100 THE FARMER AT HOME. 



kinds, as it is carried on in close vessels, or as it is exposed to the air. 

 The first of these 'which we shall consider is baking. In this practice 

 meat has generally a covering of paste, by which any considerable 

 exhalation is prevented, and the retention of the juices renders the 

 meat more tender. In all cases, when the heat applied loosens, and 

 in some measure extricates the air, without exhaling it, the 

 substance submitted to this process is rendered more tender than 

 when an exhalation is allowed. In broiling, an exhalation takes 

 place ; but as the heat of a naked fire is more nearly applied, the outer 

 surface is in some measure hardened before the heat penetrates the 

 whole, and thereby a great exhalation is prevented, while the whole 

 is rendered sufficiently tender ; but this kind of cookery is suited to 

 meats that are chosen to be eaten a little raw. Nearly akin to this 

 is the practice of frying, in which the meat being cut into thin slices, 

 and laid in a pan over the naked fire, the heat is applied more equally 

 to the whole substance. But as the part of the meat lying next to 

 the bottom of the vessel would be suddenly hardened by the heat, it 

 is always necessary to interpose some fluid matter, usually of an oily 

 quality, as butter. A strong heat applied to the latter renders it less 

 miscible with the fluids of the stomach ; so that all fried meats are 

 less easily digested than those of any other preparation. 



COPAL. Improperly called gum copal, is a hard, shining, trans- 

 parent, citron- colored, odoriferous, concrete juice of an American 

 tree, but which has neither the solubility in water common to gums, 

 nor the solubility in alcohol common to resins, at least in any con- 

 siderable degree. By these properties it resembles amber. It may 

 be dissolved by digestion in linseed oil, rendered drying by quick- 

 lime, with a heat very little less than sufficient to boil or decompose 

 the oil. This solution, diluted with oil of turpentine, forms a beauti- 

 ful transparent varnish, which, when properly applied, and slowly 

 dried, is very hard, and very durable. This varnish is applied to 

 snufF-boxes, tea-boards, and other utensils. It preserves and gives 

 lustre to paintings, and greatly restores the decayed colors of old pic- 

 tures, by filling up the cracks, and rendering the surfaces capable of 

 reflecting light more uniformly. 



CORD. This is a measure for wood, equal to one hundred and 

 twenty-eight cubit feet ; that is, four feet high, four feet wide, and 

 eight feet long. Any other article susceptible of being reduced to 

 regular dimensions, to wit, manure, may be sold by the cord. 



CORK. Is a substance analogous to wood ; it is the exterior 

 bark of a tree belonging to the genus oak, which grows wild in the 

 southern parts of Europe. When the tree is fourteen or fifteen years 

 old it is fit to be barked, and may be done successively for several 

 years. The bark always grows up again, and its quality improves as 

 the age of the tree increases. If the bark is not taken off in due time 

 it splits and peels off by itself, being pushed away by the second growth 



