380 
ladies’ department. 
Cadies’ ^Department 
THE LIFE OF A FARMER’S DAUGHTER 
ALIKE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY 
USEFUL. 
Why how is this, my dear Mr. Alien—two num¬ 
bers of the Agriculturist, and the Ladies’Department 
without an original paper ? Such a thing has not 
happened before since January, 1845, when you 
first announced your intention of re-opening (in 
connection with the Boys' Department) these rather 
novel features in an agricultural journal. What 
has become of your sometime indefatigable corre¬ 
spondent, “ E. S. ?” Do pray, tell her, we cannot 
do without her. 
I hope the remarks of “ Reviewer” have not 
paralyzed the pens of the sex; for, though not re¬ 
markable for courage, they surely would not be 
alarmed at the innocent notices of one holding the 
thankless office of a critic. They must remember 
that it is his province to decry everything that does 
not suit his peculiar fancies, and seem, at least, to 
despise all opinions but his own, and they certainly 
would not quarrel with a man for performing 
strictly the duties his calling may impose upon 
him. By the by, I wonder if it would be possible 
for any one to sit down and write a candid, impar¬ 
tial review of an article or articles, unbiased by 
his own prejudices, unswayed by any tenets but 
those of peace and good-will; without sneering at 
practices different from those he has been accus¬ 
tomed to, or turning things into ridicule because he 
does not understand them. I wish some one would 
try, if only for the novelty of the thing. To be 
sure, the tone of a person’s mind will give a color¬ 
ing to his expressions, and he must have his own 
particular thoughts about matters ; but unfortunately 
in the trade of reviewing, there is too often some 
purpose to serve, which obliges the critic to lay 
aside justice, so that we generally have as much 
reason to suspect his praise as his blame. This, 
however, applies to reviewers in general; not to 
ours in particular, to whom it is to be hoped these 
remarks do not apply. 
I do not know how it may be with some others 
of the sisterhood, but for my part, I would quite as 
soon hear the sex called “ too effeminate and dys¬ 
peptic, and ridiculously full of affectation of deli¬ 
cacy,” as be sickened with appellations of “ the 
pretty dears,” “ sweet creatures,” and “ angelic 
beings,” whieh some writers are so profuse in 
using. While the one only savors somewhat strong¬ 
ly of individual pique, the others are better befitting 
the sentimental heroine of a love-sick novel, 
than an intelligent flesh and blood woman. It 
seems, too, that American ladies need reforming 
mentally and physically. Now I do not know the 
latitude and longitude of our friend’s locality, and 
therefore cannot even “ guess” at the class of ladies 
forming his acquaintance, but he appears to be in 
an unfortunate situation somewhere, and the sooner 
he can get out of it the better. 
Nevertheless, while there ?s need of a reforma¬ 
tion, the hope arises that it has already commenced 
in some parts of the country, and we will not 
“ wholly despair” that farmers’ daughters may yet 
return to a life alike physically and mentally 
useful. Ten years ago, the physical only was 
thought of in their education. They could spin 
and knit, weave and braid, wash and scrub, and 
when not carried to excess, the labor was most 
beneficial for the body. But alas ! the poor mind. 
Out-stripped and despised by its robust companion, 
it was dieted like a feeble child, till it found its 
sole nourishment in the scandals of a gossipping 
neighborhood. When awakened to the magnitude 
of this error, they ran into an opposite extreme, and 
the mental alone was cared for; living languages 
and dead, philosophy and mathematics, ologies and 
the fine arts were crammed into their heads, till much 
learning had well nigh “ made them mad,” while, 
in the meantime, the body was left to consume in 
indolence, like the mind before. They have not 
found an equilibrium yet, but the prospect is 
brighter, though it is difficult to determine which 
out of the two evils is the least. It is sad to see 
a bright and vigorous intellect joined to a feeble, 
wasting body ; but it is brute-like to mark a being 
full of life, and health, and animal strength, with 
the inner life glimmering only like the decaying 
embers, with the soul which likens us to the god¬ 
like, slumbering in a lethargy of ignorance, dead to 
its high calling, and its vast powers. We will 
hope, however, even in these days of “piano 
thumping,” to see the proper medium attained, and 
American women, laying aside their dyspeptics and 
affectations, with healthful, exercised minds and 
bodies, taking a stand that shall place them at once 
above the reproach of the wise, and the sneers of 
the ignorant. E. M. C. 
Lynn , Oct. 2,1846. 
Polish Manner of Preserving Tomatos. —Boil 
water with as much salt in it as to give it an agree¬ 
able saltish taste, and let it stand till it is cold, then 
our it over the tomatos, which should previously 
e freed from the green and all impurities, without 
breaking the skin, in a wide-mouthed glass bottle 
or jar, when they should be closely papered up 
and set in a tolerably cool place, such as a store 
room or pantry, but a cellar is not necessary. The 
tomatos should not be closely packed, but if pos¬ 
sible allowed to swim about in the jar; and in this 
way they are preserved in Poland till they come 
again, always taking out a few when wanted, and 
covering the jar again. 
To Preserve the Bright Green Color of 
Vegetables, such as spinach, beans, peas, &c., 
put a small teaspoonful of salseratus to every half 
gallon of water in which they are to be boiled. 
A Drop or two of honey well rubbed on the 
hands while wet, after washing with soap, prevents 
chapping, and removes the roughness of the skin— 
it is particularly pleasant for children’s hands and 
faces in cold weather. 
One pint bowl of common salt flnakes thres 
quarts of brine strong enough to bear an egg, or 
float a potato, which is as good a test of its strength 
—this is a saturated solution. 
