294 



NEW ENGLAND FAEJUER. 



June 



under than over that number of pounds. Now 

 let us see how the account stands with biddy. 

 For one bushel of corn, piggy gives 12.i pounds 

 of fleth. For one bushel of corn biddy gives 

 say only 100 eggs, which at eight to the pound, 

 make 12^ pounds. The eggs of the larger 

 breeds will run eight and often seven to the 

 pound. Thus giving piggy a fair average, he 

 makes 12J pounds, and biddy at a low rate 

 gives the same number of pounds of food. 



Now put both in the market at the present 

 prices. Piggy 12^ pounds at ten cents, $1.25. 

 Biddy 12| pounds at 32 cents per pound, 

 (eggs 48 cents per doz.) $4 00. (Showing a 

 dilierence in I'avor of biddy, of $2.75. Return- 

 ing to the product of eggs, as by'the reports 

 referred to in the beginning of this article, we 

 find it to be 13G eggs per head, that each hen 

 converted per bushel of grain (for that is all 

 she can eat in a year) into seventeen pounds 

 of food, beating piggy just 4^ pounds on the 

 bushel. I conclude by asking if there is any 

 better mill than a hyn's gizzard for making 

 grain into food, quietly, cheaply and well, 

 and withal suitable for so many purposes ? If 

 any one knows of a better, please advise. 



We are afraid Mr. T. has hardly done the 

 fair thing, in putting pork at wholesale, and 

 the eggs at retail. If the pork is put at 17 

 cents per pound, $2.12^, and the eggs at 

 25 cents or 37i per dozen, $3.12i, it will give 

 $1 in favor of biddy, instead $2.75, and we 

 think be nearer the truth. 



Remedy for Rust in Wheat. — The fol- 

 lowing, from a distinguished German Agricul- 

 turist, is taken fi-om a Bremen paper : — 



For thirty years I have found this method 

 successful in preventing rust in wheat : Some 

 hours, at the longest six or eight, before sow- 

 ing, prepare a steep of three measures of pow- 

 dered quicklime, and ten measures of cattle 

 urine. Pour two quarts of this upon a peck 

 of wheat, and stir with a spade till every ker- 

 nel is covered white -with it. By using wheat 

 so prepared, rust of every kind will be avoided, 

 and 1 have often noticed that while, in the 

 neighboring fields, a great part of the crop is 

 aflected by rust, in mine, lying close by it, 

 not a single ear so affected could be found. 



The same writer says he takes the sheaves 

 and beats off the ripest kernels with a stick, 

 and uses the grain thus obtained for seed. 



The Horse "Consternatiox." — In addi- 

 tion to the facts stated by us in May number, 

 page 219, in relation to the history of this horse, 

 the Country (ientlcman says that he was im- 

 ported in June, 1842, by Mr. T. C. Albot, 

 of Stokes, Oneida Co., N. Y. 



abies' gepartmcnl. 



DOMESTIC ECONOMY; 



OR, 



HOW TO MAItE HOIklE PLEASANT. 



BY ANNE O. HALE. 



[Entered according to Act of CongresB, in the year 

 1866, hy R. P. Eaton & Co., in tlie Clerk's Office of the 

 District Court for the District of MaBaachussttB.l 



CHAPTER XI. 

 WOMAN'S WORK AMONG GARDEN PLANTS. 



Before we begin our work let us see if we are 

 ready for it. In the first place, we must have a 

 suitable dress to wear. Long and full skirts are a 

 gi'cat impediment to activity anywhere — they are 

 entirely unfit for garden work ; but the working 

 dress, directions for making which wei^e given in 

 Chap. VIII, is just what is needed. It allows free 

 exercise of all the limbs, and there is no fear of 

 tripping, nor of stumbling, of spoiling plants or 

 fiowefs, or incurring rents and soiling from the 

 flowing or dragging of its drapery. 



As a protection from the too great heat of the 

 sun, or the too frolicsome breezes (every woman 

 likes to keeps her hair in good order) some use the 

 close palm-leaf or Shaker hoods, or else gingham 

 bonnets made in the same shape, having a capo 

 attached to cover the neck, but a straw hat is am- 

 ple shelter and much cooler. Stout, thick-soled 

 shoes are necessary, because of the dampness of 

 the ground, and also to guard and support the foot 

 when digging. For this work some persons wear 

 clogs over their shoes, or fasten irons under them 

 by leather straps, lest the pressure of the foot 

 against the spade should be uncomfortable. Gloves 

 are also needed, for there are many rough and 

 sharp things to handle. Leather gardening gloves 

 may be bought ; these are best, but old kid or cot- 

 ton ones, taking two pairs — one within the other — 

 answer very well, though they do not come high 

 enough to cover the wrist, — for this a gauntlet, cut 

 cape-fashion from silesia may be sewed to them. 

 These you will want generally, but not always. 

 Don't be troubled by a little soil upon your fingers, 

 it can easily be removed when the hour's work is 

 done by means of a l)rush and borax water. Keep 

 this always ready for use. To make it add ono 

 table-spoonful of powdered borax to a quart bottle 

 tilled with water. See that the borax is all dis- 

 solved, and when you wish to wash your hands 

 take one tal)lespoonful of this water to a quart of 

 soap-suds. If your hands arc very much soiled 

 use pomace-soap or a piece of pomace-stone ; hj 

 so doing they are kept smooth and fair. These 

 preliminaries ought properly to have been settled 

 in the previous chapter, as also the subject of tools, 

 which we will now dispose of as quickly as possi- 



