Household Hints.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 114, 10 December 1908, Page 3

Household Hints.

Froth on Jam

Can any of your readers kindly toll me the reason of jam going frothy in the boiling? Thinking the sugar was perhaps the fault I have used best loaf for gooseberries. When cold in the pots it shrinks and only a little at the bottom of the jars is clear as it should be. I use an iron boiler. that cause it?—G.C.

There may be one or more causes for your jam frothing. First, was the fruit quite dry, clean and sound? Did you put sufficient sugar to the fruit, which should be not less than ? lb. to lib of fruit? Di-3 you boil it sufficiently? One cannot give a stated time for this; it must be tested and allowed to boil till all the froth has disappeared, and it sets or jellies on the plate. All jam froths move or less in the making; it must be cleared of all scum arising. In your case we should say it did not have sufficient boiling. We certainly do not favour the use of iron vessels for making preserves, broad, shallow, enamel or copper ones being best for the purpose, and a wooden or silver spoon for skimming or stirring. The best remedy in your case, would be to make a syrup with lib. of sugar and half a pint of water. Add the jam to it and boil up again in the usual way. Let it be cold before sticking down.

Patent leather boots when new should be slightly warmed before a fire before they are put on. This will soften the leather and prevent its cracking, as will also the rubbing with salad oil after wearing the first few times. Nothing is more expensive to wear than cheap patent leather; it cracks and looks shabby at once. Buy it good, and it will last longer than almost any kind, and will look well to the end.

To Cure Damp Walls. —Make a varnish of one part of shellac to two parts of naphtha and cover the damp part thorouhgly with it. The varnish has a disagreeable smell but it soon wears off, and the wall is covered with a coating perfectly impervious to damp. The wall paper can be applied in the usual way when once the varnish is dry. Some people paper in the first instance with brown paper as a lining, and [ have known it to be very successful. To Clean Oil Paintings. — Cut a slice off a raw potato, and rub its cut side gently over the picture, taking off another slice whenever the potato gets dirty. The potato juice and grime are finally removed with a soft sponge and cold water, but care must be taken not to wet the back of the canvas.

To Ease a Corn. —A little oil of peppermint rubbed, over a sensitive corn will help to "ease its soreness. When Sprinkling Clothes, —Use warm water instead of cold, for warm water penetrates more quickly and less of it is required. Table Cloths.—Table cloths often tear first in the centre, where the two folds cross. It is a good plan to place over the tear a piece of tablenapkin, to match if possible, and darn down the edges without turning. A patch like this makes an excellent appearance. How to Clean Dirty Hands. —When the hands are very dirty, a very good way of cleaning them is to rub a little lard well all over them, and then wash with soap and water in the ordinary way. If this is done in cold weather the hands will not be nearly so likely to crack.

To Prepare Smelling Salts. - One pennyworth of rock ammonia broken into rather small pieces will fill the bottle. Then cover with either lavenderwater or eau-de-Cologne.

To Pare Apples.—Pour some scalding water over them before paring, letting them stand for one minute, and they can then be pared quite thinly and easily. To Keep Cool. When feeling very hot, hold the wrists under the tap, and let the cold water run on them, when the whole body will be cooled down in a few minutes without any risk. White enamel furniture will clean perfectly and only needs care. Rub all very dirty marks with a flannel dipped in methylated spirits, and wipe dry. Next wash the furniture with soap and warm water. • Do not use soda or any kind of scouring soap. Dry carefully, and then rub with a flannel dipped in whiting and polish with a leather. If you follow this, your furniture will look as good as new, and need no longer distress vou.