190 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



[December, 



Horse-radish Culture. 



Toumay say, perhaps, that horse-radish, like many 

 commou plants, will grow anywhere, and so it will. 

 But to have it good it must be grown well. Some 

 years ago, when I was in the west of England, I had 

 charge of a very old and very productive garden, in 

 which was a large hed of horse-radish, situated in a 

 prominent position, an<l yet it contained no useful 

 piece longer than from four to six inches. The tirst 

 winter I was there, I had a bed made in the least 

 frequented part of the garden. I trenched the spot 

 Belccted for the bed about two feet deep, adding a 

 good dressing of dung, and allowed the bed to settle 

 down well before planting. I then trenched tlie old 

 bed fully two feet deep, and carefully picked out ev- 

 ery bit of the horseradish. There being plenty of 

 crowns we saved the best of them, and cut away every 

 bit of side root ; some of these crowns had pretty firm 

 bits attached to them of from two to six inches long. 

 They were allowed to remain, and the strongest were 

 selected for planting. After the crowns were gone, 

 we used scmie of the best of the roots, the longest and 

 straightest ; these had no crowns ; but horse-radish 

 cares little about being beheaded, and when the genial 

 influence of summer begins to act on it, it soon pushes 

 forth a new head. When our Treshly-made bed had 

 become pretty well settled down, we took an iron bar 

 and with it made deep holes in tlie bed about 15 inches 

 deep, leaving about as much between the rows, and 

 about one-halfthat distance from hole to hole. These 

 holes were made to remain open, at least, for a time, 

 and, in order that they might be a little wider at the 

 toil tlian at tlie bottom, the bar was made to play 

 ar(.)Und about once or twice before it was withdrawn. 

 This also firmed the sides. Into these holes we drop- 

 ped the sets of horseradish; enough of loose earth is 

 sure to sink dcnvu in the operation to keep the young 

 rootlets all right; and the open hole assists vegeta- 

 tion. It was said the new man had destroyed all the 

 good old bed in which one always found some radish; 

 and, moreover, the new bed was planted so deeply 

 that it was believed the plants and cuttings would 

 never see daylight. Before, however, the roast beef 

 graced the next Christmas dinner-table, there was in 

 this new bed [ilenty of good andeleanly-.;rown horse- 

 radish, more than a foot long and between two and 

 three inches in girth. As to lifting horse-radish, this 

 should never be done hap-hazard all over the bed, as 

 by doing so one. never knows where to pitch upon a 

 good root when such is wanted. In taking the rad- 

 ish from our new bed, we began at the end where we 

 had planted the strongest crowns. In autumn weha<i 

 a couple of yards along the bed dug up from side to 

 side ; all sticks tit for use were carefully put aside in- 

 to a convenient place among some mold in an open 

 shed. This portion of the bed was leveled down into 

 its former place and planted afresh, and thus we 

 went along the bed, lifting according to the demand, 

 and no more gnarled and twisted h.orseradish of two 

 or three inches long was to be found. — Londuti Oar- 

 den. 



^ 



Things Worth Knowing. 



Keep tea in a close chest or caunister. 



Keep coffee by itself, as its odor affects other articles. 



Keep bread and cake in a tin bo.x or stone jar. 



Cranberries w ill keep all winter in a firkin of water 

 in a cellar. 



September and October butter is the best for win- 

 ter use . 



Oranges and lemons keep best wrapped in soft 

 paper, and if po.ssible laid in a drawer. 



The United States standard gallon, measures 231 

 cubic inches. 



A barrel contains 40 gallons, or 9,!i40 cubic inches. 



A box 24xir> inches, '22 deep, contains one barrel. 



A box Kixlliio inches, S deep, contains one bushel. 



A box 8'.jXS'^, inches, .S deep, contains one peek. 



A box 4x1 inches, 4',2 deep, contains a half peck. 



The standard bushel of the United States contains 

 3150.43 cubic inches. Any box or measure, the con- 

 tents of which are c<iual tf) 2150 42 cubic inches, will 

 hold a bushel of grain. In measuring fruit, coal and 

 other substances, one-fifth must be added. In other 

 words, a peck measure five times even full makes one 

 bushel. The usual practice is to " heap " the mea- 

 sure. The " VVinchestci- hu^liel,*' as our standard is 

 called, islSi-i; inches in diameter, inside, and S inches 

 deep. 



To find the contents of a cylindrical measure, mul- 

 tiply the square of the diameter by .78.5".98 and then 

 bv the depth. Example: 18i..,xlSi„=342.25; S42.25x 

 785,3it8=2HS.8ni; 2tiS.80:!x8=2,1.50 42-100. 



Welsh firkins are so-called from the fact of their 

 being introduced by a Welsh settlement in the north- 

 ern part of New York State. A Welsh firkin coutains 

 about one hundred pounds, and a half-firkin oi tub, 

 fifty pounds on an average. A common returnable 

 contains from thirty to seventy pounds of butter, and 

 a common (Irkin ninety to one hundred pounds. 



No. 1 mackerel should be not less than thirteen 

 inches in length, iVom the extremity of the head to 

 the foot of the tail, fat, free from rust, taint or drain- 

 age. 



No. 2 mackerel should be not less than eleven 

 inches in length, fat, and I'ree from rust, &c. 



No. 3 mackerel should be not less than ten inches 

 in length. 



No. 3 large should not be less than thirteen inches 

 in length, and in quality are those that remain after 

 the selections of No. 1. . 



No. 4 mackerel comprise all not in the above, and 

 should be free from taint or damage. 



The above is the standard established by law in 

 Massachusetts, and is generally accepted by the trade 

 elsewhere. 



Mackerel should be kept covered with brine and 

 not exposed to the air, as it becomes rancid or "rusty" 

 in a few days. 



Mess mackerel — the finest fish with head and tail 

 removed. 



Extra number ones are selected fish. 



Large number tw(TS — fish over thirteen inches in 

 length, and not good enough in quality for number 

 ones. 



Mackerel comes in barrels, half-barrels, quarter- 

 barrels, and kits, containing, full weight, respectively, 

 200, 100, 50 and 30 pounds. 



Scaled herrings should be fat fish, free from scales, 

 and when smoked be of a bright golden color. 



No. 1 herring are generally small anil poor fish. 



The best way to cook codfish, strip itof its skin and 

 cut in pieces about the size. of one's hand; place it in 

 water and allow it to simmer on the stove until it 

 becomes tender. It should never be allowed to boil. 

 Boiling hardens and darkens the fish, and deprives it 

 of much of its flavor. 



Pcn-k, full weight, should contain 200 pounds, but 

 the standard has been reduced to 190 pounds; pickled 

 beef bams in barrels 300 and 220 pounds, clear sides 

 in bulk, in boxes 500 pounds, and in hhds. from 800 

 to 1000 pounds. 



Salt — Ashtou's, Marshsill's, and other Liverpool 

 brands — come in bags, 324 pounds; New York State 

 in barrels and bags, 240 and 2-80 pounds; eases table 

 salt contain 00 boxes, about to 2 pounds each. Salt 

 also comes in small packets, put up in sacks, three 

 sizes: 25, 10 pound packets; 40, 6 pounds; and 80, 3 

 pounds. 



Oolong teas are very highly dried, of wiry, brittle 

 leaf, and valued according to degree of strength and 

 pungency, and freedom from dust. 



Souchongs are the strongest black teas. The leaves 

 are large, thin and often broken. The infusion is 

 clear, golden and aromatic. 



Congou teas have small, short, grayish black leaves. 



Gunpowder is a heavy tea, of a dark green hue, and 

 the leaves rolled in hard balls. 



Imperials are in larger grains than gunpowders, 

 and in color a silvery green. 



Hysons have long, straight, fleshy, grayish green 

 leaves, rolled lengthwise on themselves, with sweet 

 aromatic flavor. 



Twankays are known by the large, yellowish, badly 

 rolled leaves and strong odor. The Infusion is a deep 

 yellow, and of clear, sharp taste. 



Hints in Season. 



PoTATOKS make firstrate chicken feed. The poul- 

 try raisers out West use them largely in fattening 

 their surplus stock for the fall and early winter mar- 

 ket. They should, of course, be cooked and mixed 

 with corn meal when fed for fattening purposes. If 

 fed to young fowls or chicks designed for breeding, 

 or to laying hens, it is well to substitute wheat bran, 

 or shorts, or oat-meal, if it can be readily obtained 

 for a portion of the corn meal. Use salt and pepper 

 to taste as for table use; the fowls will relish such 

 feed and thrive, or fatten on it nicely. 



To liEMOVE Mildew, soak the part of the chith 

 that is mildewed in two parts of chloride of lime to 

 four parts of water for four hours, or until the mil- 

 dew has entirely disappeared, then thoroughly rinse 

 it in clean water. 



Silverware may be kept bright and clean by 

 coating the articles (warmed) with a solution of col- 

 lodion diluted witii alcohol. 



Brass Ornaments should be first washed with a 

 strong lye made of rock alum, in the proportion of 

 one ounce of alum to a pint of water; when dry, rub 

 with leather and fine tripoli. This will give to brass 

 the brilliancy of gold. 



To Clean Gold, powder some whiting, and make 

 it into a moist paste with some sal-volatile. Cover 

 over the gold ornaments and surface with a soft 

 brush; let it dry, and then brush it off with a moder- 

 ately hard brush. 



It is Bad Policy to attempt to carry through the 

 winU-r a larger stock of poul'ry than can be comfort- 

 ably housed and otherwise well cared for. 



Do NOT, as the weather becomes colder, neglect to 

 furnish poultry with abundant supplies of good, pure 

 water to drink. They will use nearly as much now 

 as during the summer. 



Assaf(Etii)A is an excellent remedy for horses, 

 cattle, swine and poultry. Given both in the water 

 and feed, it pi-omotes health and prevents disease. 

 This excellent preventive sbouhl tie largely used 

 where hog cholera is epidemic, and should be freely 

 given to stock that is healthy, to keep them so. 



QuioK Mortar: Equal parts of sand and filaster 

 paris moistened with water, make an excellent mor- 



tar to stop cracks and holes in walls or ceilings. It 

 hardens rapidly, and must be handled quickly, or not 

 too much made at a time. 



In case of poisoning, vomit the patient instantly 

 and freely with strong salt and water, giving abun- 

 dantly, afterwards, of milk and white of eggs. 



Rake itp all the loose trash in the fields and 

 burn it. You thus destroy the germs of millions of 

 insect pests, and prevent them from preying on you 

 next season. 



Keep plenty of dry dust for poultry to wallow 

 in, and they will never be troubled with vermin. Dust 

 scattered along the back, from horns to tail, will re- 

 move lice from cattle. 



Now IS the time to take care of the tools and im- 

 plements which have Ijeen used during the summer. 

 Put them all in good order before storing away. Tools 

 cost money and must be well cared for. 



At this season of the year, no family should fail 

 to subscribe for at least one agricultural paper, for 

 the instruction and entertainmen* of the children, if 

 for no other purpose. The information obtained in 

 this way is nearly always worth many times the cost. 



In fall andwinter write for NurseryCatalogues, 

 and acquire all the information necessary before i)ur- 

 chasing trees, shrubbery and small fruits. Always 

 buy of reputable dealers in preference to unknown 

 traveling agents, whose representations are usually 

 altogether unreliable. 



Practical Brevities. 



Every one, young or old, should keepthehead cool, 

 the body warm, and the feet dry. 



Good management, economy aud industry in youth , 

 make old age comfortable. 



Time is money. Treat yours as if you knew how 

 to make it valuable. 



When you wish to have anything certainly done, 

 go. If not, send. 



Memory is made stronger by exercising what you 

 have already. 



To preserve beauty, preserve your health and spir- 

 its. 



Be ashamed ofyourpride,notproudof your shame. 



Cruelty to women or children is the crime of a mon- 

 ster. 



Hours of recreation are not lost hours, by any means . 



To keep out of trouble, keep out of debt. 



Hope and time are the best solace for grief and 

 trouble. 



Mental gifts often hide bodily defects. 



Do good if you exjieet to receive good. 



Ask thy purse how much to spend. 



Limit Your Wants. 



From the nature of things, the income of most of 

 the inhabitants of the earth must be limited, and, in- 

 deed, within very narrow bounds. The product of 

 labor, throughout the world, if equally divided, would 

 not make the share of each individual large. It is 

 impossible that every one should be what is called 

 rich. But it is by no means impossible to be inde- 

 liendendent. And what is the way to compass this 

 "glorious privilege," as Burns designates it ? The 

 method is very simple. It consists in but one rule. 

 Limit your wants. Make them few and inexpensive. 

 To do this would interfere but little with your real 

 enjoyment. It is mostly a matter of habit. Ton 

 require more, or you are satisfied with less, just as 

 you have accustomed yourself to the one or the other. 

 Limit your wants, estimate your cost, and never ex- 

 ceed it, taking pains to keep inside of your income. 

 Thus you will secure your lasting independence. 

 Young" men, think of this. A great deal of the hap- 

 piness of your lives depends upon it. After earning 

 your money, spend it as you choose, honestly; but be 

 sure ycm make it first. 



A Good Durable Whitewash. 



In answer to a correspondent who asks for a white- 

 wash that will stand exposure to the weather, we 

 give the following, which we know to be good : Take 

 half a bushel of freshly-burned lime, slake it with 

 boiling water; cover it during the process to keep in 

 the steam. Strain the liquid through afine sieve and 

 add to it seven pounds of salt previously well dis- 

 solved in warm water; three pounds of ground rice 

 boiled to a thin paste and stirred in lioiling hot: one- 

 half iiound of powdered Spanish whiting, one jiound 

 of clean glue, which has been previously dissolved by 

 soaking it well aud then hanging it over a slow fire 

 in a small kettle within a large one filled with water. 

 Add five gallons of hot water to the mixture, stir it 

 well, and let it stand a few days covered from dirt. 

 It must be put on quite hot. For this purpose it can 

 be kept in a kettle on a portable furnace. About a 

 pint of this mi.xture will cover a stiuare yard. 



A Timely Hint. 



The Lebanon Courier says it is calculated that 



eggs, butter, &e., are going to bring very high prices 



next year, on account of the large consumption of 



them that will be produced by the Centennial. Far- 



