i26 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



[August, 



your butter in the firkins ae close as possible, and 

 send it to mmket as soon as you can. Let cleanli- 

 ness be your constant care, from the milking of the 

 cow until you bring your butter to the market. There 

 are few things a farmer's wife or daughtar ought to 

 be prouder of than ber dairy and its produce. The 

 butter buyers should encourage the use of the most 

 suitable lirkin, and might also be more careful when 

 the butter comes into their hands. The firkins are 

 frequently rolled about on the wet and dirty yards 

 and damp floors, which might be avoided. Railway 

 and stcambcat companies treat firkins in the same 

 rough way. All should endeavor to improve and 

 try to bring out butter in the cleanest and most 

 creditable condition into the English market. Then 

 it would take its proper place, and you would get 

 the highest price, defyiug foreign competition." 



^ 



Cisterns for Farm Buildings. 

 In the endeavor to have everything as convenient 

 as possible about farm houses and farm buildings, 

 there are few things more worthy of being cared for 

 than cisterns to hold the rainwater from the root. 

 Even where pumps are supplied it is often an advan- 

 tage to have cisterns in addition, as soft water, which 

 pumps will not always supply, is of great value. At 

 any rate it often happens that though there may be 

 a pump convenient and water furnished by it all one 

 can desire, even the little labor that a pump requires 

 for a single horse or cow, becomes a great task when 

 many are to be supplied. We know of one farm 

 where seventy-five head of cows, more or less, are 

 on hand ; and all the water they require has to be 

 furnished from a pump ; and it is no small job to do. 

 Yet on this very rarm the land lies so convenient that 

 a cistern could be built on an elevation a little 

 above the cattle yard, and all the water from the 

 roof could go in it, and be drawn off into the cattle 

 yard by its own natural flow, without pump or labor 

 of any kind. So it often happens for household sup- 

 plies. A cistern can be built which would cost little, 

 and yet save the women folks — generally over- 

 worked — many an hour's labor, besides giving them 

 a quality of water they all so much desire. 



There is a prevalent idea that they cost a great 

 deal to make : bnt it is far less than is generally im- 

 agined. If the land is solid — say either of clay or 

 rotten rock— the sides of the natural ground may be 

 shaped like a wall, and a lining of mortar, say half 

 an inch, put on before the final cement coat is given. 

 But if there is any chance of settling, so as to crack 

 the mortar framework, a four-inch brick-work may 

 be built around first. Most ground is, however, 

 firm enough for the purpose. The mortar as it is 

 laid on to form the lining or framework of the tank 

 should be very well worked by the trowel. The ob- 

 ject is to work out all the air. It is the air-spaces in 

 the wall that make it porous, and it is through the 

 pores that the water escapes. A working of the 

 trowel backwards and forwards a few times over the 

 soft mortar expels the air and closes the pores. This 

 is especially important to be borne in mind when ap- 

 plying the cement. This need not be put on very 

 thick. The merest film, if properly worked, is suffi- 

 cient. — (jerma/itoivn Tthgraph. 



Mixed Milk. 



The following from the CuUimtor seems to show 

 that the milk of different breeds of cows cannot be 

 profitably mixed : 



" A Wbately dairyman, owning twelve cows, 

 mostly Jersejs, remarked, upon putting his cream 

 into the large churn, that there was cream sufficient 

 in quantity to produce sixty or seventy-five pounds 

 of butter. Yet, upon churning and weighing the 

 product, there were found to be but thirty-eight 

 pounds. The next week he kept the milk and cream 

 of his grade Jerseys and Shorthorns separate, churn- 

 ing eight days' cream instead of seven, as in the first 

 experiment. However, he was gratified at securing 

 eighty-two and a half pounds of butter. A friend 

 and townsman, who, last winter, kept nineteen 

 cows, grade Jerseys and Shorthorns, found that his 

 animals were making the usual returns in butter, 

 the yield in butter being about five pounds per aow, 

 weekly. Finally, be set the lailk of each cow sepa- 

 rately, with the result that he hadn't a cow that 

 yielded less than six pounds each. If these facts 

 really prove what they seem to, a good many far- 

 mers are losing a large amount of butter every week 

 by churning the cream of a number of different 

 breeds together." The results of other experiments 

 may not be so decided. Some other reason may ex- 

 plain the different results. 



Uses for Old Cans. 



Whall we do with the old tin cans ? They accu- 

 mulate 60 fast, and it seems so wasteful to throw 

 such a quantity of tin into the ash heap. A writer 

 in a recent number of the Scientific American de- 

 scribes several uses to which they can be put, and 

 his suggestions are such that they may be adapted 

 in many various ways. 



With a large pair of shears the cans may be treat- 

 ed as pieces of tin, and, with a little ingenuity, a 

 bread grater, a rude dipper, a fruit gatherer, and a 

 glue pot, may be constructed. 



But the most attractive articlesfare the bird-houses 

 and flower-pots and stands. For the first the cans 

 were dipped in a large pan of melted asphalt, and 

 then rolled in dry sand. This gives them a natural 

 ground color, on which can be fastened, while the 

 asphalt is siill warm, the ordinary dry packing moss 

 used by florists, wood. mosses, short dry twigs, small 

 cones and burrs, to give a picturesque effect. If the 

 lid is still attached to the can by a bit of solder, it 

 can be left for a door-step for the birds. The various 

 ways of attaching the can to the tree will suggest 

 themselves according to taste. 



A single can covered with birch bark and orna- 

 mented with burrs, acorns, etc., makes a pretty 

 flower-pot ; two partially telescoped, with a portion 

 cut out of the side for the reception of the soil and 

 plants, make a miniature log ; three rows, placed 

 one above another by means of different-sized round 

 boxes on a round table, make a very prettv stand. 

 In all these cases, the cans, the boxes, and the table, 

 should be well covered with asphalt, and then orna- 

 mented according to taste with the materials before 

 mentioned. The cans are useful in rockeries also ; 

 but these, too, must be thoroughly treated with ihe 

 asphalt. 



To Prevent Sneezing. 



A writer in the British Medical Journal, after 

 many other experiments to prevent sneezing, stopped 

 up his nostrils with cotton wool, and says : " The 

 effect was instantaneous ; I sneezed no more. Again 

 and again I tested the eflSeacy of this simple remedy, 

 always with the same result. However near I was 

 to a sneeze, the introduction of the pledgets stopped 

 it at once. Nor was there any incovenience from 

 their presence, making them sufficiently firm not to 

 tickle, and yet leaving them sufficiently loose to 

 easily breathe through." This is really worth know- 

 ing, for incessant sneezing is among the greatest of 

 smaller ills, and It seems only a rational conclusion 

 to hope that this simple plan may furnish the most 

 efficient remedy against one of the most distressing 

 symptoms of hay fever. 



^ -^ 



Washing Fluid. 



One pound of Babbitt's potash, half ounce carbon- 

 ate of ammonia, half ounce salts of tartar. Cost, .30 

 cents. Put the potash into your large water pitcher, 

 and pour on it one gallon boiling water (be careful it 

 does not spatter up out of the pitcher on to your 

 hands ;) let it stand till cool ; then add the ammonia 

 and tartar ; pour into a jug, and cork. Use two- 

 thirds of a cupful. Soak your white clothes over 

 night, ring out, and then put through the washer in 

 real hot water ; put two-thirds cupful of the fluid in 

 the boiler, then your clothes, with sufficient water to 

 cover nicely ; let them boil twenty minutes ; take 

 out, rub on the board, and you will see how easily 

 the dirt is removed. It saves both time and labor- 

 quite essential on wash-days. Then suds and rinse 

 as usual. 



— ■«* 



Protection Against Mosquitoes. 



As a sure remedy against mosquitoes and other 

 obnoxious insects, the tincture of Persian insect pow- 

 der has been recommended. The success of the 

 preparation depends upon the way it is applied. The 

 tincture must be prepared with alcohol of full 

 strength, and not diluted. It should be used with 

 an atomizer, and, employed in this manner, it is said 

 that it will effectually rid a room of insects of all 

 kinds in a very short time. 



Household Recipes. 



Pickled Mutton Hams.— Three gallons of soft 

 water, one pound of coarse sugar, two ounces of 

 saltpetre, three pounds of common salt. Boil and 

 remove the scum, and when cold pour over the meat. 

 In two or three weeks the ham will be excellent for 

 baking or boiling. It may be smoked if preferred. 



How TO Make Tea go Further. — A method 

 has been discovered for making more than the usual 

 quantity of tea from any given quantity of the leaf. 

 The whole secret consists in steaming the leaf before 

 steeping. By this process it is said fourteen pints of 

 of good quality may be brewed from one ounce of 

 tea. 



Beef Rolls. — The remains of cold roast or boiled 

 beef, seasoning to taste of salt, pepper and minced 

 herbs; puff paste. Mince the beef tolerably fine, 

 with a small amount of its own fat add a seasoning 

 of pepper and salt and chopped herbs ; put the 

 whole into a roll of puff paste and bake for half an 

 hour, or rather longer should the roll be very large. 

 Beef patties may be made of cold meat by mincing 

 and seasoning beef as directed above and baking in 

 rich puff paste in patty tins. 



Fish Pudding.— Three pounds of boiled fish ; a 

 large lump of butter; a tablespoonful of flour; two 

 cups of fresh milk. When boiled it must cool a lit- 

 tle. Add to it the yolks of seven eggs, the whites 

 beaten, and stir ft around ; then add salt, pepper 

 and nutmeg. Put It In a. buttered dish, and cook for 



one hour in a pretty warm oven, and then serve 

 Sauce— Flour and butter and a liltle broth and capers' 

 This will be found an excellent and toothsome dish. 

 Cold Tea.— As usually made, cold tea is an un- 

 wholesome drink. The tea is made in the teapot, as 

 usual, and then cooled therein, and perhaps allowed 

 to stand in the teapot for many hours before being 

 drank ; by this process the tannin of the tea-leaves is 

 extracted and the result is a strong decoction of 

 tannin. To make it properly, the tea should be 

 drawn the usual length of time, sav .5 minutes for 

 green tea, 8 minutes for Oolong tea, and 1.5 minutes 

 for English breakfast ; then pour it off into a pitcher 

 or^otlier suitable vessel, allow it to become cool, then 

 place it in the ice-chest. 



Ginger Beer.— A good family beer for warm 

 weather may be thus made : Lump sugar, five 

 pounds ; crushed Jamaica ginger, five ounce's; cieam 

 tartar, four ounces; ten lemons, sliced, and five gal- 

 lons of boiling water. These should be mixed in a 

 vessel that can be securely covered until cool, but 

 should be freely stirred from time to time as thej 

 cooling progresses; when lukewarm, add 10 ounces' 

 of yeast, and keep in a warm place to encourage the] 

 fermentation; strain through a flannel filter, and let 

 it stand to ferment again for a short time, then take 

 off the scum and bottle, the corks being tied or wired 

 down. 



.Make the Lunch Attractive.— Mattie says 

 she cannot eat her luncheon, and begs you not to in- 

 sist on her taking one to school. Well, what wonder 

 is it ? Who could- especially after a busy morning 



over books and slates, in a warm recitation room 



begin with appetite upon a sandwich cut unevenly, 

 tough bits of cold meat, and a hunk of sticky gin- 

 gerbread ? Take pains with the school luncheon. 

 Cut the slices smoothly and evenly, and trim the 

 cold tongue or ham daintily. Lay it in a fine white 

 napkin, and put the apple or pear or bunch of grapes 

 in nice white paper. 



Vegetable Ctrrt.— Cut some onions into thin 

 slices, and fry them a good brown in butter, add a 

 breakfast cupful of milk, in which a teaspoonful of 

 curry powder has been mixed ; let all boil together 

 for twenty minutes, stirring the whole time ; then 

 add the vegetables previously parboiled, and let the 

 whole simmer by the side of the fire for about an 

 hour. Potatoes, peas, beans, carrots and turnips 

 can be used, but broad beans alone make a delicious 

 curry. 



Gravy for Potatoes. — Put a sj-oonful or more 

 of butter, according to the quantity of potatoes you 

 have, into a frying-pan, and set over the fire until 

 brown, being careful not to scorch it. Mix a spoon- 

 ful of flour in a cup of thin sweet cream— or milk, if 

 one has no cream — pour into the browned butter, 

 boil up, season with pepper and a little salt if neces- 

 sary, and turn over the boiled potatoes. This is a 

 very nice way to serve smell jjotatoes. 



To Drive Ants Away.- Some one has asked 

 what would drive red ants away. A little cayenne 

 pepper, done up in a thin paper or cloth, and laid in 

 two or three places about the pantry or storeroom, 

 or, if numerous and persistent, sprinkling about 

 their favorite rendezvous is quite effectual in send- 

 ing them off. Roaches will also flee from it. Pow- 

 dered borax has the same effect. Either of these 

 will not fail if accompanied with cleanliness. 



To Mend Broken Crockery. — To mend broken 

 crockery use lime and the white of an egg. Mix 

 only enough to mend one article at a time, as it soon 

 hardens, when it cannot be used. Powder a small 

 quantity of the lime, and mix to a paste with the 

 egg. Apply quickly to the edges, and place firmly 

 together. It will soon become set and strong, seldom 

 breaking in the same place again. 



A Good Drink for the Lungs. — Wash clean a 

 few pieces of Irish moss ; put it in a pitcher, and 

 pour over it two cups of boiling water. Set where 

 it will keep at the boiling point, but not boil, for two 

 hours. Strain, and squeeze into it the juice of one 

 lemon. Sweeten to taste. If the patient cannot 

 take lemon, flavor with vanilla or nutmeg. 



Lemon Sauce.— Beat to a froth one tablespoonful 

 of butter, one cop of sugar, one tablespoonful of 

 eorn'starch and two eggs. When very smooth and 

 light add one cup of boiling water. Set the basin 

 into boiling water and stir five minutes. Season 

 with half a teaspoonful of lemon and serve. 



Yeast from Grape Leaves.— Grape leaves make 

 a yeast in some respects superior to hops, as the 

 bread rises sooner, and has not the peculiar taste 

 which many object to in that made from hops. Use 

 eight or ten leaves for a quart of yeast ; boil them 

 for about ten minutes and then pour the hot liquor 

 on the fiour, the quantity of the latter being deter- 

 mined by whether the yeast is wanted thick or thin. 

 Use hop yeast to raise it to begin with, and [afterward 

 that made of grape leaves. Dried leaves will be as 

 good as fresh. If a dark film appears upon the sur- 

 face when rising, a little stirring will obviate it. 



Yeast from Peas. — To one large teacupful of 

 split bruised peas put one pint of boiling water ; 

 cover it closely so as wholly to exclude the air, and 

 set It in a cool oven or by the side of the fire for 24 



