Vol. 6. 



GENESEE FARMER. 



25 



Mm^^^^. 



THE ALPACA. 



Among the beautiful and useful animals least 

 known to the civilized world, is the Alpaca, a native 

 of the interior of Western South America. It has 

 the characteristics of the sheep, being larger, how- 

 ever, and its wool much longer. The beautiful, sub- 

 stantial fabrics for ladies' wear are mostly made of 

 Alpaca wool. 



This animal is remarkably hardy, and upon high 

 and airy hills would be enabled to endure the mode- 

 rate heat of our summers in elevated situa- 

 tions ; and its fleece, which would be light in the 

 warm season, would become large in winter, and 

 form a good protection agaiBst our cold winters. 

 Snows and stonms do not afTcct thoBe animals, as 

 their skins are thick and hard, covered with an imper- 

 vious coat, so that it is not injured by moisture. 



There are a number of Alpacas in England, and 

 in other parts of Europe, and they do well under 

 proper treatment ; though they sometimes suiFer by 

 confinement, and too much kindness — having been 

 managed a-s pets and curiosities, rather than as hardy 

 animals. 



Parsnip Wine. — Wine made of parsnips ap- 

 proaches closely to the malmsey of Madeira, and is 

 made with very little expense or trouble, and is 

 wholesome and palatable. 



To every 4 lbs. of parsnips, clean and quartered, 

 put one gallon of water ; boil till quite tender ; 

 drain them over a sieve, but do not bruise them, as 

 no process will clear the liquor afterwards. Pour 

 the liquor into an open vessel, and to each gallon 

 add 3 lbs. of sugar, and half an ounce of crearn of 

 tartar. When cooled to about blood heat, put a lit- 

 tle new yeast, or emptyings : let it stand 4 or 5 days 

 in a warm room, then put it into a cask, and when 

 the fermentation has subsided, bung tight, and let it 

 stand 8 to 12 months before using. 



The months of April and May are the best for 

 getting a good fermentation ; and in these tem- 

 perance times it is an experiment worth trying. 



NON AQUA-ARDIANTE. 



Work for WmxRR. — From the very nature of 

 the season, but little can be done during winter in 

 tlie way of agricultural operations ; but still there 

 are various preliminary stops which may be taken to 

 facilitate those of the ensuing year. Where fenc- 

 ing may be wanted, the present occasion should be 

 seised to ft-U the timber, and get it out into posts 

 and raili, in order that when the season arrives for 

 putting up new fence.:, or repairing eld ones, no de- 

 lay may occur to trench upon the other business of 

 the farm, or that so essential a branch of the farmer's 

 duty, as that of providing good lences may not, for 

 want of time, be neglected. It is good, too, for one 

 to look back upon the things that have passed, to see 

 if some improvement may not be made in the future. 

 If time were taken, in intervals of leisure during the 

 winter season, to digest and adopt plans for early- 

 spring work, one would be able to enter upon and 

 carry them out, under far more favorable auspices 

 than if the necessary arrangements were delayed un- 

 til the time of action arrives ; for arrangements 

 formed amidst the hurry and press of business bat 

 seldom reflect the best energies of the judgment, 

 and more often prove defective for the want of time 

 to mature and develop them. And whilst we may 

 be looking back upon the past and forward to the fu- 

 ture, with respect to the affairs of the farm, let us 

 not omit to return thanks where alone they are due, 

 for blessings already conferred : and in seeking a 

 continuation of them, to do it in that spirit of grate- 

 fulness and humility which becomes a Christian 

 farmer. 



FiRE-WooD. — If you have not already cut a suffi- 

 cient quantity of wood to serve you through the 

 coming year, forthwith go to work, fell the trees, 

 cut it up into cord-wood, and when that is done, haul 

 it into your yard, and have it neatly piled convenient 

 to your dw^elling, kitchen, and qu'arters. To obtain 

 fire-wood by piece-meal, as the saying is, as it may 

 be wanted, is to indulge in one of the worst habits 

 into which a farmer can possibly fall, and never fails 

 to be pregnant of evil. Therefore we may say to 

 you, that you should not consider that you have dis- 

 charged your duly to your family, and to yourself, 

 until you ha\'e secured, within a few yards of your 

 house and tenements, a supply of wood sutflcient to 

 meet every demand for at least twelve months to 

 come. 



Gates, — If the entries to your fields are through 

 h(irs, substitute gates for them. — Anie. Farmer. 



A Short-Horn Controversy has commenced in 

 the London New Farmers' Journal, which promises 

 to reveal some tilings which w'e fancy certain per- 

 sonages, who figured so largely formerly in purchas- 

 ing and sending out cattle for the American market 

 will not care to hear. The veteran breeder, Mr. 

 Bates of Yorkshire, is one of the principals in this 

 affair, and the way he shows up certain pretty hng 

 green horns is a caution to all beholders. There is 

 scarce another man in England who possesses a tithe 

 of the knowledge which he docs on this subject, and 

 we would give more for his single judgment in cat- 

 tle breeding than for all that the flippant talkers, 

 writers, and jobbers who have hitherto monopolized 

 the public ear ever knew, or can know, or concoct to- 

 gether. — Am. Ag. 



Cup Cake. — Take one cup of butter, two cups of 

 sugar, three cups of flour, whites of four ogf^B, well 

 beat together, and bake in pans or cups. Bake 20 

 minutes. 



