RECIPES. 997 



spoonful of cloves, one tablespoon ful of cinnamon, one tablespoonful of allspice, one cup of 

 sugar; cook until soft. 



Tomato Catchup. Eight quarts of strained tomato, six tablespoonfuls of &quot;black 

 pepper, six tablespoonfuls of salt, four tablespoonfuls mustard, one tablespoonful ground 

 cloves, one tablespoonful yellow ginger, one quart vinegar, one-half cup of brown sugar, one 

 tumbler of brandy. Boil very slowly until the quantity is reduced nearly one-half. Put into 

 bottles. 



Spiced Currants or Blackberries. Seven pounds currants, four pounds sugar, one 

 pint vinegar (if of average strength), one tablespoonful of cinnamon, one tablespoonful of 

 cloves, one teaspoonf ul allspice. Give it two hours or more slow boiling. 



Blackberry Wine. Mash the berries and pour one quart of boiling water to each 

 gallon; let the mixture stand twenty-four hours, stirring occasionally; then strain and measure 

 into a keg, adding two pounds of sugar to each gallon. Let it stand until done fermenting; 

 then cork it tight, or draw it off and bottle. Another good recipe for blackberry wine is as 

 follows: Measure the berries and bruise them. To every gallon add one quart of water, and 

 let the mixture stand for twenty-four hours, stirring occasionally; then strain off the liquid 

 into a cask, adding two pounds of sugar to every gallon of the mixture. Let it stand till the 

 following October, when the wine will be ready for use without further straining or boiling. 

 It may be improved, and perhaps kept better, by adding a small quantity of pure French 

 brandy. 



Elderberry Wine. T.o every quart of berries add one quart of water ; boil half an 

 hour; run off the liquor and break the berries through a hair sieve; then to every quart of 

 juice add three-quarters of a pound of sugar; boil again one quarter of an hour with ginger, 

 and a few cloves. When sufficiently cool pour into a barrel with a cup of yeast and a piece 

 of toast to assist the fermentation (to be kept in a warm place). When it ceases to hiss, add 

 one quart of brandy to eight gallons of the liquor ; then close the barrel perfectly air-tight and 

 keep in a cool place for six months, when it will be fit to bottle. Another for elderberry 

 wine: To one gallon of the ripe berries add one of water; let it stand twenty -four hours, 

 stirring it often ; boil it half an hour in a copper or brass kettle, and strain through a sieve. 

 Put it again in the kettle, and to each gallon of liquid add three and a half pounds of sugar; 

 boil it twenty-five minutes. Tie in a cloth half an ounce of ginger, the same of allspice; put 

 it into the kettle and boil five minutes; then take out the spice. When cool add one teacup- 

 ful of good yeast; keep it in a warm room to ferment a few days; then put it into a cask with 

 the bung out for three or four months, when it will be ready to bottle. Wine made by this 

 recipe is equal in flavor to port wine, and is far more wholesome for medical purposes than 

 any commercial wine. 



Recipe for Brown s Troches. Pulverized liquorice two and a half ounces pulver 

 ized gum arabic two ounces; pulverized cubebs one ounce; pulverized sugar one pound. Mix 

 thoroughly with a very little water, being careful not to put in too much. Reserve about 

 half of the gum arabic to roll the mass out in. Roll out thin like stiff dough, cut out in any 

 desirable form and dry. 



Care of House Plants. Plants add much to the cheeriness and attractiveness of a 

 room in winter, and to one wao loves them, they seem to promote companionship and 

 sympathy. 



DUST. One great enemy to house plants is dust, and all smooth leaved plants, like ivy, 

 cape-jessamine, camellias, etc., should have their leaves washed on both sides in lukewarm 

 water with a soft sponge or cloth. This should be done at least once a week. Rough leaved 

 plants, like geraniums, and some others, cannot be washed to advantage, and these should be 

 set in a sink or bath-tub and have their leaves washed with a watering pot held high up from 

 the plants, so that the water may beat off the dust. When the under side of the leaves are 

 to be washed, turn the pot over on its side, so that the under side of the leaves may be 

 readily reached. Before sweeping, it would be well to cover the plants with a light cloth or 

 newspaper to prevent the dust settling on the leaves. 



INSECTS. &quot; If one allows insects to get the mastery, the case is difficult; but if the 

 plants as soon as brought in-doors have proper attention, insects need give but little trouble. 

 The three great remedies for insects upon house-plants are the fingers, tobacco, and water. 

 One who loves plants and watches them, will note the first appearance of scale, mealy-bug, or 



