron and frying-pan have been washed is an excellent fertilizer. How to Start a Fire — Keep the kerosene-can in the woodhouse. If you have no kindling, and feel that oil must be used to start the fire, try this method : Take a small paper bag, pour a little oil into it, and run with it to the stove ; in this way you can start a fire quickly without dropping oil on the floor, or endangering your life. It would be better not to use oil at all for this purpose. How to Use the Oil Stove. — A few suggestions in regard to the use of the oil stove may be of value to some one who does not succeed well in using it. Complaints are frequently made that a meal can not be put hot upon the table if cooked on the single oil stove. My plan is this : If I am to get breakfast by it, the first thing is to boil the water for coffee, have the coffee in the pot, with some soft paper stuffed in the nose. When the water boils, pour a little on the coffee, cover closely, and set it one side. Then warm the potatoes ; when thoroughly cooked, cover them and set one side. If beefsteak is preferred to cold meat, cook that ; the stove being very hot, it will cook quickly. Then, as you take the steak off with one hand, with the other set the potatoes back on the stove. While you are preparing the steak for the table, the potatoes will be getting hot ; while taking them off, set the coffee-pot back on the stove. Of course, one must be very quick in her motions. Dinner may in the same way be put smoking on the table, and the housewife herself, cool and fresh, will enjoy the meal as well as any member of the family. Any one who keeps plants in a room where there is no fire at night, or in a bay window, may prevent their freezing by lighting the oil stove and placing it near them. Canned fruit and vegetables may, also, in this way be kept from freezing. One who has never tried it will be surprised to notice how much heat is given out. Cleaning Gloves. — The best preparation I have ever tried for cleaning kid gloves can be bought for a small sum at any drug store. Get one quart of deodorized benzine, one drachm of sulphuric ether, one drachm of chloroform, and two drachms of alcohol. Cologne oil can be added if desired. Pour a little of this into a clean bowl, and wash the gloves in it as you would wash anything. After the dirt is nearly out, rinse in more of the clean fluid. Usually one rinsing is enough, but if the gloves are very much soiled, rinse the second time. If the gloves are of cheap kid, it is best to dry them on the hand ; but a nice glove, after having been rubbed with a soft cloth to smooth out wrinkles, may be hung on a line to dry. This preparation is an excellent thing to keep in the house, not only for cleaning gloves, but for taking out grease-spots from carpets and clothing, and for sponging coat-collars and felt hats.

Household hints