FIFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VI. 589 



and place at a temperature of 65' to 75" F. The acetic fermentation may 

 be complete in three months or may take eighteen months according to the 

 conditions under which it is carried on; or if stored in cool cellars may take 

 two years or more. If the alcoholic fermentation be carried on in the cool 

 cellar and the barrel be then taken to a warmer place, as outdoors during 

 the summer, the time of vinegar formation may be reduced from that given 

 above to fifteen or eighteen months. Where the alcoholic fermentation is 

 hastened by warm temperature storage and the use of yeast and the acetic 

 fermentation favored by warmth and a good vinegar "start," it is possi- 

 ble to produce good merchantable vinegar in casks in six to twelve months. 

 When the acetic fermentation has gone far enough to produce 4.5 to 5 

 per cent of acetic acid, the barrels should be made as full as possible and 

 tightly corked in order to prevent destructive changes and consequent 

 deterioration of the vinegar. 



HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT, 



Mrs. Josephine C. Skiff, Iowa Falls, Iowa, Before the Hardin County 



Farmers' Institute . 



Household management! When I think of all that that terrq implies, I 

 am staggered as was the pendulum in the fable we read in school years ago 

 a portion of whicii I beg leave to quote: When inquiry was made as to the 

 cause of the stoppage, the pendulum replied ' 'I confess myself to be the sole 

 cause * * * and if you wish, I'll tell you how I took this digust to my 

 employment. I happened this morning to be calculating, how many times 

 I should have to tick in the course of only the next twenty-four hours; 

 perhaps some one of you, above there, can give me the exact sum." The 

 minute hand being quick at figures, presently replied, eighty-six thousand 

 four hundred times." "Exactly so," replied the pendulum. "Well, I 

 appeal to you all, if the very thought of this was not enough to fatigue any 

 one; and when I began to multiply the strokes of one day by those of months 

 and years, really it is no wonder if I felt discouraged at the prospect. So, 

 after a great deal of reasoning and hesitation, thinks I to myself, I'll stop." 



The dial could scarcely keep its countenance during this harangue, but 

 resuming its gravity, thus replied: "Dear Mr. Pendulum, I am really 

 astonished that such a useful, industrious person as yourself should have 

 been seized by this sudden weariness. It is true, you have done a great deal 

 of work in your time; so have we all, and are likely to do; which, although 

 it may fatigue us to think of, the question is, whether it will fatigue us to 

 do. Would you now do me the favor to give about half a dozen strokes to 

 illustrate my argument?" 



The pendulum complied and ticked six times at its usual pace. "Now", 

 resumed the dial, "may 1 be allowed to inquire if that exertion is at all 

 fatiguing or disagreeable to you?" "Not in the least", replied the pendu- 



