THE LAUNDRY

Flat Iron. — Tlie cut represents a very good form of flat iron. The peculiar form of the handle makes it con- venient and eas}' to the hand, while the width of the guard wards oft" the heat more than in the common form.

Silver Polish for Shirts, — One ounce each of isin- glass and borax, one teaspoon white glue, two teaspoons white of an egg. Cook well in two quarts fine starch. Starch in this and dr,y. Before ironing, apply some of it to the bosom and cuffs with a cloth till well dampened. i^ianrou.

Iron at once with a hot glossing iron.

To Wash Chamois-Skin. — Use a week solution of soda and warm water ; rub plenty of soft soap into the leather ; let it lie in the water two or three hours ; then rub it clean. Rinse well in a weak solution of soda, warm water and yellow soap ; (rinsing in water only would make it stifl" and hard) ; wring in a rough towel ; dry quickly ; then pull about and brush it well. It will be soft and new.

To Presfrve Colors in Washing. — Black calicoes should be washed in water in which potatoes have been boiled, and should not starched. A little vinegar in the water of pink, red and green calicoes is good to brighten the colors ; rinsing black, blue and green colors in salt, and water will also set the colors. Wash worsteds in ^vater with beef's gall and they will not fade ; no soap is necessary, but if used, wash in the gall first.

Milk as a Washing Agent. — A good way to wash black calico and lawn dresses is this : First wash thoroughly in sweet milk, using no soap or any- thing else; then rinse in sweet milk, in which considerable bluing has been dissolved. Turn wrong side out, and hang up to dry in a shady place in summer and indoors in winter. No starch is needed. Dauqien and iron on the wrong side.

Wash Bench. — No kitchen is complete without a long bench, two and a half feet wide, and of a proper height for comfort in washing, on which there is room for two or three tubs on washing days. Of course, a wringer is a necessity, and it is always best to get a good one. A cheap wringer soon be- comes worthless. The rollers twist off, and it goes to pieces generally, while a good one, properly taken care of, lasts a long time. AVashing ma- chines are more doubtful, but there are a few worthy of a place in the kitchen, especially Avhere the women folks are not strong.

Polishing Iron. — The beautiful polish that is seen on new shirts and collars or on those washed and ironed at laundries, is due chiefly to hard work and a good polish- ing iron. The recipes given for polish will not ])roduce the effect without the hard rubbing with a proi)er iron. A good form is rej)resented in the cut. Xo housekeeper who wants her husband's linen to do her honor can af- ford to be without one in some form, as the cost is I'oiishiug Iron, trifling.

Washing Feathers. — First put them into hot suds, let stand until cooi enough for the hands. Wash out and put through the wringer (bunching them up). Then rinse them in warm water, wring out and put into flour sacks. They are very nice, white, light, and clean.

Bosom Board. — A board twenty inches long, and ten or twelve inches wide. The shirt is slipped over it and buttoned at the neck ; the other end of the board is a strip about an inch wide, fasfened to the board by an arm