DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



In autumn, or the early part of winter, the young canes should be shortened to about 

 four-fifths of their original height, or to the place where the growth of the upper part of the 

 shoot forms a sort of bending or twisting. They may then be either tied to stakes or arched, 

 by tying their tips to those of the adjoining plant. When a late succession of fruit is 

 desired, some i^lants may have all their shoots cut back to within a few inches of the ground. 



ViXEGAK Plast. — Two of our correspondents say that the vinegar produced from the 

 vinegar plant is as good for pickling, or any other purpose, as cider vinegar ; to make it as 

 sour as which it is only necessary to add a little more sugar, or, what Is better, molasses. 



Vinegar Animal. — Hue, in his travels in China, gives a curious account of the " Vinegar 

 Animal," a polypus found in the Yellow Sea, which is placed in a large vessel filled with 

 fresh water, to which a few glasses of spirits are added ; and, after twenty or thirty days, 

 this liquid is transformed into excellent vinegar as clear as spring water, very strong, and of 

 a veiy agreeable taste. Additions of pure water, without any more spirit, are all that is 

 necessary to insure a perpetual supply. Like other polypi, it propagates from a detached 

 limb. The formic acid of ants, and the exudations of the slimy grub which feeds on our 

 pear leaves, contain vinegar. 



Muscatine, Illinois. — Portions of a new Directory for 1856, of Muscatine City, Illinois, 

 have been forwarded to us. It is compiled by John Mahin, and contains much valuable 

 infoiTuation in the way of statistics. It appears that the- population of Muscatine County in 

 1838 was 1,247, while in 1855 it reached 14,000. The work contains tables of the early and 

 late frosts. The earliest is October 8th, and the last June 6, the middle of May being the 

 average. Tlie table of rain is complete, and was made for the Smithsonian Institute by T. 

 S. Parvin. 



Grass. — Ruskin, in his last volume of Modern Painters, remarks upon grasses as follows : 

 " Observe the peculiar characters of the grass, which adapt it especially for the service of 

 man, are its apparent huinility and cheerfulness. Its humility, in that it seems created only 

 for lowest service — appointed to be trod on, and fed upon. Its cheerfulness, in that it seems 

 to exult under all kinds of violence and suffering. You roll it, and it is stronger the next 

 day ; you mow it, and it multiplies its shoots, as if it were grateful ; you tread upon it, and 

 it only sends up richer perfume. S^jriug comes, and it rejoices with all the earth — glowing 

 with variegated flame of flowers — waving in soft depth of fruitful strength. Winter comes, 

 and though it will not mock its fellow plants by growing there, it will not pine and mourn, 

 and turn colorless and leafless as they. It is always green, and is only the brighter and 

 gayer for the hoar-frost." 



Cottage Life. — " How I should like," said Grattan, one day, to Rogers, " to spend my 



whole life in a small, neat cottage ! I could be content with very little ; I should need only 



cold meat, and bread, and beer, and plenti/ of claret." Tlie idea of a well of Bordeaux, in 



place of the 



" Willowy lirook that turns a mill," 



is cajntal and characteristic. 



Contradicting. — If we are not mistaken, we have the counterpart of the following in 



America : One of Rogers's friends said, that was so fond of contradiction, that he 



would throw up the window in the middle of the night, and contradict the watchman who 

 was calling the hour ! 



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