e
a cupful of turpentine put into the wash water. Yellows, buffs, and tans
are made much brighter by having a cupful of strong, strained coffee put
in the rinsing water.

When ironing fine pieces, instead of sprinkling afresh, take a piece of
muslin, wring it out in cold water, and lay on the ironing board under
the article; press with a warm iron; remove the wet piece and iron.

When making starch for light clothes use Wool Soap in the water. This
will give the clothes a glossy appearance and the irons will not stick.

Badly scorched linen may be improved by using the following solution:
Boil together well a pint of vinegar, an ounce of Wool Soap, four ounces
of fuller's earth, and the juice of two onions. Spread this solution
over the scorched spots on the linen and let it dry. Afterward wash the
garment and the scorch will disappear.

To keep the clothes-line from twisting, hold the ball of rope in one
hand and wind with the other until a twist appears; then change ball to
the other hand and the twist will disappear. Keep doing this, changing
the rope from one hand to the other until the line is all wound up.

About House Plants

To make ferns grow better, place some thin pieces of raw beef close to
the inside of the pot, between the pot and the soil.

Old-fashioned portulaca makes a pretty low-growing green for a fern
dish.

To prevent plants from dropping their buds, give extra good drainage and
systematic but moderate watering.

An infallible wash for destroying the scaly insects that infest house
plants is made as follows: Place half a bar of Swift's Pride Laundry
Soap in a deep saucer and pour kerosene around it. Let this stand for
about a week until the soap has absorbed the oil. Then make a strong
lather of this soap and with it wash the plants. After which spray them
with clear water until clean.

To destroy aphis, shower foliage of infested plant on both sides with
strong tobacco tea, or, if the plant be small enough, immerse it in this
tea.

Insects in the earth of a potted plant may be destroyed by pouring over
the soil a glass of water in which a pinch of mustard has been stirred.

If an asparagus fern turns yellow, repot it, giving it a strong loam
enriched with one-fifth very old and finely crumbed manure and add a
little coarse sand. Give the fern only an hour or two of sunlight each
day. Water when it looks dry, but do not let it stand in any water that
may have run through into