214 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



starve if unable to work; while the slave is always pro- 

 vided for at his master's expense. 



The damage done by the late frost you can hardly form 

 an idea of unless you were here to see. The cotton crop 

 must be greatly shortened, for the scarcity of seed to 

 replant is very great, while all that was above ground 

 has been killed. In addition to this there has been no 

 rain for five weeks, and of course the replant cannot vege- 

 tate. Fruit has been almost entirely killed. The persim- 

 mon and some of the oaks are as dry as in midwinter. 

 Corn was much of it killed a little below the surface of 

 the ground, and has to be replanted. 



I am, with much respect, yours, &c. 



Solon Robinson. 



A Few More Trifles for the Ladies. 



[New York Americaji Agriculturist, 8:193; June, 1849] 



[April, 1849] 



To Purify Tallow. — Mix 5 parts of beef tallow with 3 

 parts of mutton tallow, in a copper or iron kettle, with 

 half a pint of water to each pound of grease. When 

 melted, mix 8 ounces of brandy, 1 ounce of salt of tartar, 

 1 ounce of cream of tartar, 1 ounce of sal ammoniac, 2 

 ounces of pure and dry potash, with the tallow. Boil fif- 

 teen minutes, and set off to cool. When cold, take off in 

 cake and bleach it in the air and dew a few days and 

 nights. It will then be hard and white. Candles, with a 

 fine cotton-yarn wick, (6 to a pound,) will burn 14 hours. 



Tomato Catchup. — First bake your tomatoes, then 

 squeeze them through a sieve. Add to 6 quarts of juice 

 an equal quantity of wine vinegar ; boil slow until it be- 

 gins to thicken ; then add cloves, allspice, and pepper, Y2 

 an ounce each, cinnamon 14 of ^n ounce, and 2 nutmegs, 

 all finely powdered. As it thickens, add four spoonfuls 

 of salt, and when done, pour out in an earthen dish to 

 cool. Bottle, cork, and seal, and it will keep years in a 

 warm climate. 



