ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22064, 21 September 1933, Page 8

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

" Wood," Oamaru.—lt is quite Impossible to give an opinion which might be regarded as In any sense authoritative. If the matter In dispute was made the subject of an action at law the verdict would be given In accordance with the evidence. .In the absence of any. part of that evidence It would not be helpful to express an opinion. "Emblem," Otoklako.—(1) It Is not practicable to make a soap in the home suitable for washing clothes, dishes, and hands and faces. A good household soap, prepared from a Home Science Extension recipe, can be made as follows: —lngredients: Caustic soda, 11b; water, 1J quarts; fat 6£lb. Method: It Is much the wisest plan to use a benzine tin for the soap pot, for caustic soda will soon ruin any tin or Iron household saucepan. Clarity the fat by melting it and letting it ’cook slowly with water. Then lot It cool and the clear fat will solidity on top of the water, leaving behind any salt and dirt. Lift off the fat and remelt It, allowing It to cook slowly until It no longer “ crackles." This means that any water left in the fat has evaporated, carrying with It much of the fatty odour. Then strain the fat through fine muslin to make sure that it is clean. Dissolve lib of commercial caustic soda In 1J quarts of water. The liquid will become quite hot. Cool down until It is Just warm. Then take 6Jlb of the warm liquid fat and pour ’it slowly into the warm caustic lye, stirring with an agate spoon or a stick until it Is the consistency of honey. Lino an enamel pan with greased paper or damp calico and pour the’, soap mixture Into It. Cover and leave In a warm place 24 hours, when It will be ready to cut up and be stored away to dry. After about a month It will be ready for use. This Is, of course, the simplest kind of soap, and is used for washing dishes and other household purposes—lt Is the most common type made In the home. (2) Neat’s-foot oil or dubbin will preserve working boots and prolong their life as well as making them comfortable to wear. (3) Cut the currants well back, removing all the old wood. The trees may be Infected with borer, which would cause the trouble complained of. (4) An apple tree grown from a pip will bear fruit of poor quality. It will almost certainly produce a variety different from the parent fruit. (5) An apricot tree grown from a stone will bear good fruit, though in this case also the variety will not be true.