_FURNITURE Polish._—Mix together one pint of linseed oil, half a pint
of vinegar, and two table-spoonfuls of turpentine. Rub it well in with
a flannel, and then thoroughly polish with a duster. Never leave the
furniture sticky, but rub it till it is quite bright and clean.
The best polish for oak is made by melting a pound of beeswax in a
pint of turpentine. It must be used when it is of the consistency of
dripping.
If a polished table or tray has been marked by a hot dish, cover the
place with beeswax and turpentine mixed together, and leave it for one
hour. Then rub off the beeswax with a leather. Should the hot dish have
scorched the wood, darken the place with a little linseed oil, and then
polish it.
For brass, use Putz’ German Pomade. Rub it well on, and then polish the
brass thoroughly with a leather.—_J. R._
_To destroy the Smell of Paint in Rooms._—Place in each room a pail of
water in which two or three handfuls of hay are immersed. At the end of
six hours the hay will have absorbed much of the smell of the paint.
Burn the hay, throw away the water, and repeat the process as often as
required.—_J. R._
_To destroy Flies._—Take half a tea-spoonful of freshly ground black
pepper, a tea-spoonful of brown sugar, and a tea-spoonful of cream.
Mix all well together, and put it on a plate. The flies in the room
will soon disappear.—_J. R._
_To destroy Black Beetles._—The Union Cockroach Paste, invented by Mr.
Howarth, F.Z.S., for use in the workhouse at Sheffield when it was
infested with black beetles, never fails in its effect. It is sold in
tins by Mr. Hewitt, Chemist, 66, Division Street, Sheffield.—_J. R._
_To make a Cement for China or Glass._—Mix thoroughly two and a half
ounces of white of egg with one ounce of finely powdered quicklime,
carefully adding an ounce of water and five and a half ounces of
plaster of Paris. This cement should be used as soon as made.
_To make Stick-fast Paste._—Dissolve a quarter of a pound of gum arabic
in half a pint of water, and carefully mix therewith an ounce of sugar
and three ounces of starch. Heat in a water-bath till it becomes clear.
Add half a dram of oil of cloves and allow to cool.
_To make Baking-powder._—Mix together ten ounces of bicarbonate of
soda, eight ounces of tartaric acid, and a pound of corn-flour,
ground-rice, or wheat-flour. Thoroughly mix the powders, pass through a
sieve, and store.
It is essential that the several materials used in the preparation
of baking-powder shall be separately fire-dried with thoroughness
previously to being mixed. The presence of the smallest quantity of
dampness renders the mixture quite inoperative. Baking-powder should
therefore be carefully stored in air-tight boxes or bins.
_To keep Cut Flowers fresh_, they should be supplied with fresh water
every morning, when also a tiny bit of the end of the stem should be
cut off and the whole stem gently wiped with a cloth. No leaves should
be left on that part of the stem which is under water.