58 



NEW ENGLAND FAKMEil, 



S.'l.t.7, 1831, 



males in the coiiiitiv. I called at a small house to generation. Woman is, in this conntry, the is very sensible, nml not disagreeahle, ami I think 

 in a nei.'l.borin.' town a few .lays since, to obtain standard of excellence lor the lords of creation, this kin.l ot chetse can I.e ad- M,u„er.-ly made 

 a o-lass r^ wate'. I found the snug apartments, I who have assumed a h.fty position, but the power hy the fain.ers. I n,.w inu nd to mn i.^pi .:.yuig 

 neatlv furnished, and such an appearance of thrift, of comn.and .Iocs not always insure respect. To the cheese in the shade. I shall p„hh>l, the ren 

 that i was induced to investigate the cause. The 1 merit distinction, they must endeavor to propitiate suit ol this expernuent, vvhicl, appears lo me to 

 lale was soon told. The little tenement belonged I by kindness aud insure commendation by practi^l|be important to agncultuial ecmomj. 

 to a widow, who had two daughters, whose time morality ; the times have gone by when to order i 



deemed a right, aud submission ranked among the 



head, entrusted to my care ihree plants of the 

 the various inmates earn a j^^J-_---|.^^. ^i^^ i^^^,^,,^ of September, 1829, is an larracacha root, which is found so uselui in the 



~ " ' " "" article on the fabrication of cheese from potatoes, countries of which it is a native, I feel bound to 



of which the following is an extract, from the 

 correspondence of M. Fabrenburg. 



There is made, in Thuringe aud in a part ot" 

 Saxony, cheese from potatoes, which is very much 

 esteemed ; this is the mode of preparii 



was devoted to the manufacture of artificial flow- 

 ers, for the New Orleans market. I5y this plea- 

 sant branch of industry they earned four or five 

 hundred dollars per auiium, and were consequent- 

 ly independent, respected, comfortable and hap- 

 py, ill the neat cottage, vvhich was embellished 

 with fruit trees and flowers, by their own hands. 

 It is most interesting and gratifying, to call at 

 the houses on the road side, as we pass through 

 the country, where a certain appearance of rural 

 enjoyment strikes the eye, and asceriaiu the infln- 

 ite modes, in wbici 



gupport. The variety of luaiiufactures which claim 

 the attention of the frugal mother and active 

 daughters, is absolutely astonishing. 



To know how our people live and (nni a livinp;, I 

 we must visit them at their own firesides. Indus- 

 try, economy, and temperance, with a cheerful 

 heart, and moral habits, tiiumph over all the lios- 

 tilities of climate and soil. The rough features of 

 this norihern region are made to assume the de- 

 lightful aspect of more favored climes. Lalmr, 

 constant, unremitted and untiring labor, has gi\?sn 

 to New England the glorious appearance of uni- 

 versal prosperity. Freedom has pitched her tents 

 upon the hills, aud health and comfort reside in 

 every vale. Let those who are ever looking on 

 the dark siile of the picture of life, contrast the 

 condiiion of this people, with that of any other 

 countrv, ancient or iiioilern, and iJiey must re- 

 joice at the ailvancement rallier than the deca- 

 dence, of the human race ; they must bo proud 

 ■of their countrymen rather tliaA disposed to hunt 

 up causes of complaints, and of perpetual deniiii- 

 cjation. Tlie good slninld be noted, when what 

 there is of error, calls down rebuke. The ev(u- 

 lastiug cry of depravity will not eradicate the lat- 

 ter or augment the former. Unqualified disappro- 

 bation, at all times, and in all places, bespeak a 

 cold temperameii!, and an uiler ignorance of the 

 character of man ; to elevate him, commendation 

 is better than censure. 



With the advantages of schools and religious 

 instruction .so abundantly afforded throughout the 

 Kastern states, with a disposition to advance in 

 fortune, intellpctiial acquirements, and reputation, 

 the daughters of agricultural and mechanical pa- 

 rents become, in proper time, mothers of robust 

 chihlren, who are taught by precept and example 

 to emulate the meritorious deportment of their 

 progenitors. 



But there is one striking fact, which may be 

 considered as the test of our prosperity and the 

 cause of otu' advancement in all the arts of civ- 

 ilization ; it is the preeminent virtue of the females, 

 of all ranks ;iiid ages. If the men were as distin- 

 guished for their rectitude of conduct, vice would 

 soon disappear from the land ; they are responsi- 

 ble^for whatever there is of crime and licentious- 

 noss. Let them take counsel from woman, and 

 imitate her morals and the prison and alms house 

 would become useless establishments. Misery 

 would not exist, and joy and felicity become tiie 

 inmates of every mansion. If woman is vicious, 

 ntan has made her so, and the effects of his char- 

 acter fall upon his descendants, from generation 



obligations of woman. She has a mind and has 

 cultivated it ; she is capable of deciding on the 

 character and deeds of man and he must be ambi- 

 tious to obtain her good opinion. 



With unfeigned esteem, your most obedient ser- 

 v„i,t. H. A. S. Dearborn. | 



rinley Plarp, j 

 Sept. a, l!-31. i 



EXTRACT >0. XXXVIII. 

 FABRtCATIO-y OF CHEESE FROM POTATOES. 



In the Bulletin of the S<iciete D'Euconrage. 



Horticulture 



Proceedings of the Massnchusells Horticultural So- 

 cictij, at a special meeiiug held in the Hull of ih* 

 Institution, on Saturday, Htptemhir 3, 1B31. 

 The President read the Ibllowing letter from the 



Hon. Jolin Lowell, on an experiment to cultivate 



the Arracaclia. 



Hon. Henry A. S. Dearborx, 



Pres. i.ruie Mii>6. H..rl. Snc. 



Dear Sir — As the Sori -tyjof w;hicli you are the 



state my own experiments on its culture. As Mr 

 Floyd of N. York attributed his ill success to the 

 want o{ shade, I put one of my plants in the shade 

 aud two in an exposed situation. The soil was 

 admirable, my atieniion as great as possible, not a 



Al'ier having selected the best kind of (lotatoes, 1 duy passed without a visit fmni me. 



they are boiled ; when cooleil, they are pealed 

 and reduced to a pulp, eiiber by a grater, or in 

 a mortar : to five pounds ol* the puff, which should 

 be equally fine and homogeneous, is added a 

 |)0und of sour milk with a sufficient quantity of 

 salt; the whole is well^kneaded, then covered 

 lip and left to repose for three or four days, ac- 

 cording to the season of the year: at the cud of 

 that lime, the mixture is again, kneaded and then 

 put into small baskets, to divest it of the sup»r- 

 fliions humidity. Afterward it is placed in O'' 

 shade to dry and then it is packed in layer." '"1 tries in which ll 

 large jars, or casks, where it fs left for fiflccn it^& | than ours. Th 



The older this cheese grows, the better it is. ', 



There are three kinds made : the first, which is 

 the most romftion, is prepared in the proportions 

 above named ; the second, with four pans of jin- 

 taloes and two of curd ; the third with two pounds 

 of potatoes aud four pounds of milk. 



The potato cheese has this advantage over 

 common cheese, it never engenders maggots, and 

 it kc'ps perfectly well for several years, provided 

 it is placed in a <lry situation and in close vessels. 



I have repeated this experiiiient with the pro- 

 portions of the second quality. This was the 

 method pursued. The potatoes were boiled, peal- 

 ed :ind crushed with the hands. If the fabrication 

 was carried on extensively, the machine used for 



liicin^ the potatoes in distilleries, could be used. 



Tbcir growth was rapid and vigorous, every in- 

 dication of health led us to hope full success, but 

 when the heavy rains came on early in tiiis month, 

 tliev all three perished in succession, wiiboirt the 

 slightest ap|)carance of injury from insects. What 

 killed them is the true qin-stion. Not defect of heat 

 — for iViuu the 2Stb ofALu to iliis day we have had 

 by day and tii:;ht at least tropical heat. Many 

 countries within the tropics liave not as great or 

 as uniform hi at. What was the cause of their 

 death? I hi hove too great moisture. The coun- 

 phint ih. iv<'s are dry, much drier 

 b these plants were as vigorous 



as the beet aud paisuil), yet their roots were not 

 enlarged. One of tliein however threw out tubers 

 from the toj) of the roots; these i shall preserve. 

 1 (an by no means be satisfied that plaining the 

 to)s of the <ild roots is the best mode of propaga- 

 tion. On the wlude I am constrained to say that 

 I fear the arracaclia is a plant as much placed out 

 of the useful class of vegetables in this climate as 

 the pine apple is as a fruit. 



I am, ilcar sir, respectfully, your humble servant, 

 John Lowell. 



N. B. It would seem probable, that Giileon R. 

 Smith, F.sq. the intelligenfand active Editor of the 

 American Farmer, would succeed in ripening the 

 seeds of the arracacha. It is possible that it may 

 lo belter from seed and it is even probable that 



The milk was heated, and curdled with vinegar, from seed raised in Baltimore more healthy plants 



as no riinnet was at command. After this opera- 

 tion, the milk was mixed with the potatoes ; the 

 mass was salted, then it was passed through a 

 hair sieve, to pulverise it thoroughly and make the 

 mixture perfect; this mass, covered with salt, was 

 left for ten or twelve days iii an earthen pan ; at 

 this period it was distributed, for want of bask- 

 ets, on sieves, where it drained and became mould- 

 ed into regular forms. The sieves were lined with 

 a lineti cloth before the mixture was put into them. 

 Fifteen days after this draining operation,which had 

 been aided a little by pressure, the cheeses were 

 placed, enveloped in their cloths, between osie- 

 hurdles and put into the cellar. At this time 

 the caseous fermentation is well developed, the 

 cheeses are yet very soft, and ihwe is formed 

 on the surface a skin of mould. The cheese taste 



may be grown. It is almost incredible what perse- 

 verance has done towards acclituating both plants 

 and nnimals. 



Permit ine to add one further remark which I 

 think of the highest importance. When gentlemen 

 ofthe Navy and other friends to the horticulture 

 of the country bring us seeds and roots, it is not 

 only important but esseiilial that they should ac- 

 company them with statements ofthe soil in which 

 they flourish and the treatment or culture which 

 they receive. 



in the defect of this we may be administering 

 to them their poison instead of their aliment. What 

 should we make of the rice jilant or of the Taro- 

 root ofthe Sandwich Islands if we denied the water 

 so essential to their growth ? J. Lowell. 



Roxbury,Aug. 20, 1S31. 



