1864. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



255 



Don't Stint the Colts. — At no time in the 

 life of colts, do English farmers pay so much at- 

 tention to these animals, or feed them better, than 

 during their first winter ; and these men contend 

 that, if you inform them correctly how a colt is 

 fed and cared for the first year, they will predict 

 what kind of a horse he will make. 



Just so soon as a colt is weaned, he should have 

 a few handfuls of good oats, bruised, per day, a 

 few pounds of cut straw, and a few pounds of hay 

 cut. All else that he procures in the pasture will 

 fill up the gap in his stomach (which occurs be- 

 tween meals,) and he will not over distend that 

 organ, nor his intestines, simply because the wants 

 of nature have to a great extent been satisfied, or 

 rather provided for, by feeding the articles just 

 alluded to. Some persons may object to feeding 

 colts in a generous manner, on account of the 

 expense ; but if good fodder makes strong, vigor- 

 ous and healthy colts, and such colts make valua- 

 ble horses, then I think that such investment must 

 pay well. Finally, the principal effect produced 

 on the growing animal by an insufficient nutrition, 

 is, to hinder his best development. Therefore, I 

 say don't stint the colts. — Dr. Dadd. 



LADIES' DEPARTMENT. 



THE BRAVE AT HOME. 



BY T. B. READ. 



The maid who binds her warrior's sash 



With smile that well her pain dissembles, 

 The while beneath her drooping lash 



One starry tear drop hangs and trembles. 

 Though Heaven alone records the tear, 



And fame shall never know her story, 

 Her heart shall shed a drop as dear 



As ever dewed the field of glory. 



The wife who girds her husband's sword, 



'Mid little ones who weep or wonder, 

 And gravely speaks the cheering word, 



What though her heart be rent asunder — 

 Doomed nightly in her dreams to hear 



The bolts of war around him rattle, 

 Hath shed as sacred blood as e'er 



Was poured upon a field of battle. 



The mother who conceals her grief, 



When to her breast her son she presses, 

 Then breathes a few brave words and brief, 



Kissing the patriot brow she blesses, 

 With no one but her secret God 



To know the pain that weighs upon her, 

 Sheds holy blood as e'er the sod 



Received on Freedom's field of honor. 



DOMESTIC RECEIPTS. 

 Canning Fruits. — It may be interesting to 

 our readers to know that in these times of high 

 prices many fruits can be preserved with little or 

 no sugar. Currants, gooseberries, cherries, peach- 

 es and pears, require no sugar to preserve them. 

 Raspberries and blackberries do not require more 

 than four ounces of sugar to a pound of fruit, 

 and strawberries but little more. We have now 

 the different kinds nearly as fresh and good as 

 when first gathered. Put them up the same way 

 as if you used the usual quantity of sugar — that 

 is, expel the cold air by heating the fruit after it is 

 placed in jars, by setting the jars in cold water, 

 which heat to boiling. The jars we use are Ma- 

 son's self-sealing, with zinc covers, which can be 

 screwed on before the jar is removed from the 



water. We have never lost a jar of fruit put up 

 in them. — Maine Farmer. 



Flemington Gingerbread. — Stir together 

 till quite light, a quarter of a pound of butter 

 and the same of brown sugar. Then mix in half 

 a pint of molasses. Sift in rather less than a pint 

 and a half of flour. Beat four eggs very light 

 and stir them gradually into the mixture alter- 

 nately with the sifted flour, a tablespoon of gin- 

 ger and a teaspoon of cinnamon. Stir all well. 

 Dissolve a level teaspoon of soda or pearlash in 

 as much water as will melt it, then stir in at the 

 last, and set immediately into the oven, which 

 should be brisk, but not too hot, and bake well. 

 Spice to your taste, as the spices frequently vary 

 in strength. 



Corn Meal Slappers. — To a quart of sweet 

 milk stir in sufficient meal, with one handful of 

 wheat flour, to make rather a thin batter ; add a 

 little salt and not more than half a teaspoon of 

 soda, but you can judge better by stirring in a 

 very little at a time till the mixture feels light. 

 Bake like buckwheat cakes. 



Hop Beer. — The editor of the Genesee Farmer 

 pronounces beer made by the following rule, very 

 superior. It is easily manufactured, and will keep 

 six or eight months. This receipt is for fifteen 

 gallons : 



Twelve ounces of hops, six quarts of molasses, 

 ten eggs. Put the hops in a bag and boil them 

 fifteen minutes in three pailsful of water. Put 

 in the molasses while hot, and pour immediately 

 into a strong ale cask, which can be made perfect- 

 ly air tight, and put in the remainder of the wa- 

 ter cold. Let the mixture stand until cool, then 

 add the eggs. The beer will not ferment in cold 

 weather, unless put in quite a warm place. 



Small Tea Cake. — Seven ounces of flour, four 

 and a half ounces of butter, three ounces of white 

 sifted sugar, the peel of one lemon, the yolks of 

 three eggs, worked well together, rolled into small 

 rolls, and pressed on one side with a knife, and 

 then baked. 



To Clean Paper Hangings. — Put a clean, 

 soft bag, or an old pillow-case, over a new broom, 

 and gently brush the dust from the paper ; then 

 take crusts of stale bakers' bread, and wipe it 

 down lightly, beginning at the top. If you rub 

 it, the dirt will adhere to the paper. After thus 

 brushing all around the upper parts of the walls 

 with the bread, begin just above where you left 

 off, and go round again. Do thus until you have 

 finished the paper. The dust and crumbs will 

 fall together. Whenever a room is cleaned it is a 

 good way, before the paint and windows are 

 washed, to wipe the paper with a covered broom, 

 as above directed. 



A Cat Hint. — When a cat is seen to catch a 

 chicken, tie it round her neck, and make her wear 

 it for two or three days. Fasten it securely, for 

 she will make incredible efforts to get rid of it. 

 Be firm for that time, and the cat is cured — she 

 will never again desire to touch a bird. This is 

 what we do with our own cats, and what we rec- 

 ommend to our neighbors ; and when they try the 

 experiment, they and their pets are secure from 

 reproach and danger henceforth. Try it. 



