432 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



calves, and water for an occasional bath. In case of great demand or 

 sore need the coffee was born thei-e, as also the savory pot pie— and on 

 the same day and hour the pewter plates— heirlooms of homes beyond 

 the Alleghenies— and the linives and forks were washed there. The 

 parti-colored thread of many a Joseph's coat and Rebecca's skirt were 

 dyed there with the precious indigo and saffron of commerce. No won- 

 der the hanging of the crane was the inspiring theme of a loved poet. 



A word as to tire fuel. The heathen nations have asserted that fire 

 was the best gift of the Gods to man, coming first from heaven. In the 

 esteem of many they have been justified for diverting their adorations 

 from the Creator to the created, fire worship was pardonable. Before a 

 roof protected the pioneer his flint and steel and tinder box provided fire, 

 and when possessed was cai*ed for by a host more numerous and pure 

 than all the vestal virgins of classic Greece and Rome. Fuel abounded, 

 still there was a choice, and there was skill in the arrangement for best 

 results. The wide-mouthed jambs permitted sticks of from four to ten 

 feet to be used. The back stick must be slow burning and non-popping 

 Buckeye was the favorite, combining with the above properties that of 

 reflecting the heat of the rest of the fire from its electric face. For the 

 forestick, which rested a few inches from the hearth upon stones or dog 

 irons; and just removed from the back stick green ash or hickory, or 

 partly seasoned sugar tree or beech were preferred. The science dis- 

 played in securing draught was equal to that of modern mechanics, and 

 there was less complaint of smoky flues than there is to-day. The first 

 cost of a cabin was small, but the contents made desti-uction by fire a 

 calamity gxeater to the sparce neighborhood than that our nation would 

 feel if called on to feed the drouth-stricken regions of any other people. 

 No one had such use for fire as our parents, none were so careful in 

 handling and preserving it. A bed of coals in a bed of ashes, well covered 

 on top, was the greatest security. Kindling and stove coal, natural gas 

 and artificial, coal oil and a few handy matches have done away with all 

 that labor of preparation, that skill of handling, and exchanged that haz- 

 ard for gi-eater. 



The outfit of the fire-place further consisted of a poking stick— a small 

 hand spike of wood or, better still, of wrought iron, strong enough to 

 turn a log or lift the lids of ovens and pots, also pot hooks, being two 

 pieces of light rod iron a foot to eighteen inches long, bent and united 

 like shears at one end, while the other was sharpened and curved to 

 hook into the ears of the pots and oven and into the loop at the top of all 

 lids. In time a large strong pair of tongs became the crowning joy of 

 the chimney corner. For cooking utensils in addition to the kettle hinted 

 at above, avo had a big cast iron oven in which bread, meat, potatoes, 

 pies and cakes, and all other bakable and roastable foods were made 

 ready for the table. That OA'en was of from four to eight gallons capac- 

 ity, and quite heavy. It had three to four foet or legs which elevated the 



