THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



703 



Molasses Pie. — Take nine tublespoDnfuIs of 

 molasses, six tablespoonfuls of '^ood vineo;ar, 

 one and a half tablespoonfuls of flour, a small 

 piece of butter, a few slices of lemon, or great- 

 ed lemon peel ; cover with a rich paste. This 

 is decidedly the best substitute for apple pie. 



From the Southern Farmer. 



Progressive Agriculture. 



The N. Y. Observer says the following 

 good things of progressive agriculture : 



" Under its influence, spring up tasty 

 and convenient dwellings, adorned with 

 shrubs and flowers, and beautiful within 

 wiih the smiles of happy wives, tidy chil- 

 dren in the lap of thoughtful age — broad 

 hearts, and acts as well as words of wel- 

 come. Progressive agriculture builds barns 

 and puts gutters on them, builds stables 

 for cattle and raises roots to feed them. 

 It grafts wild apple trees by the meadow 

 with pippins or greenings, — it sets out new 

 orchards, and takes care of the old ones. 



It drains low lands, cuts down bushes, 

 buys a mower, house-tools and wagons, 

 keeps good fences and practices soiling. 

 It makes hens lay, chickens live, and pre- 

 vents swine from rooting up meadows. 

 Progressive agriculture keeps on hand 

 plenty of dry fuel and brings in the oven- 

 wood for the women. It plows deeply, 

 sows plentifully, harrows evenly and prays 

 for the blessing of Heaven. Finally, it 

 subscribes for good religious, agricultural 

 and family journals, and pays for them in 

 advance, advocates fiee schools, and al- 

 ways takes something besides the family 

 to the county fair. 



From the American Euralist. 

 Embellishments of a Country Home. 



Heartily can we adopt the following sen- 

 timents, so beautifully expressed, by a 

 friend of the Prairie state : 



"Let others praise the architectural 

 piles, ihe marbled columns, the glitter of 

 art and the costly embellishments of the 

 crowded city — where hoarded wealth, that 

 lias been abstracted from the hands of hon- 

 est toil, displays itself in the decorations 

 of fashion — but from the pent-up views of 

 walled streets, let me hasten to where the 

 pure breezes of heaven freely play over 

 the green landscape, where the leafy 

 boughs spread their cooling shade over my 

 head, while far away, on the broad old 



prairie, the glowing beams of light are 

 softened to the eye : 



'* Where the tints of the earth and the hues of 

 the sky, 



In color, though varied, in beauty may vie." 



From the ceaseless din, the tainted air, and 

 the crowded street of the city, let me steal 

 away to some sunny bank, where the light 

 zephyrs bear along the sweet fragrance of 

 opening flowers, where the warble of birds, 

 the murmur of the dancing streamlet and 

 the balmy freshness of nature can soothe 

 and tranquilize every fevered disturbance 

 of the mind. Let him, to whom the \ a- 

 ried beauties of the smiling earth impart 

 no delight, go to the mart of trade and 

 fashion ; but give me the free air that 

 waves the green meadows and rustles the 

 fields of growing corn — let me enjoy the 

 rich, bounties of the orchard and the gar- 

 den — give me the social tranquility and all 

 the rural endearments that cluster around 

 a country home. 



We live to enjoy happiness ; and the 

 happiness of living necessarily depends 

 very much upon what degree of conveni- 

 ence, comfort and enjoyment the place 

 where we live will afford. 



The human mind is dependent upon 

 something external to itself for its entire 

 nourishment, culture and expansion. Ex- 

 ternal nature impresses its images, and 

 every thing with which we are surround- 

 ed and associated has its modifying influ- 

 ence. Then let him who would cultivate 

 a love of home, contentment and the finer 

 sensibilities, in his own mind — and more 

 especially in the minds of his children — 

 study to make a place pleasing and delight- 

 ful to the senses. 



As fine strains of music greet the ear 

 and tranquilize the mind, so, also, pleasing 

 objects meet the sight and impart a more 

 happy and abiding influence. Then, how 

 important that the scenery and objects that 

 are almost continually before our sight 

 should be such as most delight our senses. 



With the individual that has been rear- 

 ed in a pleasant home — in a place sur- 

 rounded by interesting scenery — in the re- 

 miniscence of that childhood, the fondest 

 associations of memory will ever cling 

 aroimd ' The Old Homestead ;^ and, with 

 (rue emotions, he may sing: 



' IIuw dear to my heart are the scenes of my 

 childhood.' " 



