Art of Rat Killing without Traps or Poison

Take a common sponge, dried, cut into small pieces

• soak in lard, melted tallow or meat gravy.
• Place these pieces within easy access to the rats.

They will eat greedily and the moisture of the stomach will cause the pieces to swell and kill the rat.

Water may be placed within reach, and will hasten the results by expanding the sponge.

How to Keep Apples Fresh and Sound all Winter

I discovered a very superior way of preserving apples until spring. By it any apple in good condition when packed will be equally good when unpacked, and even those rotten because not in good condition when put away will not injure any others.

• Take fine dry sawdust, preferably that made by a circular saw from well seasoned hard wood, and place a thick layer on the bottom of a barrel.

• Then place a layer of apples, not close together and not close to the staves of the barrel. Put sawdust liberally over and around, and proceed until a bushel and a half (or less) is packed in each barrel.

• They are to be kept in a cool place.

I kept some in an open garret, the thermometer for a week ranged close to zero. No bruised or mellow apples will be preserved but they will not communicate rot to their companions. There is money in this, applied to choice apples.

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Editor's Note: This actually works. When I was a kid, it is how my Father kept carrots from the garden all winter.

Make Tomato Catsup

Boil one bushel of tomatoes till they are soft,

• squeeze them through a fine sieve;
• add one and a half pints of salt,
• two ounces of cayenne pepper,
• and five heads of onions, skinned and separated;
• mix together,
• then boil till reduced one half;
• then bottle.

Unerring Test for Good Flour

Good flour is white with a yellowish or straw colour tint.

• Squeeze some of the flour in your hand; if good it will retain the shape given by the pressure.
• Knead a little between your fingers; if it works soft and sticky, it is poor.
• Throw a little against a dry perpendicular surface; if it falls like powder it is bad.

To Soften the Hands

Before retiring, take a large pair of old gloves and spread mutton tallow inside, also all over the hands. Wear the gloves all night, and wash hands with olive oil and white castile soap the next morning.

To Restore Velvet

Where velvet has been crushed, hold the wrong side over a basin of quite boiling water, and the pile will gradually rise.

Do not lose patience, for it takes a considerable time, but the result is marvellous.

Superior Raisin Wine

• Take thirty pounds of chopped raisins, free from stems and dust
• Put them in a large keg
• Add to them 10 gallons of soft water
• Let them stand 2 weeks unbunged -shaking occasionally (warm place in the winter)
• Strain through a woolen cloth or filter
• Colour with burnt sugar
• Bottle and cork well for use

The more raisins, the better the wine -not exceeding 5 pounds to the gallon.