128 
SILK RAGS.-TI1E DAIRY.— YEAST CAKES, ETC. 
other. I much prefer them where they have at least 
the appearance of being useful for shade, or to hide 
an unsightl) r fence, to having them trained over those 
fanciful frames of lath and whitewash, which are an 
offence against good taste, and only to be tolerated for 
the sake of the flowers which cover them ; the more 
completely they are covered the better! Nasturtions 
(Tropceolum majus) may be planted near the palings 
of the garden, where they are highly ornamental; 
and the young fruit makes an excellent substitute for 
capers, when put in jars of strong vinegar, and cork¬ 
ed tight, without any other trouble. 
Flower Baskets. —When there is a.lawn, or open¬ 
ing near the house, & flower basket is one of the most 
picturesque and easily attained objects that can be 
thought of. Here the boys must help, and plant four 
stout posts firmly in the ground, so as to enclose a 
bed about six feet square—the rougher the posts are 
the better, and they should be left about four feet 
above the earth. In this bed put monthly honey¬ 
suckles and clematis, or any other ever-blooming 
vines, and surround the whole with a rough railing. 
Some brush wood thrown around the roots will pro¬ 
tect them from the fowls, as well as give sup¬ 
port to the young vines, which will soon climb over 
the whole, and in a year or two it will be a mass of 
verdure and fragrance, which will require no other care 
than a little manure thrown over the roots in autumn. 
Another basket, which is now much in fashion, is 
made by driving stout stakes close together, leaving 
about three feet out of the ground, so as to enclose a 
circle or oval of any size you like. Cover the stakes 
closely with bark nailed on—fill this up with com¬ 
post and eaith well mixed; to give it more the ap¬ 
pearance of a basket, twist a couple of grape vines, 
and fasten round the edge on the top, and put another 
twist from end to end over the whole, for a handle. 
When the basket is finished and the earth prepared, 
plant in the middle a cluster of ever blooming roses, 
of different colors, and around them all the flowers 
that can be procured to make as great a variety as 
possible—near the edge have verbenas, and other 
delicate trailing plants, to hang over the sides—let 
some be trained to twine over the handle, and the 
effect of the whole is charming. 
The Dairy. —In beautifying the environs of the 
farm-house, these little handmaids of Flora must not 
overlook the dairy, which is always the abode of 
neatness, and by a little timely care, may be made 
also the dwelling of good taste. There are many 
flowers which thrive best in moist shaded spots, such 
as the pretty Mitchella repens, the delicate Forget- 
mo-not ( Myosotis palustris), the whole family of 
Irises, and the fragrant violets, with a hundred others 
that can be brought from the woods, and would make 
the place a little Eden for the birds and bees, particu¬ 
larly if the trees could be wreathed with trumpet 
creeper ( Bignonia radicans) and the foreign ivy 
{Hedera helix.) 
But I have already gone so far beyond the limits I 
had fixed for this first essay, that I can only wish my 
little friends success in their labors of love, and bid 
them good bye. E. S. 
Silk Rags. —The foundation of many a woman’s 
fortune has been laid, by hanging up a bag in the 
corner of her kitchen for saving rags. Linen and 
cotton have been the only ones considered worth sav¬ 
ing ; but a French chemist has recently discovered 
that silk rags, hitherto generally thrown away, are 
still more valuable. He transforms them by a pro¬ 
cess called palingenesis, into new silk again, in the 
same way that India-rubber is drawn out into fila¬ 
ments and woven into a durable material. By means 
of a dissolvent, the silk rags are made into a gluti¬ 
nous paste, and like fused glass, on coming into the 
air, re-acquire all their original strength and tenacity. 
Spring Work for Farmers' Wives. —Now is the 
time to see that everything appertaining to the spring- 
house or dairy-room is put in order and all needful 
repairs made at once. Stop up all holes, so that neither 
rat nor mouse can enter—get the gauze window fitted 
in to keep out the flies and insects which will soon 
be buzzing about—and see that the walls and ceiling 
overhead are thoroughly whitewashed. This may 
seem rather early work for our northern farmers ; but 
the truth is, if w r e do not get it done this month, ten 
to one our husbands will be so busy the rest of the 
Spring, that they will not have time to attend to it all. 
See that the churns, tubs, and pails, are bright and in 
order, and that plenty of wide, flat pans for setting 
the milk are got ready. The more shallow the milk 
is set in pans, the more rapidly will the cream rise, 
and a greater quantity in proportion to the milk will 
be obtained. When deep, narrow milk pans are 
used, considerable loss ensues from want of proper 
rising of the cream. Preserve plenty of calves’ ren¬ 
nets for curdling the cheese, and see that the press is 
all right. Cheese is getting to be a very important 
export to Great Britain, and we may soon monopolise 
that market by paying proper attention to its manu¬ 
facture among us. I conclude my homily with a hint 
for the benefit of all good husbands; and as I am a 
poet by nature, they will excuse my giving it in 
rhyme: 
For work ahead prepare the way, 
For this ne’er give your wife a nay; 
You can’t expect a harvest prime, 
Unless you sow your seed in time. 
Dolly Homespun. 
Yeast Cakes.— Put two handsful of hops to three 
quarts of water, to udiich add, if you like, a couple 
of potatoes. When the potatoes are done, mash 
them in a pan with a sufficient quantity of flour to 
form a thick batter after the liquor is strained on to 
it. When nearly cool, add a teacup of good home¬ 
made or brewer’s yeast, and keep warm till it becomes 
light. As soon as it is risen, add Indian meal till 
quite hard. Form into a roll of a few inches diame¬ 
ter, which cut in thin slices and put in a moderately 
warm place to dry. This yeast has the advantage of 
all others in this particular, it may be laid aside in 
bags and wall keep sweet during warm weather. 
When you wish them for use, soak them thoroughly 
in milk-warm water, and take three or four for two 
common sized loaves. 
A NICE AND WHOLESOME SWEETMEAT FOR FAMILY 
Use.— Pare or not, as you choose, a quantity of 
sweet apples to fill an earthen or stone jar; add a 
little sugar and molasses, and if the apples are noi 
sufficiently juicy, a little water; cover w T ith a thick 
paste of flour and water, and put into a brick oven 
with your bread. Let them stand till morning. They 
will have the flavor of baked pears, and can be had 
fresh at all seasons. Prosa. 
