10 



THE FARM AND GARDEN. 



©HE FSOUSBHOLD. 



WORKING DKESS FOB WOMEN. 

 By Experience. 



The constraint of limbs, and its heavy weight 

 are the chief objections to womans' dress. The 

 wei"lit d'ags on the waist and prevents the free 

 use^of the muscles in such labor as washing, 

 ironins;, bread making, bed making, and house 

 cleanin''. In these occupations the arms are 

 constantly e.xtended, so that a band around the 

 waist hinders their free play. If womans; dress 

 were always made without this constriction, 

 there would be far less disease and distress among 

 -them : therefore, in a working dress it should not 

 enter. Let the under garment be all in one, the 

 -under skirt be attached to a loosely-fitting body, 

 and the dress be cut like a princess dress, or 

 wrapper, extending from the shoulder down. 

 Let the skirt be very short, or made to loop up, 

 by sewing strings twelve inches apart and one 

 under the other, at s|)aees around the dress. Let 

 the underskirt be arranged in the same way, or 

 the outside skirt can be short, and an extra one 

 of the usual lengtli can be made to slip over the 

 other if it is necessary to stop work in haste, or 

 to appear before visitors. 



Now if any woman not used to such a dress 

 will try it, she will never be likely to use the 

 old kind while working. She will feel no draw- 

 ing back at every attempt to move forward, and 

 the fatigue in consequence will be lessened to a 

 great degree. Still better, for house cleaning 

 :and washing, is it to have the dress made as short 

 ■as a bathing or Bloomer costume. In carrying 

 -water, cleaning windows, or floors, all tlie oon- 

 ■venience of such a dress may be perceived. We 

 inew of two ladies who adopted this dress for 

 liousecleaning times, and who said, emphatically, 

 that it lessened one half the fatigue usually ex- 

 perienced. 



Woman needs to learn economy in motion, 

 which man understands by the study of ma- 

 chinery. Good planning helps wonderfully, as 

 well a.s method, and though some may work with 

 apparently more rapidity by heedless ways, yet 

 it will be found, in the long run there is no 

 greater dispatch, and not near such good work as 

 that done bv method. We have often noted this, 

 4>nd one deliberate woman we knew, whose work 

 was always done on time, was the wonder of the 

 household, until it w;i3 found that she "made 

 every stone tell." 



Young girls are especially benefited by a loose 

 fitting dress, as it allows not only free action, 

 but fi'ee growth. How can any mother, feeling 

 true interest in her children, allow them to be 

 cramped in tight-fitting or outgrown clothes, 

 -when their health, nay their very life in some 

 .instances, depends on free exercise. This is well 

 known where there are consumptive tendencies, 

 in the family. We have known of such whose lives 

 were prolonged by allowing free exercise in the 

 open air, and all children ^vith such tendencies, 

 should seek (mtdoor employment for a livelihood. 

 The shoes enter largely into the comfort of 

 labor. They should fit neatly, and be kept 

 nicely mended, as walking around in a loose, or 

 trodden-down shoe tires the foot twice over, and 

 especially should they have a large flat heel, so 

 that in standing the body be kept in equilibrium 

 and not tilted tVom side'to side, to cause sprained 

 ankles, or raised unnaturally on the heels, to 

 bring on prolapsis, not to say anything of the 

 crop of corns and bunions produced ; for bunions 

 are the result of either high heels, which throw 

 the weight on the log toe joint, or of shoes too 

 short, which cramp them in a similar way. 

 •Children acquire them in this way. Shoes with 

 •elastic sides, called Congress boots, are the best 

 for walking or standing, and though they cost a 

 little more at the outset, they make it up in 

 superior wear. For stout or busy people the 

 Congress boots are much to be preferred, as they 

 require no buttoning or lacing, and are put on as 

 easily as a man's boot. Those who are obliged 

 to stiinil inucli, \vill find that ashoe made one size 

 too large for them, will give them great comfort 

 and prevent corns and bunions; for tlie foot ex- 

 pands by standing, and requires the extra room 

 for ease. We knew of two ladies who stood in 

 stores, who tried large shoes, and broad heels, 

 after suffering tortures with their ordinary fit of 

 shoes, besides enduring an accumulation of corns, 

 and in one case bunions. Tlie result was excellent. 

 Garters are best placed above the knee, as then 

 they do not constrain the muscles just unoer the 

 knee. Thus placed they give more comfort than 

 garters attached to the 'waist, for these pull the 

 foot back at every step, and to little children 

 must prove injurious, as they impede free motion, 

 as any one will find by trying the garter attached 

 .in this way. 



Short dresses for the street have been the 

 feshion for some time, and one would think the 

 good sense, for which most American women are 

 noted, would keep them so; but fashions must 

 change, or the designers of them think they must, 

 and so thev are being somewhat lengthened again, 

 let all women protest, botli for health and con- 

 venience. The constant propelling of the dress 

 by the foot is as fatiguing as the walking that is 

 done. By watching, any one can detect the labor 

 it requires to carry and push forward \yomans' 

 dress. Heavy draperies should be avoided for 

 this reason alone. There is no real grace to be 

 had when the body is constrained by the dress, 

 the shoulders pushed upward and outward until 

 the arms hang out akinino, and if thin, present 

 their worst appearance, added to this a waddle, 

 produced by a tight waist, or a narrow skirt, 

 kicked forward until all its ruffles are in a xvhirl- 

 pool, and you have the gnire of a tight-fitting 

 dress. To have arace we must have ease; easy 

 motion is generally graceful. Let us also add 

 the grace of religious duty to onr ideas of health 

 and dress, and we need tear no relapse into false 

 fashions and forms. 



Round Shoulders.— 1. Suspend two ropes 

 with ring handles from a doorway, and swing 

 by the arms three minutes at a time three times 

 a day. This will cure round shoulders within 

 three months. 2. Remove both bolster and 

 pillow from their usual ()lace under the head 

 when one is sleeping, and have one or both 

 placed under the shoulder blades. This brings 

 the head a little below the level of the dorsal 

 region, and curves the spine in direct reversal to 

 the curves of the round shoulders, and as during 

 sleep, relaxation of the spine ensues, the poste- 

 rior spinal muscles are permitted to recover some 

 of the contractibility they lose during the day if 

 projjer sup|>orts be' not worn. During the day 

 let the patient recline upon the front of the body, 

 lying at full length, as children do, and resting 

 on the elbows. This favorite position with chil- 

 dren should be encouraged, as if steadily prac- 

 ticed it is a sure prevention of deformity. This 

 position is one of the greatest helps to symmet- 

 rical development in children. 



People learn wisdom bv experience. A man 

 never wakes up his second baby to see it laugh. 



THE FARM AND GARDEN RECIPES. 



To Clear Blackberry Wine.— Add a cup 

 of milk to each gallon (after all fermentation is 

 over), and as soon as it settles pour it oflT. 



Ginger Bread.— Two and a half cups ot 

 molasses, 1 of brown sugar, 1 of sour milk, 1 ot 

 lard, 2 tablespoonfuls of ginger, 2 of soda, 3 quarts 

 of flour. 



Ice Cream.— One gallon of fresh milk, yolks 

 of 4 eggs (well beaten), with a tea cuj) of sugar, 

 add to the milk, and sweeten and season to the 

 taste, and freeze. If richer cream is desired, put 

 a quart of cream and 3 of milk. 



Green Corn Pudding.- Twelve ears of corn 

 grated, or l>ush the grater down each row and 

 scrape out the kernel. 1 quart of sweet milk, 

 quarter of a pound of butter, 4 eggs (well beaten), 

 iiepper and salt to taste, mix well, and bake in a 

 buttered dish. 



Sweet Tomato Pickle. — Slice and boil 

 twenty to twenty-five minutes in strong ginger 

 tea. "Measure the tomatoes of the slewing. To 

 every two measures put one of sugar : cloves, 

 allspice ami mace to vour taste. Cover with 

 vinegar and boil until clear. 



Croquets. — Boil a chicken until tender, take 

 out the bones and chop fine, take some of the 

 liquor it \vas boiled in, a piece of butter size of an 

 egg, some flour, black pepper and a little onions, 

 then add the chicken and put away until cold, 

 make in cakes, dip in egg with bread crumbs and 

 fry brown. 



Cookies. — One cup of butter, 2 of sugar, 5 of 

 flour, 3 eggs beaten light, G teaspoonfuls of milk, 

 with a small spoonful of soda dissolved in it ; stir 

 the butter and sugar together until light ; add the 

 egg and a little cinnamon and nutmeg, then the 

 milk, last the flour; roll out, cut in round cakes, 

 and bake in a quick oven. 



Lemon .Ielly Cake.— One and a half cups of 

 sugar, half a cup of butter, beat to a cream ; half 

 cup milk, 2i cui)S of flour, 2 teaspoonfuls baking 

 powder, 3 eggs well beaten ; liake in sheets or in 

 jelly tins. Jelly — One cup of sugar, 1 egg ; grate 

 the yellow rind and use with the juice of 1 lemon, 

 1 taldespoonful of water, 1 teasponful of flour. 

 Place the dish in a kettle of ))oiling water and 

 let it thicken ; when cool, spread between the 

 cakes. 



Baked Codfish. — Pick up the fish and freshen 

 a little as for cooking, then into a dish put a 

 layer of cracker crumbs, then one of fish, over 

 each layer sprinkle pepper and butter, continue 

 until v'ou have two layers of fish and three of 

 crackers; lastly, beat two eggs with milk enough 

 to cover the w'hole. Bake about three-quarters 

 of an hour. 



Cabbage Salad.— Chop one large catibage 

 very fine; put into dish in layers, with pepper 

 and salt between. Take two teas])oonfuls of but- 

 ter, two of .sugar, two of flour, two of mastard, 

 one egg, and small teacupful of vinegar. Stir 

 all in .saucepan and let come to a boil. Pour 

 over cabbage wliile hot, and cover dish. When 

 cool is ready for use. 



Muffins. — Three pints of flour, 3 eggs, 1 pint 

 of sweet milk, made into a batter as stiff as you 

 can stir well with a sjioon, add two tablespoonfuls 

 of yeast and half one of salt, set to rise, in the 

 in the morning stir in a tablespoonful of lard or 

 butter (melt it) and a teaspoonful of soda. Bake 

 in a quick oven. They are very nice on a griddle 

 it you have no rings. 



Coffee Cake. — Three eggs, well beateti, two 

 cups of brown sugar, one cup of butter, one cup 

 of milk, one teaspoonful of soda, two teaspoon- 

 fuls of cream of tartar, work this to a stiff dough, 

 and ndl out to about half an inch in thickness, 

 sift ground cinnamon over evenly, then roll up 

 like jelly cake, cut slices about half an inch thick 

 from the roll, drop into granulated sugar, and 

 bake thoroughly with sugared side up. 



Cottage Puffs. — One cup milk and the same 

 of cream ; 4 eggs beaten stiff", and the yolks 

 strained ; 1 tablespoonful butter chopped into the 

 flour ; a very little sidt ; enough prepared flour 

 for thick batter. Mix the beaten yolks with the 

 milk and cream ; then the salts and whites, 

 lastly the flour. Bake in buttered iron pans, 

 such as are used for gems. The oven should be 

 quick. Turn out and eat with sweet sauce. 



Tea Biscuit. — One quart flour, 1 teaspoonful 

 salt, one half teixspoonful sugar, 2 teaspoonfuls 

 Royal baking powder, 1 tablesjioonful lard, 1 

 pint milk. Sift together flour, salt, sugar, and 

 powder; rub in lard cold, add milk, form into 

 smooth consistent dcmgh. Flour the board, turn 

 out dough, roll out to thickness of three-quarter 

 inch, cut with small round cutter ; lay them close 

 together on greased baking tin ; bake in a good 

 hot oven twenty minutes. 



Cucumber Catsup. — Thee dozen fuU-grown 

 cucumbers, 8 onions, peel and chop as fine as 

 possible (some prefer grating, but I do not), 

 sprinkle 1 gill of salt over, put them on a seive 

 and let them drip eight hours (or all night if 

 fixed in the afternoon), 1 tea cup of white mus- 

 tard seed, half cnn ground black pepper, a little 

 grated horseradish, mix well and cover with 

 strong vinegar, close tightly and it can be used in 

 three days. If preferred, the horseradish can be 

 left out. 



Lemon Meringue Pudding.— One quart milk, 

 2 cups bread crumbs, 4 eggs, 1 cup wliite sugar, 

 1 large lemon, juice and rind grated ; soak the 

 bread in the milk, add the beaten yolks with the 

 sugar, rub to a cream, also the lemon. Bake in 

 a buttered dish until firm and slightly brown. 

 Draw to the oven and cover with a meringue of 

 the wliites whipped to a froth, with three table- 

 spoonfuls of powdered sugar and a little lemon 

 juice. Brown slightly ; sift powdered sugar over 

 it and eat cold. 



Excellent Icing.— To one pound of granu- 

 lated sugar, put two wineglasses of water, let it 

 stand until well saturated, put in a kettle over a 

 slow fire and let it simmer until a thick syrup, 

 stirring it all the while. Have ready the \yhite 

 of two eirgs well beaten. Pour out the syrup and 

 let it cool enough not to eook the eggs, then beat 

 in the eggs and beat until cool. Be particular 

 not to let the sugar get too cool. Season to taste 

 with lemon. This will ice a large cake, and 

 thin as it is put on. 



Dried Apple Fruit Cake.— One packed pint 

 of api.lesput insoak at night, in morning chop 

 fitir, put them in a brass or porcelain kettle, with 

 "l cup New Orleans molasses, 1 of brown sugar, 1 

 greted nutmeg, 1 teaspoonful of ground mace, 6 

 cloves, and one-third of an orange peel, broken 

 small. Cook raiiidlv until veri/ stifl", stirring 

 constantly. Let this stand twenty-four hours, 

 then make cake:— Four eggs, 1 teaspoonful soda, 

 and 2 of cream tartar, 3 cups of sugar, 1 of sweet 

 milk, I teaspoonful of mace, and heaping quart 

 of flour, sift soda and cream tartar in the flour. 

 Mix well and bake as fir other fruit cake ; slowly 

 for two and a half hours. 



