June Hints by MRS. I. H. E.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Jun 3, 1915

June Hints

By MRS. I. H. E.

WITH the coming of fresh fruits and vegetables, June is the time to look after the cellar. All the bins should be cleaned out, the walls and ceilings brushed, and the floor thoroughly swept. The useless rubbish that is so apt to accumulate in the cellar should be looked over and disposed of.

Where the cellar is old, or dark, or musty, one or two coats of whitewash should be applied. The following formula for whitewash for interior use is recommended by the United States Government:—

“Slake a peck of quicklime with boiling water, and cover the instant the water is added. Strain after slaking, and put in a gallon of salt dissolved in hot water, a quarter of a pound of Spanish whiting, two pounds of rice paste, and a half pound of glue dissolved in warm water. Mix these thoroughly, cover, and set aside a few days to ripen.”

By making this mixture thin enough, it may be applied with a spray pump, in which case two or three applications will be needed. It is also excellent for henhouses, hencoops, nests, etc. Not only will a liberal use of whitewash destroy germs and neutralize odors, but it will also effectually prevent lice, mice, and other vermin.

Whitewash for Outside Use

To make a practically waterproof whitewash, such as is used on lighthouses, life-saving stations, etc., “mix a half bucket of unslaked lime with two handfuls of common salt. Add soft soap in the proportion of a pound to every fifteen gallons of whitewash. This makes a very sticky and effective wash.”

Fruit Closets and Shelves.

This is the time when the fruit closets and shelves should receive attention. If possible take all the cans off the shelves and set them on a table or box; look them over carefully to see if all the fruit is keeping; and wipe each can with a cloth wrung out of hot, soapy water. Give the shelves a thorough washing and airing, clean away all cobwebs and dust from the corners, and set the left-over fruit in an accessible place, so it will be used first.

All empty cans, bottles, jelly glasses, etc., should be looked over and so arranged that they will be easy to get at when the busy fruit-canning days begin. If new covers and rubbers are needed, they should be bought, that all may be in readiness. MRS. I. H. E.