Glass vessels in a cylindrical form, may be cut in two, by tying around them a worsted thread, thoroughly wet with spirits of turpentine, and then setting fire to the thread.  Court plaster is made of thin silk first dipped in dissolved isinglass and dried, then dipped several times in the white of egg and dried.

When plain tortoise-shell combs are defaced, the polish may be renewed by rubbing them with pulverized rotten-stone and oil.  The rotten-stone should be sifted through muslin.  It looks better to be rubbed on by the hand.  The jewellers afterwards polish them by rubbing them with dry rouge powder; but sifted magnesia does just as well—­and if the ladies had rouge, perhaps they would, by mistake, put it upon their cheeks, instead of their combs; and thereby spoil their complexions.  The best way to cleanse gold is, to wash it in warm suds made of delicate soap, with ten or fifteen drops of sal-volatile in it.  This makes jewels very brilliant.

Straw carpets should be washed in salt and water, and wiped with a dry, coarse towel.  They have a strong tendency to turn yellow; and the salt prevents it.  Moisture makes them decay soon; therefore they should be kept thoroughly dry.

Rye paste is more adhesive than any other paste; because that grain is very glutinous.  It is much improved by adding a little pounded alum, while it is boiling.  This makes it almost as strong as glue.

Red ants are among the worst plagues that can infest a house.  A lady who had long been troubled with them, assured me she destroyed them in a few days, after the following manner.  She placed a dish of cracked shagbarks (of which they are more fond than of anything else) in the closet.  They soon gathered upon it in troops.  She then put some corrosive sublimate in a cup; ordered the dish to be carried carefully to the fire, and all its contents brushed in; while she swept the few that dropped upon the shelf into the cup, and, with a feather, wet all the cracks from whence they came, with corrosive sublimate.  When this had been repeated four or five times, the house was effectually cleared.  Too much care cannot be taken of corrosive sublimate, especially when children are about.  Many dreadful accidents have happened in consequence of carelessness.  Bottles which have contained it should be broken, and buried; and cups should be boiled out in ashes and water.  If kept in the house, it should be hung up high, out of reach, with POISON written upon it in large letters.

The neatest way to separate wax from honey-comb is to tie the comb up in a linen or woollen bag; place it in a kettle of cold water, and hang it over the fire.  As the water heats, the wax melts, and rises to the surface, while all the impurities remain in the bag.  It is well to put a few pebbles in the bag, to keep it from floating.  Honey may be separated from the comb, by placing it in the hot sun, or before the fire, with two or three colanders or sieves, each finer than the other, under it.