WAR TIME ECONOMY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 76, 22 December 1917, Page 5

WAR TIME ECONOMY

HINTS J 1 OR HOUSEKEEPERS

Economy cannot be practised without the exercise of a good deal of thought and pationce on the part of the housekeeper, but if she cares to make a proper study of the matter she will be surprised to find how much needless expenditure. if not actual waste, is going on daily (writes "Phyllis Wurne"). Fat. —The best may be used instead of butter for frying bread and making cakes, puddings, and pastry. The inferior may be used for making soap. Following is an oxcellont recipe for Boap, ana not much time, attention or fuel are required4Jib. fat (rendered), Jib. resin, lib. caustic soda, 10 quarts cold water. Put all ingredients into a kerosene tin and boil from three to four hours, taking care not to allow it to boil over. When done it will be found to be quite liquid, but will set when cold. Allow to remain in the tin for a few days; romove from tin and out into blocks, allow to dry for 14 days, then it is ready for use. The skins from which tlie fat is extracted may be used when lighting fires, as they

burn roadily. Candle ends may bo grated and added to hot water starch to prevent the iron | sticking to tho clothes. They may bo used to rub the irons on instead of beeswax, or make floor polish with the addition of turpentine. Bones may be placed around fruit trees. They may tie dried and used as fuel under the copper. Newspapers can be used to put upon the spring mattresa so as to prevent thn mattress cover wearing outj Bewn between old blankets and covered with chintz they make very warm coverings. Paper may be screwed up and used_ as fuel under the copper when boiling jlothes.

Soot may he tued around rose or fruit trees. It is very 1 good to add to the soil for palms, ferns, etc. < Fine ashes may he mixed > with Kerosene and used to clean fire irons, steel, eto. Ashes may be used upon the garden paths. AJfter rain they way be addea to the mud, whioh they dry up. Ashes are good for the garden, orchard, and fowl yard. Sugar bags when boiled several times become soft, and may be used for rough towels, floorcloths, eto. They way be used as mats, to line sheds, and as coverings for horßes and cows. Kerosene tins can be straightened out and used for roofs for fowl houses, eto. Baking dishes may bo out out of them, also roll tins. They should be well boiled before using. Dust pans and flower pots may be also made. If one js unable to buy a meat safe cut out the four sides, leaving tho corners in as supports for the top and bottom, and place a meat hook through the top. Cover tho whole with a mosquito Imall tobacco tins may be boiled and j used for cake and pio tins. Tongue tins make good cake tins Tea tins j may be painted and used as store tins. ] Kour sweepings may be rolled tig-oily in paper ana used as fuel under the broken gaa mantlee may be powdered and used to polish jewellery, silver, eto. , , Coffee grounds (dried) may be used to stuff pm-oushions. They oan be used as fuel. Rags should be washed and the white ones sent to the Red Cross Society or hospital. Others may be used as dusters, made into mops for polishing the floor, or cut into small pieces and used to stuff cushiona or to make a gas ring is used four. bricks should be placed some distance around it: a large tin slide should rest upon the bricks, and as many aa four saucepans and a kettle can .bo kept boiling. It is always advisable to turn the gas off at the meter during the nkht to prevent any escape of gas. Potato peelings may be dried and used to light the fire. v Tho water in which potatoes are oooked may ho used to stiffen cretonnes when washing, instead or stnroh.

The peelings of carrots, parsnips, eto., may bo washed and boiled." the liquid being used for gravy. Almost all liquid in which vegetables are boiled may be used when making gravy, Instead of water. The liquid in which meat or fish has been boiled should be kept when making soups and used instead of Fruit syrup makes a cooling drink for hot weather. Fruit skins, suoh aa apple, pineapple, etc., should be placed in a Boueepan and covered well with water. Allow to boil a few hours, then strain and sweeten to taste. Orange skins may be candied, made into jam, or dried and grated and used to flavour oakes, custards, etc. Lemon peel may be used in the same way. Sour milk may be used for scones, gingerbread, or puddings. Bread should bo dried in the oven and used to cover outlets, rissoles, etc. Tho bread may be out into small squares, and after allowed to become brown, served with sugar and milk instead of porridge, _ The crumbs may be used for puddings, broad sauce, or seasoning.

THE MISTLETOE

Like so many of our pretty Yuletime ousloms the use of the mistletoe Sates from Druidical times, wnen it was used at the heathen feast of Noel, which mew New Yule or New Salvation, and strangely enough foreshadowed the Christian feast of Christmas. Various superstitions have heen associated with the mistletoe. Its use in the Gallio marriage rite was legarded as very important. Before a couple oould be married they had to cmnk a beverage made from mistletoe. In certain country parts of Australia, the mistletoe is just as inuch used is the scheme of Christinas decorations as it is in Europe; and tho lime-hon-oured custom of kissing under the mistletoe bough is observed throughout the festive season. But, alas I with so many of our young men at the war the mistletoo bough would hang in vain now were it not tor the children. Any custom with romance atttaching to it 1b always appreciated by the little folk, eve') though they may not understand its real significance. And for the sake of the children let us have all the customary Christmas decorations, Including the mistletoe, as in the piping days of peace. No matter how the dreadful happenings tliat mock the season of "peace on earth to men of goodwill," may strike home to us, we nave no right to out one Christmas out of a little child's life, for the lost magio of it <an never be recovered. Therefore no matter what urgent calls war work may make upon us, and no matter how tad our hearts may be for the loss of loved ones, let us tell the children the old sweet- story of the first Christmas, and by observing the pretty traditions of the season, bring it homo to thoni more vividly.