NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



147 



Nothing can be more preposterous than a mother 

 vho thinks it below her to take care of her own 

 child ; or who is soi ignorant as not to know what is 

 proper to be clone for it. If we search nature 

 throughout, we cannot find a parallel to this. Every 

 other creature is the nurse of its own young, and 

 they thrive accordingly. Were the brutes to bring 

 up their young by proxy, they would share the same 

 fate with those of the human species. 



It is indeed to be regretted, that more care is not 

 bestowed in teaching the proper management of 

 children to those whom nature has designed for 

 mothers. This, instead of being made a principle, is 

 seldom considered as any part of female education. 

 Is it any wonder, when females so educated come to 

 be mothers, that they should be quite ignorant of the 

 duties belonging to that character ? However strange 

 it maj' appear, it is certainly true, that many mothers, 

 and those of fashion too, arc as ignorant, when they 

 bring a cliild into the world, what to do for it, as the 

 infant itself. Indeed, the most ignorant of the sex 

 arc generally reckoned most knowing in the business 

 of nursing. Hence sensible people become dupes of 

 ignorance and superstition, and the nursing of chil- 

 dren, instead of being conducted by reason, is the 

 result of whim and caprice. 



Were the time that is generally spent by females in 

 the acquisition of trilling accomplishments, employed 

 in learning how to bring up their children ; how 

 to dress them so as not to hurt, cramp, or confine 

 their motions ; how to feed them with wholesome 

 and nourishing food ; how to exercise their tender 

 bodies, so as best to promote their growth and 

 strength ; — were these made the objects of female 

 instruction, mankind would derive the greatest ad- 

 vantages from it. But while the education of females 

 implies little more than what relates to dress and 

 public show, we have nothing to expect from them 

 but ignorance, even in the most important concerns. 



Did mothers reflect on their own imijortance, and 

 lay it to heart, they would embrace every opportu- 

 nity of iiiforniing themselves of the duties which 

 they owe to their infant offspring. It is their prov- 

 ince, not only to form the bodj', but also to give the 

 mind its most early bias. They have it very much in 

 their power to make men healthy or valetudinary, 

 useful in life, or the pests of society. 



But the mother is not the only person concerned in 

 the management of children. The father has an 

 equal interest in their welfare, and ought to assist in 

 every thing that respects either the improvement of 

 the body or mind. 



It is a pity that men should pay so little regard to 

 this matter. Their negligence is one reason why 

 females know so little of it. Woman will ever be 

 desirous to excel in such accomplishments as recom- 

 mend tliem to the other sex. But men generally 

 keep at such a distance from even the smallest ac- 

 quaintance with the afl'airs of the nursery, that many 

 think it is an affront, were they supposed to know 

 any thing of them. Not so, however, with the ken- 

 nel or the stables : a gentleman of the first rank is 

 not ashamed to give directions concerning the man- 

 agement of liis dogs or horses, yet would blush were 

 he surprised in performing the same office for that 

 being wlio derived its existence from himself, who is 

 the heir of his fortunes, and the future hope of his 

 country. 



It is really astonishing that so little attention 

 should in general be paid to the preservation of 

 infants, ^^■hat labor and expense are daily bestowed 

 to prop an old tottering carcass for a few years, wliilc 

 thousands of those who might be useful in life, perish 

 without being regarded ! Mankind are too apt to 

 value things according to tlicir present, not their fu- 

 ture usefulness. Thougli this be of all others the most 

 erroneous mctliod of estimation, yet upon no other 



principle is it possible to account for the general in- 

 difference with respect to the death of infants. — 

 Selected. 



flTcfljauics' DcjJt^rtmcnt, ^rt0, ^r. 



SurKRiou Red Ink. — Take a small quantity of the 

 best carmine, about the size of a pea, and put it into 

 a small phial with a little spirit of hartshorn to dis- 

 solve it. "When dissolved, put as much pure water 

 in it as will give it the desired shade, and then let 

 the bottle not be corked for some time, to allow the 

 hartshorn to evaporate, when it is ready for use. 

 This ink is very permanent, and does not change its 

 color. 



The common red ink is made by boiling brazil 

 Avood, taking the strong solution and adding to it a 

 small quantity of dissolved alum. It looks all the 

 better to have a few drops of the muriate of tin 

 added to the liquor ; not too much, however, or it 

 will injure the pen. A quill is the only pen to use 

 red ink with. If a small quantity of sumac and 

 quercitron bark be boiled along with the brazil wood, 

 it makes the ink still better — of a scarlet shade. 

 Brazil wood itself is rather on the blue shade. For 

 common purposes, we advise those who use much 

 red ink, and make it themselves, not to forget the 

 sumac at least ; but a very small quantity will suffice. 

 The liquor should be strained through a cloth as soon 

 as it is boiled, and when cold, bottled and kept well 

 closed in the bottle. — Scientif.c American. 



REruLsioxs. — Steel and "Water. — Dr. Dalton, 

 in his philosophical experiments, says, " If a blade 

 of a well-polished knife be dipped into a basin of 

 cold water, the particles of each of those two bodies 

 do not seem to come in contact with each other ; for 

 when the blade is taken out, the water slides off, 

 leaving the blade quite drj-, as if it had previously 

 been smeared with any greasy substance. 



" In the same way, if a common sewing needle be 

 laid horizontally on a glass of water, it will not sink, 

 but form a kind of trench on the surface, on which 

 it lies and fioats about. This proceeds from the little 

 attraction Avhich exists between the cold water and 

 the polished steel. It is necessary that both the 

 knife, in the last experiment, and also the needle, 

 should be dry and clean; otherwise the effect will 

 not be produced." 



Useful Hints. — I annex a few items of informa- 

 tion for my brother farmers, which may be of some 

 use to them, having satisfied myself of their value 

 upon my own farm. 



A Beautiful Fire-proof Cement. — The French use 

 a cement to protect the roofs and walls of their out- 

 buildings from taking fire, composed of the following 

 materials : — 



I.ime sufficient for a bucketful of whitewash ; 

 mix with a pailful of water, and add two and a 

 half pounds of brown sugar, and three pounds of 

 salt; stir them well together, and the "cement" is 

 conq)letcd. Coloring matters, such as lampblack, 

 yellow ochre, or any other paint which will resist the 

 action of the lime, may be added to suit the fancy 

 of those who use it. This cement is said to afi'ord 

 perfect security against sparks. It is very durable, 

 and does not require to bo renewed oftcncr than once 

 in four or five years. It is also ornamental. By 

 mixing lampblack with a little Spanisli brown, a huo 

 is given to the roofs very nearly resembling slate. 



