Page:Husbandman and Housewife 1820.djvu/97



IMMERSE any kind of paper in a strong solution of alum water—thoroughly dry it, immerse and dry it again.

CUT into eight half quarters a quartern loaf of two days old, it must be neither newer nor staler. After having with a pair of bellows blowed all the dust from the paper, begin with one of these pieces at the top of the room, holding the crust in the hand, and wiping lightly downward with the crumb, about a yard at each stroke till the upper part is completely cleaned all round. Then go around again with the like sweeping stroke downward, always commencing each successive course a little higher than the upper stroke had extended, till the bottom be finished. This operation, if carefully performed, will frequently make very old paper look almost equal to new. Great caution must be used not by any means to rub the paper hard, nor to attempt cleaning it cross way or horizontally. The dirty part of the bread too, must be each time cut away, and the pieces renewed as soon as at all necessary.

ONE hundred weight of plaster of Paris is a small quantity for an acre. It should be sown in a moderate rain, and when the air is calm. There is no doubt of its being useful in almost any soil, but on that of a light and loamy kind its good effects are more readily seen. The plaster should be ground as fine as flour. Indeed it is impossible to make it too fine.