California Agriculturist and Live Stock Journal. 



of flesh is pretty sure to be accompnnied by a 

 dispositioa to fatten; but for protitable feed- 

 ing it is essential that these qualities should 

 be developed early — constitutinf; early matu- 

 rity. Thus talks the Prairie Farmer ou this 

 important subject. 



.«-•-* 



Gkadually Impkote Yodr Sheep.- — It is a 

 fact very few persons realize, that by the in- 

 troduction of pure breed rams, there will be 

 an annual increase of at least half a pound 

 per fleece among a flock of ordinary sheep. 

 "Could our average farmers be induced to be- 

 lieve this," says Mr. Goe, a noted Pennsyl- 

 vania sheep manager, "sheep profits would 

 soon become immense, compared with pres- 

 ent pay." It does not matter where you buy 

 those rams, but you ought to be certain to get 

 pure breeds, from a good healthy flock. From 

 one to three rams annually will not cost much 

 money compared with the profit to your flock 

 and the increased yield of fleece. You all 

 claim to be enterprising and anxious to make 

 sheep-raising pai/, hence you will doubtless 

 avail yourselves of the light and progress of 

 others in your enterprise; for you live in a 

 progressive age and ought to feel bound to 

 keep ou the track. Then it becomes you to 

 open your eyes, look about you, see and rend 

 what your neighbors are doing. Catch the 

 proper spirit and profit by all your learn from 

 experience and the experience of others. — 

 Rural Sun. 



^mmiu. 



Learn to Keep House. 



[EAUriFUL maideDB — aye Dature's fair qneens, 

 Some in your tweutiee, and some in your teena, 

 Sftekin^ accomplishnientH wortliy yotir aim. 

 Striving for learning, thirBtinK for fame; 

 Taking such pains with ttie style of your hair, 

 Keeping your lily complexions so fuir: 

 Miss not this item, iu all your gay lives. 

 Learn to keep house, you may one day bo wives. 

 Learn to keep house. 



Now your Adonis loves sweet moonlight walks, 

 Hand clasps, aud kisses, and nice little talks; 

 Then, as plain Charlie, with burden of care. 

 He must subsi t on more nourishing fare; 

 He'll come home at the set of the sun. 

 Heart-sick and weary, his working day done, 

 Thence let his slippered feet ne'er wi.sh to roam, 

 Leara to keep house that you may keep home. 

 Learn to keep house. 



First in his eyes will be children and wife, 

 Joy of his joy and life of his life. 

 Next to his bright dwelling his table, his meals — 

 Shrink not at what my pen trembling reveals, 

 Maidens romantic, the truth must be told. 

 Knowledge is better than silver and gold; 

 Then be prepared in the 8prin;T:-time of health, 

 Learu to keep house tho' surrounded by wealth. 

 Learn to keep house. 



and 



Chats With Farmers' Wives 

 Daughters — No. 6. 



BY "JEWELL." 



A TUSSLE WITH FLIES. 



I have often wondered why a farm life 

 should have so many drawbacks to its charms 

 — the greatest of which is flies; but, as I did 

 not live year in and year out on a farm — 

 which condition, they tell me, is essential to 

 a fair trial of poison and a gentle persuasion 

 e.ach morning with a cloth driver — why, I did 

 not prove anything, only I wondered in my 

 quiet hours wh}' it was that city flies and 

 country flies should differ so very materially. 

 It is quite easy in the city to keep free from 

 flies, if one knows how and means busines.': — for 

 you must bear in mind one thing, viz. : that 

 flies muat be eating. All right; give it to 

 them — with a little cobalt with it — in plenty 

 of dishes here and there, with beer or sweet- 

 ened water, any way to invite them to eat and 

 be merry, and they will surely die. After a 

 few days of sweei^iug dead flies, brushing 



dead flies, shooing dead flies, and seeing 

 dead flies you get used to it, and they either 

 conclude not to come in, or else there are 

 fewer flies in your neighborhood. 



So much for city flies. But in the country 

 where there are stables, milk and butter, and 

 swill about to attract flies, they told me it 

 would be impossible. So I am trying it, 

 friends. One week ago, on the wall beside 

 the table aud upon the netting over the dishes 

 as we ate would be black as if a swarm of bees 

 were upon us. Tho reform began by remov- 

 ing the swill barrel to the barn yard. (I'd 

 rather carry sour milk a mile than have so 

 many flies looking at me eat.) I never leave 

 anything for them to eat, but just what I want 

 them to, with cobalt or fly-paper in it, but of 

 that I give a plenty — three dishes to a room, 

 one on each bed in the bed-room, leaving the 

 room well aired and lighted. (I don't believe 

 in dark rooms, except at night.) It seems as 

 if there had been at least several millions of 

 dead flies swept up, and at meals we miss 

 fully that number — indeed, I feel a deep char- 

 ity for the few left, and feed them regularly, 

 and shall continue to do so right along all 

 Summer. Don't be afraid of your children 

 getting at the poison; teach them to let it 

 alone, and, indeed, the dirty dishes are 

 enough to disgust most all children, who usu- 

 ally like best what is pretty and nice. 



Following are a few recipes which may be 

 found useful: 



TO COOK CBACKED WHEAT, BICE AND HOMINY. 



I have before given a recipe for boiling 

 cracked wheat, hominy and rice in a bag 

 put in boiling water, which is not only easier 

 and a cheaper way of doing — unless one has a 

 waterbath utensil already to use — but I think 

 the baa preferable; the rice keeps its form and 

 cooks quicker, and cracked wheat, to be truly 

 nice, should not cook more than twenty min- 

 utes, or three quarters of an hour at the farth- 

 est. You then have the full flavor of the 

 grain, and something to chew also, which re- 

 moves one serious objection to mush or 

 cracked wheat, as it is usually served soft and 

 gummy. Hominy should be cooked at least 

 an hotir, but cracked wheat and rice is better 

 cooked in half the time. 



SOFT GINGER BREAD. 



One cup of molasses, 1 of cold water, 1 

 teaspoouful of salt, 1 of soda, butter the size 

 of au egg, 1 spoonful of ginger, cloves or any 

 other spice, flour enough for a stiff batter; 

 bake an hour. 



nancy's cake. 



Two cups of sugar, 1 of milk, ^ of butter, 

 3 of flour, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoonful cream tartar, 

 % teaspoonful of soda. 



cream pies. 

 Two cups of sugar, 1 of flour, i eggs, 1 quart 

 milk; boil together and flavor to suit; put in 

 crust and bake. 



SPONGE CAKE. 



Four eggs, 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 tea- 

 spoonful cream tartar put in flour, ^ tea- 

 spoonful of soda dissolved in milk or water; 

 flavor with lemon. 



How TC Cook Tomatoes. — Those who are 

 fond of tomatoes will find that among the vari- 

 ous modes of cooking them, none can equal 

 in richness and delicacy, a dish of baked to- 

 matoes. We are fond of them served in any 

 manner, but the most delicious dish is prr- 

 duced as follows: To bake tomatoes, take 

 those of a uniform size, smooth and ripe; 

 wash and wipe dry ; place them iu a deep bjik- 



ing dish, a tin one if it is new; sprinkle salt 

 and pepper over them, and bake m a brisk 

 oven, not too hot, nearly two hours. Spread 

 butter over them, aud serve while hot. 



Another way. Select thoroughly ripened 

 fruit; cut them in halves; sprinkle over the 

 cut half With bread crumbs, sugar, salt, pep- 

 per and butter. Place them in a baking pan, 

 cut side upwards, and bake them in an oven 

 for two hours. Serve on a plate garnished 

 with curled parsley. 



Broiled tomatoes can be cooked in less time 

 as follows : Cut medium sized tomatoes in 

 halves, and put them upon a gridiron, cut 

 surface down. When the surface apiiears 

 somewhat cooked, turn them, and finish the 

 cooking with the skin towards the fire. The 

 cooking should be gradual, so as not to break 

 the skin. Place upon a dish, and put a little 

 salt and a bit of butter upon each half, and 

 serve cjuite hot. 



How Many Farmers Live. — The State of 

 Massachusetts, through her Board of Health, 

 has been looking a little after the farmers of 

 thiit State, and with regard to the diet of the 

 farmers' families, publishes the following as- 

 tounding report: 



1 — Good bread is scarce. 



2 — There is too little variety in food. 



3 — Meat is apt to be fried. 



4 — Baked beans and salt pork too generally 

 used. 



5 — Pastry and cakes are used to an injuri- 

 ous extent. 



6 — Too little time is allowed for meals. 



7 — Coffee and tea are too freely used. 



8 — Water is used to excess. 



The Board of Health make the following 



suggestions: 



"There should be more fresh and less salt 

 meat; less frying and more boiling, broiling 

 and roasting; a greater variety of vegetables 

 and fruits; less pies and cakes; more well- 

 kneaded bread, raised with yeast; less tea. 



"It is a somewhat siugular fact that farm- 

 ers live so little upon their own productions. 

 They send their fresh vegetables, fruits, eggs, 

 and poultry, to market, and live themselves 

 ujion salt pork, pies and saleratus. 



"The poor cooking which prevails, doubt- 

 less results from hurry — frying requires but 

 little time and skill, saleratus bread can be 

 made iu a jiffy, and the bread and pastry we 

 eat are heavy and sodden, because kneading 

 requires time." 



It m.ay well be doubted whether a more dis- 

 graceful picture could be drawn of any other 

 nation in the world. Here we Americans are 

 boasting of our skill and ingenuity, inviting 

 to our shores the overworked millions of Eii- 

 rope and Asia, and yet living ourselves in a 

 slip-shod, hand-to-mouth way, frying in 

 grease half our food, fried ham, fried beef, 

 fried potatoes, and not a civilized nation on 

 earth but lives better. It insults our nostrils 

 three times every day. The result is, one 

 sees men sallow, stoojiing, sickly women more 

 than in any other land under the sun. The 

 active habits of the men enable them to over- 

 come the dyspeptic influences of the everlast- 

 ing /(•;/,■ the women pay the penalty. 



Raised Connecticut Doughnuts. — Heat a 

 pint of milk just lukewarm, and stir into a 

 small cup of melted lard and sifted flour, till 

 it is a thick batter, add a small cup of domes- 

 tic yeast, and keep it warm till the batter is 

 light, then work into it four beaten eggs, two 

 cups of sugar rolled free from lumps, a tea- 

 spoonful of salt, and two of cinnamon. When 

 the whole is well mixed, knead in wheat flour 

 until as stiff as biscuit dough. Set where it 

 will keep w;irm, till of spongy lightness, then 

 roll the dough out half an inch thick, and 

 cut into cakes. Let them remain till light, 

 then fry them in hot lard. 



•-•-* 



Shakespeare Cake. — Six cups of flour; one 

 of sugar; one of rich cream; eight eggs. 



