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Paste That Will Keep

Dissolve a teaspoonful of alum in a quart of water.

When cold, stir in as much flour as will give it the consistency of thick cream, being particular to beat up all the lumps; stir in as much powdered resin as will lie on a dime, and throw in a half dozen cloves to give it a pleasant odor. Have on the fire a teacupful of boiling water, pour the flour mixture into it, stirring well at the time. In a very few minutes it will be of the consistency of mush. Pour it into an earthen or china vessel; let it cool; lay a cover on, and put in a cool place. When needed for use, take out a portion and soften it with warm water. Paste thus made will last. It is better than gum, as it does not gloss the paper, and can be written on. -AMANDA D. I., Madison, Wis.

XXVII. The Dyer's Art.

THE time is long since past when spinning and weaving constitute an important part of rural economy. It will no longer pay even to dye old fabrics at home, except in those sections far removed from dyer's establishments. It will not pay at all, except for the most common fabrics Rag carpets, however, have not gone out of fashion, and they never should. If tastefully made, they are pretty, and for kitchen and general family wear, certainly lasting. The recipes given by contributors fairly include all the regular colors, and will show that this department of rural art is still extensively practiced, for many still keep up the knowledge of the art as much because it amuses them as for any other reason.

XXVIII. Coloring Dress and Other Fabrics.

As to the stability of dyes imparted to silks, damasks and fabrics, used in furnishing, an eminent French chemist has found that the blue colors produced by indigo are stable; Prussian blue resists moderately the action of air and light, but not soap; scarlet and carmines, produced by cochineal and lac-dye, are last; the most stable colors on silk are produced by weld Mordants. In colorings it is sometimes necessary to employ mordants, or substances to "fix" color; they may even change a color; so, by mixing mordants, different shades are produced. But it will not be necessary to enter into this subject here. Where mordants are necessary, they will be given in the simple recipes. In relation to fixing colors generally, and this applies to washing, the following will be useful:

Take a large double handful of bran, put it in a saucepan and set it over the fire, allowing it to boil thoroughly in a quart of water. When thoroughly boiled, strain the bran, and throw the water into that in which you are about washing your lawn or chintz dress. Let the dress soak for an hour or so in it before washing. Instead of starch use a weak solution of glue-water, and iron on the wrong side. XXIX. Coloring-Yellow, Blue and Green.

Yellow. Dissolve one-half pound sugar of lead in hot water; dissolve onefourth pound bichromate of potash in a vessel of wood, in cold water. Dip the goods first in the lead-water, then in the potash, then alternate until the color suits. This quantity answers for five pounds of goods.

Blue. Dissolve one-fourth pound copperas in soft water, sufficient to color five pounds of goods; put in the goods and let them remain fifteen minutes; then take them out. Take clean soft water and dissolve two ounces prussiate of potash. Put in the goods when it is milk-warm. Let them remain in this fifteen minutes; then take out the goods, and add one ounce of oil of vitriol to the potash dye when it is only milk-warm; put in your goods again; boil for deep blue, and take out before boiling for lighter shades.

Green. Take the yellow dyed by the above recipe, and dye by the recipe given for dyeing blue, and you will have a beautiful green. -N. B., Elm Grove, Mich.