1863. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



91 



EXTRACTS AND REPLIES. 



HOW TO BOIL POTATOr.S. 



I have always supposed that the potatoes on our 

 dinner table could scarcely be improved, but it seems 

 on referring to last week's Farmer, that I was entirely 

 mistaken ; they must be " waxy and unpalatable," for 

 they are always pe«led before boiling. After consid- 

 erable experience with " help," I feel sure that if " the 

 humble peasants in Ireland" know how to "boil po- 

 tatoes to perfection," it certainly becomes one of the 

 lost arts to them before they reach this country. I 

 will give you my method of cooking potatoes, by 

 which they are daily brought on to the table very 

 white, very mealy, and very hot, which last cannot be 

 the case if they arc peeled after boiling. 



Pare tliem, and cut the larger ones in halves, in order 

 to have them as nearly as possible of equal size. Let 

 them stand for half an hour in cold water, then put 

 them into the kettle with boiling water, and set them 

 ■where they will boil as hard as possible for twenty min- 

 utes, or till they are thoroughly done ; then turn otl' all 

 the water, sprinkle a little salt over them, and give the 

 kettle a vigorous shake, and let it stand on the stone 

 uncovered till the rest of your dinner is on the table ; 

 pour them into a dish, and they are, indeed, " a guid 

 sight for sair een." Kate. 



Concord, Jun., 1863. 



CORX FODDER IN THE FALL. 



I think every farmer would do well to sow a piece of 

 ground ■(vith corn, not for fodder in the winter, but to 

 feed out in the summer and fall. On a small piece, 

 moderately rich, a large quantity of corn fodder can 

 be raised, requiring little care, and a very small ex- 

 pense. This, fed to cattle in times of drought, and 

 when the feed begins to get short in the fall, will keep 

 them in good order, and if fed to milk cows will in- 

 crease their flow of milk. It will prevent the necessity 

 of turning stock into our mowings. I think most 

 farmers neglect their stock in the fall ; the feed gets 

 short, the cattle have no extra feed, and rapidly lose 

 flesh; this flesh the animal does not replace all winter, 

 unless receiving extra food, and, consequently, incur- 

 ring unnecessary expense. Is it not more economical, 

 then, to fodder more in the fall than most of us do ? 

 How can this be done cheaper than with corn fodder ? 



What is the price of Whittcmore's Root Cutter ? 



Hanover, N. H., Jan., 1863. Aluert Pinneo. 



Remarks. — We believe it is $9,00. Our corres- 

 pondent from Piermont, N. H., will please observe 

 this. 



DISEASED SHEEP. 



Mr. French, of Sutton, N. H., inquires for a remedy 

 for the sore mouth which is troubling his sheep. 1 

 would say that I had it to a considerable extent in my 

 flock a few years since, and I cured it by applying tar. 

 Others, of my neighbors, have cured in the same way. 



Chelsea, Vt., Jan., 1863. C. N. Andrews. 



M'OOD WAX. 



What is the best way to eradicate this plant from our 

 pastures ? This is an important question to the far- 

 mer of Essex county. 13. Drinkavater. 



Salem, Jan., 18G3. 



Remarks. — We have often conversed with some of 

 the people of Essex county with regard to this pest, 

 but never found one who had anj' definite opinions as 

 to how it could be exterminated short of plowing and 

 cultivating. AVill some one enlighten our correspond- 

 ent ? _ 



A FIXE LEICESTER HOG. 



As I see you are giving the weights of pigs, or hogs, 

 I forward to you the weight of a Leicester pig I bought 

 of Peter W. Jones, of this town. He was slaughtered 

 Jan. Sth, 18(i3, at nine months, two days old, and 

 weighed 490 lbs. The keeping was, first six months, 

 milk and raw potatoes ; since that time, the addition 

 of meal, what he would eat. I have tried other breeds, 



but never have made pork so easily as from the present 

 pig of the Leicester blood, and as cheap on the same 

 keeping. Geokoe Kent, 



Deaf and Dumb. 

 Amherst, Jan., 1863. 



profits from fowls. 

 Being a reader and a well-wisher to the Farmer, and 

 you having kindly published my account of 1860-61, 

 of profit and loss of poultry raising, I now enclose you 

 the account of 1862. 1 think three years' account will 

 be sufficient to convince any one that there is profit in 

 raising poultry, if taken care of. 



STOCK, JANUARY 1, 18C2. 



32 fowls and 11 ducks $21,20 



39 bushels of coru 27,10 



18 bushels of oats 9,35 



l.iO pounds siftinirs , i,.^o 



470 pounds scraps, at lie ^ pound 7,05 



CI.IU1 shells .' 25 



Meal and shorts 4,00 



39 dozen esiEs, at 2.5c #" dozen 9',75 



Interest on g^JljOO J ,29 



50 chickens died 6,00 



6 ducks died 1,00 



$90,79 

 Balance 69,40 



$180,19 

 STOCK, JANUARY 1, 1863. 



24 fowls and 11 ducks , $17,50 



17t) dozen epgs sold 44,13 



119 liens and chickens 52,88 



33 ducks sold 19,70 



I'k barrels manure 15,75 



12'chickens, $3,00—10 ducks, $7,08 10,f;e 



97 dozen and 9 eggs, at 20c ^ dozen, eaten in the family 19,50 



$180,19 

 There were 262 dozen and 3 hens' eggs, and 50 dozen 



and 6 ducks' eggs laid ; and 173 chickens, and 49 ducks 



hatched. 

 Salem, Jan., 1863. James Buffington. 



sweet APPLES to FAT HOGS. 



One of my neighbors killed a pig the third of De- 

 cember, nine months, six days old, which weighed 346 

 pounds. It was fed as follows : L'ntil apples began 

 to fall, the pig was fed with slops and milk — no meal 

 at all. After apples were large enough they were fed, 

 cooked and raw, and were so relished by the pig that 

 it wasn't necessary to give but a little meal. The pig 

 was fed wholly by a farmer's daughter. Daughters can 

 tend and feed pigs, if they have plenty of sweet 

 apples. T. s. f. 



Reading, Jan., 1863. 



CORN MUFFINS. 



I send you a receipt for corn muffins which my fam- 

 ily think delicious. Two cups Indian meal ; two cups 

 flour ; two eggs ; one pint of milk ; two teaspoonfuls 

 cream of tartar ; one teaspoonful soda ; piece of butter 

 the size of an egg, melted. Mix thoroughly and bake 

 in muffin-rings on a hot griddle, turning them so as to 

 brown both sides. C. H. Pratt. 



Concord, Jan., 1863. 



Glue for Ready Use. — To any quantity of 

 glue use common whiskey, instead of water. Put 

 both together in a bottle, cork it tight, and set it 

 away for three or four davs, when it will be fit for 

 use without the ap])lication of heat. Glue thus 

 prepared will keep for years, and is at ;J1 times 

 fit for use, except in very cold weather, when it 

 should be set in warm water before using. To ob- 

 viate the difficulty of the stojjper getting tight by 

 the glue drying in the mouth of the vessel, use a 

 tin vessel with the cover fitting tight on the out- 

 side, to prevent the escape of the spirit by evapo- 

 ration. A strong solution of isinglass, made in 

 the same manner, is a very excellent cement for 

 leather. 



