SOLON ROBINSON, 1846 23 



Anderson's Patent Hammer.^ — Of all the improvements 

 ever made upon this important and indispensable little 

 tool, this last is undoubtedly the best. The greatest won- 

 der is, why it was not thought of before. 



Tomatos. — Of all the modes of cooking them there is 

 none quite equal to "our way." Scald and peel them; 

 then stew them in their own liquor a long time, till there 

 are no lumps; then add crumbs of dry bread to absorb 

 nearly all the juice. They are good when first cooked 

 while hot, and equally good when cold, or when warmed 

 up again, morning, noon, or night. In fact, I may say of 

 them what the sublime poet says of another standing 

 dish : — 



Bean porridge hot, and bean porridge cold, 

 And bean porridge best at nine days old. 



Dandelion Coffee. — What! that common plant that 

 grows in everybody's door-yard? Is it a fact? Who has 

 tried it on this continent? Anything that will help to stop 

 the enormous consumption of coffee in this country, I 

 shall look upon as a great blessing and saving of health 

 and life. 



The Alpaca. — This is a very interesting article, in 

 which much useful information is conveyed in a concise 

 form ; and if passed over by the reader might as well be 

 referred to again. By the by, what of the project for 

 importing alpacas? Will it fall through for want of 

 funds? I shall feel ashamed of my country if such is the 

 fact. It does not seem probable to me that the alpaca or 

 any cross from them will ever be used in this country as 

 beasts of burden. Although very useful in the moun- 

 tains of Peru, where it is necessary to carry packages 

 over regions entirely destitute of roads, I do not think 

 they would suit this railroad region of go-a-head-i-tive- 

 ness, where every man has, or may have, a good carriage- 

 road by his door. Though I must acknowledge that many 



' The claw was to be bent back to the handle, clasping it with a 

 strong ring. American Agriculturist, 5:269. 



