PLATE may be cleaned by rouge, or if this is not readily obtained, by washed whiting; this is readily made by stirring some whiting up with water, then allowing the larger particles and the grit to subside, and pouring off the water charged with the finer powder, which is allowed to settle, and dried for use. When plate is very much stained, it may be cleaned with putty powder, but this preparation would soon wear away the silver if used frequently or unnecessarily. It may be mentioned, that this substance is not made from putty, as its name might seem to imply, but is a rust or oxide of tin, obtained by heating the metal. JAPANNED GOODS, such as tea-boards, should not have boiling water poured upon them, but should be washed with warm water, and polished with a piece of wash-leather and fine flour. KNIVES.—The common wooden knife-board wears out the knives very rapidly, it is therefore much better to employ a piece of buff-leather to cover the board; for very superior cutlery emery powder should be used instead of Bath brick. Whatever the material of the board, it will be rapidly spoiled by cleaning the backs of knives upon the edge of the board; to prevent this evil, a small piece of leather should be fixed at one end to clean the backs upon. We have seen several knife-boards lately, covered with a material formed of India-rubber and powdered cork, which was manufactured as a substitute for floor-cloth, and sold under the name of _kamptulicon_; but we have had no experience in their use. STEEL FORKS are readily cleaned by having a pot of damp moss or hay, with some sand intermixed, into which they may be repeatedly thrust. If knives or forks get an unpleasant taint which cannot be removed readily, they may be plunged into the mould of the garden, which has a very absorptive power, and rapidly removes such odours. BEDSTEADS may be freed from vermin by brushing them over in the cracks with a mixture formed of one ounce of corrosive sublimate, dissolved in half a pint of oil of turpentine, and the same quantity of any spirit, such as strong gin or whisky; this effectually prevents their harbouring. But when first applied, it possesses a disagreeable odour from the turpentine, and great care must be taken with it as it is excessively poisonous, although from its disagreeable smell it is not likely to be swallowed accidentally. It has been found that the presence of the odour of creosote (in vessels which have been used in carrying railway sleepers prepared with this substance, to prevent their rotting) has effectually driven away these enemies to our nocturnal peace. Unfortunately, the odour of creosote is very powerful and unpleasant, but there may be cases in which it may be applicable. On the whole, constant and unremitting cleanliness, and the employment of iron bedsteads, which are now manufactured of the most elegant forms, are the best means of getting rid of these pests.