ICY STEPS.—­Salt strewed upon the door-steps in winter will cause the ice to crack, so that it can be easily removed.

FLOWERS.—­Flowers may be preserved fresh in tumblers or vases by putting a handful of salt in the water, to increase its coldness.

WHITE-WASHING is said to last longer if the new-slaked lime be mixed with skim-milk.

HORSE-FLIES.—­Indigo-weed stuck plentifully about the harness tends to keep flies from horses.  Some make a decoction of indigo-weed, and others of pennyroyal, and bathe horses with it, to defend them from insects.

PINE APPLES will keep much better if the green crown at top be twisted off.  The vegetation of the crown takes the goodness from the fruit, in the same way that sprouts injure vegetables.  The crown can be stuck on for ornament, if necessary.

THE PILES.—­Those who have tried other remedies for this disorder in vain, have found relief from the following medicine:  Stew a handful of low mallows in about three gills of milk; strain it, and mix about half the quantity of West India molasses with it.  As warm as is agreeable.

WARTS.—­It is said that if the top of a wart be wet and rubbed two or three times a day with a piece of unslaked lime, it cures the wart soon, and leaves no scar.

CANCERS.—­The Indians have great belief in the efficacy of poultices of stewed cranberries, for the relief of _cancers_.  They apply them fresh and warm every ten or fifteen minutes, night and day.  Whether this will effect a cure I know not; I simply know that the Indians strongly recommend it.  Salts, or some simple physic, is taken every day during the process.

EAR-WAX.—­Nothing is better than ear-wax to prevent the painful effects resulting from a wound by a nail, skewer, &c.  It should be put on as soon as possible.  Those who are troubled with cracked lips have found this remedy successful when others have failed.  It is one of those sorts of cures, which are very likely to be laughed at; but I know of its having produced very beneficial results.

BURNS.—­If a person who is burned will _patiently_ hold the injured part in water, it will prevent the formation of a blister.  If the water be too cold, it may be slightly warmed, and produce the same effect.  People in general are not willing to try it for a sufficiently long time.  Chalk and hog’s lard simmered together are said to make a good ointment for a burn.

BRUISES.—­Constant application of warm water is very soothing to bruised flesh, and may serve to prevent bad consequences while other things are in preparation.

SORE NIPPLES.—­Put twenty grains of sugar of lead into a vial with one gill of rose-water; shake it up thoroughly; wet a piece of soft linen with this preparation, and put it on; renew this as often as the linen becomes dry.  Before nursing, wash this off with something soothing; rose-water is very good; but the best thing is quince-seed warmed in a little cold tea until the liquid becomes quite glutinous.  This application is alike healing and pleasant.