1859. 



NEW ENGLAND FAEMER. 



469 



zette, have been used at the Ohio Medical College, 

 in a series of experiments to ascertain an anti- 

 dote for the poison, 



A few days since a dog was introduced to the 

 snake's cage, and was immediately bitten. Prof. 

 Foote administered to him brandy containing 

 five drachms bromine, four grains of iodide of po- 

 tassium, and two grains of corrosive sublimate. 

 He recovered in a short time. To test the ques- 

 tion whether his recovery was due to the brandy 

 or to the ingredients it contained in solution, 

 another dog was suffered to be bitten on the 8th 

 ult., and the bromine, iodide of potassium and 

 corrosive sublimate administered alone. An hour 

 after he seemed to be recovering slowly. The 

 next experiment will be to administer the brandy 

 alone, which is claimed to be an effectual remedy. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 TO MAKE GOOD PICKLES. 



Mr. Editor : — The following recipe, if care- 

 fully followed, judging from our experience, will 

 furnish "a lover of good pickles" with an article 

 every way desired. Made thus, we have had them 

 when kept two years, still perfectly hard and 

 brittle. 



Take the cucumbers carefully from the vines, 

 leaving the stems on, (a very important part, by 

 the way, as so much depends thereupon that none 

 that are bruised in picking or otherwise should 

 be used,) wash them carefully in pure cold water, 

 rubbing them, to remove the prickles from the 

 stem, as well as the cucumber ; then sprinkle a 

 layer of fine salt in the bottom of the jar to be 

 used, add a layer of cucumbers, again a layer of 

 salt, then cucumbers, repeating the process until 

 the jar be full ; letting the last layer be of salt. 



Then pour upon them a sufficient quantity of 

 boiling water to cover the whole, after which let 

 them stand twenty-four hours, when they should 

 be taken from the brine, wiped dry, and placed 

 in the jar or tub in which they are to remain. 



Next scald the vinegar, seasoning thoroughh 

 with salt and as much cayenne pepper as is ad- 

 missible to the taste. After cooling, pour upon 

 the pickles ; stir every day to break the scum, 

 should any rise. If at any time the vinegar 

 should become dead, either add new, prepared in 

 the same way, or if there be sufricient life to 

 keep them bright, scald the old. 



A fair trial of this, and it is my belief that 

 "salting down" will be dispensed with. 



Annie, of the Berkshire Hills. 



August 12, 1859. 



Remarks. — "Farmer," of Meredith Village, N. 

 n., says, "to one part 'good new wine,' add three 

 parts water ; rub the cucumbers dry with a clean 

 cloth, and cover them with this liquid, adding 

 green peppers and tomatoes ; set in a cool, dry 

 place, and stir them carefully once a week for five 

 or six weeks. Put a linen cloth between the 

 pickle and cover." 



"We have received several other recipes for 

 making pickles, but they so much resemble those 

 already given that it is unnecessary to publish 

 them. 



EXTBACTS AND REPLIES. 

 THE CURCULIO. 



Is there any way that I can prevent the mis- 

 chief of the curculio, either by picking up the 

 fallen fruit, or by pasturing my orchard with cat- 

 tle or hogs ? 



Does the insect fly off from neighborhood to 

 neighborhood, so that if I should prevent their 

 multiplying upon my own farm, I should still 

 have a supply from my neighbors? Has the in- 

 sect any means of propagation except by depos- 

 iting its egg in the fruit ? 



By answering the above inquiries you will 

 confer a great favor upon many of your readers 

 in this section of New Hampshire. c. A. w. 



Hancock, N. H., Aug., 1859. 



Remarks. — The curculio may be kept from 

 destroying fruit in a few favorite trees, by 

 sprinkling the young fruit three or four times a 

 week when it is wet, with slaked lime or dry- 

 ashes, or by jarring the insects down upon a 

 sheet. They fly from place to place. We have 

 never learned that they propagate any other way 

 than by depositing their eggs in young fruit. 



CROPS in VERMONT. 



The farmers in this section are looking rather 

 blue. Perhaps you are not aware that we are 

 having the most severe drought that has been ex- 

 perienced here for nine years at least. Early 

 sowed English grain is good ; hay about two- 

 thirds of an average crop ; corn and potatoes mi- 

 nus, unless we have copious rains soon. In a 

 communication from Hon. Simon Brown, dated 

 Montreal, Aug. 16th, he says "the hay crop is 

 abundant." I think in passing through our ])lace 

 at least, he must have been looking at those 

 "laughter-loving girls," instead of looking out of 

 car windows — or he would have seen that our 

 pastures and meadows are actually dried up. 

 Most of our cattle are nearly in a starving con- 

 dition, and some farmers say they shall be obliged 

 to sell their cattle, or drive them to the moun- 

 tains to browse. Grasshoppers too numerous to 

 mention. E. MuRPHV, 



Middlebury, Vt, Aug., 1859. 



Remarks. — If friend Murphy had been in the 

 cars with us, we will venture to say that the 

 "meadows would not have appeared dry" nor the 

 "cattle starving." But as it was our duty to ob- 

 serve, we did observe, not only the girls, but the 

 grasses, grains, gardens and fields. We saw 

 that Northern Vermont was suffering somewhat 

 for rain, more so than any other place we visited, 

 and yet some of the best farmers in that State 

 assured us that the hay crop had been good. We 

 were careful to say of Vermont, however, as fol- 

 lows : "The recent refreshing rains of your State 

 [Mass.] did not extend to Vermont, and the 

 way was consequently dusty. Pastures, grass 

 lands and corn are suffering considerably," &c. 

 Take courage, friend M., we hope you have had 

 copious rains before this time, and that your 

 cattle will "be up to their eyes in clover," before 



