PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 303 



" CHEAP BREAD. 



" In experimenting for cheap bread, I tried rye flour. My bread was 

 heavy and sticky. I sought information, and found that the dealer had sold 

 me grown or sprouted rye. I then attempted to use up the rye by adding 

 it in with my buckwheat cakes, and liked it. I then stiffened the batter to 

 the right consistency for bread. The result is a light sweet bread. Pro- ' 

 portions — Two parts Indian meal, one part buckwheat, one part rye. I set 

 a sponge as for cakes, let it get acid, sweeten with saleratus, stiffen to the 

 right consistency (not stiff enough to mold), and bake immediately." Also, 



" HOW TO GET OLD CORKS OUT OF BOTTLES. 



" Take a stick of hard wood the size of a goose quill and four or five in- 

 ches long. Take a piece of brass wire twelve inches long and the size of 

 a number 7 needle; bring the ends of the wire together, and secure them 

 firmly around the stick. When you wish to use it press the loop of wire 

 lightly together and insert it in the neck of the bottle; as soon as it gets 

 beyond the neck it will spring out, giving room to bring the cork to the 

 right position, and then the little piece of elastic wood is at your mercy." 



Cultivation of Flax. 



This subject is engaging the attention of American farmers to such an 

 extensive degree that we insert the following account furnished by Mr. 

 Stephen M. Allen, agent of the National Fabrilia Company of Boston: 



Fabrilia is the name given to a new article for textile fabrics, procured 

 by new, peculiar and patented processes, from various kinds of long, 

 fibrous, vegetable substances, reduced to a short stapled fibril, like cotton 

 and wool, so that the same may be mixed with either of these, or can be 

 spun and woven separately, on either cotton or woolen machinery. 



CULTIVATION OF FLAX FOR MAKING FABRILIA. 



The flax plant may be grown in almost any climate or soil on the face of 

 the globe; although the constituent elements of the fiber or woody stalk 

 will be somewhat diflerent, on account of changes in either soil or climate. 

 The atmosphere furnishes nearly all the elementary principles of which 

 the fiber consists; therefore, if the woody part of the stalk, and the oil 

 cake from the seed, shall be retained for consumption on the farm, the pro- 

 duct will not impoverish the soil more than any other crop. 



MOST FAVORABLE CLIMATE. 



The districts where the temperature is the most equable will be the most 

 suitable for the growth of flax— where neither severe drought nor excessive 

 moisture prevails. In the event of a long continuance of drought with a 

 hot sun, when the plant has gained a height of but three or four inches, 

 the leaves are unable to protect the soil from the sun, and the roots having 

 penetrated but slightly, are unable to get sufficient moisture, the plant is 

 in great danger of destruction. In such a case it should be watered, if 

 possible. Flax will bear a good deal of moisture, and thrive best in moist 

 climates. 



SOIL. 



The best soil for flax is a sound, dry, deep loam, with a clay subsoil. 

 The land should be properly drained, for when it is saturated with either 



