152 



NEW ENGLAND FAJIMER. 



March 



they were irregular, to be sure, but in pasture land 

 that was of no consequence. The earth was mad 

 loose about their stems and then bushes cut ande 

 thrown around them in such quantities as to keep 

 the cattle from rubbing against their trunks. These 

 bushes gradually decayed and formed a rich mould 

 about the tree, v,'hile at the same time they served 

 to keep the ground mellow. 



We ought not to depend too much upon others 

 for anything that is constantly wanted on the farm. 



For the New England Farmer. 



HOW TO -RAISE OHIOHS. 



Mr. Editor : — I find in your valuable paper of 

 last week an inquiry by a subscriber how to raise 

 onions ? I have had some fifteen years experi- 

 ence in raising vegetables. My way to raise on- 

 ions, is, first to manure with rotten manure, and 

 plow as early in the month of April as the ground 

 will admit ; pulverize the top of the ground by rak- 

 ing with common hay rakes, so that it shall be per- 

 fectly free from lumps, and then sow the seed with 

 the seed-sower ; no matter if the ground freezes, 

 or if the snow falls, it will not injure the seed. 1 

 recollect once of having my onions ujd so that they 

 could be distinctly seen in the drills at a distance, 

 and had a fall of snow of four or five inches deep 

 upon them, without doing the least injury. The 

 great secret is the sowing early in the season and 

 pulverizing the ground thoroughly before sowing. 

 I never have had any trouble with onions in bottom- 



The old rule is, that the tops should begin to wilt 

 or die before dog-days. My yield is from six 

 hundred to eight hundred bushels to the acre. I 

 think they are a sure and profitable crop. I sow 

 them in drills fourteen inches apart. 



HoLLis Chaffln. 



Providence, R. L, Feb. 3d, 1857. 



LADIES' DEPARTMENT. 



DOMESTIC RECEIPTS. 



To MAKE Yeast without Ykvst. — The following 

 receipt, which we believe first appeared in Life Il- 

 lustrated, has been tested and highly approved in 

 the culinary department of our family : 



For some time past I have eaten very excellent 

 bread raised with yeast in the following manner : 

 Take as much pulverized saleratus as will lay on a 

 dime, the same quantity of salt, and a ^ea-spoonful 

 of sugar. On these three articles pour a pint of 

 boiling water. When sufficiently cool, so as not to 

 change the nature of the flour, stir in as much as 

 will make it into a stiff batter. The vessel contain- 

 ing this batter must be placed into another vessel 

 containing water quite warm, but not so hot as to 

 cook the flour in the least, and the whole must be 

 kept standing in a warm place until the batter 

 nearly doubles in bulk, which will take about six 

 hours. This yeast may then be added to flour 

 enough to make two good-sized loaves of bread, 

 mixed with warm water, and a tea-spoonful of salt, 



if liked, placed in the pans and left standing in a 

 warm place a short time before baking. 



To Clean Kid Gloves. — Wash them in a mix- 

 ture of equal quantities of ammonia and alcohol. 

 Then rub them dry. The above solution will also 

 remove stains and grease from silk and cloth. 



To Repair Broken Glass. — Dissolve some isin- 

 glass in gin, 'just sufl[icient to cover it; make the 

 broken parts quite warm (better put them into a 

 warm oven,) dip them into the liquid, and if possi- 

 ble tie them together for a little time. 



To MAKE Washing Fluid. Take 1 gallon of 

 soft soap, 2 quarts of soft water, 1 gill of spirits of 

 turpentine, and 5 ounces of sal-soda ; boil them to- 

 gether for five minutes. When wanted for use put 

 your clothes to soak over night, and in the morn- 

 ing add one pint of the fluid, and then boil the 

 clothes for fifteen minutes, after which rinse twice 

 in cold water. 



The Mother of George Washington. — Hia 

 mother, also, was one of his best teachers. Her 

 eldest son was eleven years old, when, by her de- 

 ceased husband's will, she became sole guardian of 

 the persons and large property of her children. 

 She proved herself worthy of the trust. Endowed 

 with plain, direct good sense, thorough conscien- 

 tiousness, and prompt decision, she governed her 

 family strictly, but kindly, exacting deference, while 

 she inspired affection. George, being her eldest 

 son, was thought to be her favorite ; yet she never 

 gave him undue preference, and the implicit defer- 

 ence exacted from him in childhood continued to 

 be habitually observed by him to the day of her 

 death. He inherited from her a high temper and 

 a spirit of command, but her early precepts and 

 example taught him to restrain and govern that 

 temper, and to square his conduct on the exact 

 ]irinciples of equity and justice; Tradition gives 

 an interesting picture of the widow, with her little 

 flock gathered around her, as was her daily wont, 

 reading to them lessons of religion and morality 

 out of some standard work. Her fiivorite volume 

 was Sir Matthew Hale's "Contemplations, Moral 

 and Divine." The admirable maxims therein con- 

 tained for outward action as well as self-government, 

 sank deep into the mind of George, and doubtless 

 had a great influence in forming his character. 

 They certainly were exemplified in his conduct 

 throughout life. This mother's manual, bearing his 

 mother's name, Mary Washington, written with 

 her own hand, was ever preserved by him with filial 

 care, and may still be seen in the archives of 

 Mount Vernon. A precious document ! Let those 

 who wish to know the moral foundation of his 

 character consult its pages. — L-ving's Life of 

 Washington. 



Old Ladds.— a correspondent informs us that 

 there is a flimily of Ladds now living, numbering 

 eleven, whose united ages form the aggregate of 

 787 years. The oldest is 83 years of age, the 

 youngest 57, and their average age is 71^ years. 

 Both of their parents lived to the age of 84. The 

 children have never lost one of their number, and 

 have been almost strangers to sickness. They were 

 born in New Hampshire, and are ail now living in 

 the western part of that State, except two who live 

 in Corinth, Vt., and one in Waltham, Mass. This 

 is a truly remarkable instance of longevity. 



