1877.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
225 
figured was invented. It is called the “ Saratoga 
Potato Peeler and Slicer,” and is made at Antrim, 
N. H., by the Goodell Company. It is as simple as 
possible. A rod, with a crank at one end to turn it 
by, has at the other end projections to stick into 
and hold the potato. When the crank is turned, 
the potato is revolved against a fixed knife, which 
cuts it in a thin spiral, of uniform thickness, as 
seen in the engraving. While this is being done, a 
little knife of peculiar shape takes off the peel as a 
narrow ribbon, which is seen hanging to the ma¬ 
chine in loops ; this knife is seif adjusting, and 
accommodates itself perfectly to the inequalities of 
Fig. 1.— CRIB WITH MOSQUITO NET. 
the surface, even entering the depressions of the 
eyes. With a little care the potato, if not large, 
may be kept in one continuous spiral; if in one or 
more pieces the spiral may be closed up, bringing 
the potato, or part of it, to its original shape, and 
then by cutting from the central hole, out, i. e., cut¬ 
ting half way through, the slices will be separate; 
or, if large, the whole may be cut across, leaving 
the slices in half circles. In slicing with this, or in 
any other manner, the slices should be kept in water 
until wanted for use, or they will become discolored 
by exposure. One of our favorite ways of cooking 
potatoes is in the “ Kentucky Style,” or “Frica- 
seed,” as some call it. This was described in 
October last, and is especially useful at this season, 
when potatoes are sometimes not at their best; 
this machine is exceedingly handy in preparing 
them for cooking in this manner. If one wishes 
potatoes, carrots, or other vegetables, shredded for 
soups or stews it can be done very neatly and uni¬ 
formly, by first running them into spirals, and then 
cutting them down in strips. We hope that the in¬ 
ventor of this ingenious little implement, will turn 
his attention to giving us a machine that will easily, 
surely, and economically peel potatoes, without the 
enormous waste that the average Biddy is sure to 
cause. With potatoes at the present prices, one 
does not wish to be in doubt which is of the great¬ 
er probable value, the potatoes or the peelings. 
Mosquitoes and Flies—Prepare for Them. 
There are few places, at least few where one 
would care to live that are quite free from mosqui¬ 
toes and flies. City people seem to think that, as a 
matter of course, those wo live in the country must 
have half the pleasure of existence destroyed by 
mosquitoes, and usually the first question city folks 
put to us about our country home is : “ do you have 
a plenty of mosquitoes ? ”—Then we have the grim 
satisfaction of saying: “We are not troubled by 
them one-tenth part as much as when we lived in 
the city,’’-and it is the fact. All the annoyance 
from mosquitoes for all the ten (or nearly that) 
years we have lived in our present country home, 
has not been equal to that experienced in a single 
summer in New York City. In the one case we ex¬ 
pected the enemy, and prepared for him. In the 
other we did not. It is so easy, with a moderate 
expenditure of time and money, to keep a house 
quite free from mosquitoes, and nearly so from flies, 
that we have but little sympathy for those who 
complain of either. The work may be done by any 
one who is handy with tools, at a much less ex¬ 
pense than to employ a carpenter, but even in the 
latter case, the outlay is not large. Every door and 
every window must be furnished with a screen. If 
you think to economize by leaving certain windows 
unprovided, those will be the very windows that 
will be left open, and render the barriers of the rest 
of no avail. It is best to make thorough work, and 
from garret to cellar, provide each door and window 
with a closely fitting frame. Cheap frames, covered 
with mosquito netting, are better than nothing, but 
they are so liable to get out of order and to be torn, 
that if it can be possibly afforded, 
well made frames, covered with 
wire gauze, should be provided, as 
they will prove far cheaper in the 
end. Still, if these cannot be had, 
use the other, and make up by ex¬ 
tra care what they lack in stability. 
The frames are often made to set 
under the lower sash, and can only 
be put in when the sash is wide 
open. A far better plan is to have 
them directly within the lower 
sash. The frame has on each side 
a groove, 1-inch wide, and the 
same in depth ; a strip of wood, 1- 
inch square, is tacked to the inside 
of the window frame, at such a 
point as will keep the mosquito 
frame in the proper place. The 
groove of the frame slides upon 
this strip, and the mosquito screen 
is managed without any trouble. 
Any ingenious carpenter will arrange the details. 
AVire eloth can be bought in all the cities, ready 
painted. It may be of any color one fancies; we find 
anot very dark-blue,the color of which has been sub¬ 
dued with black, making a sort of neutral tint, as 
inconspicuous and pleasing as any. The doors, and 
above all the kitchen door, should have frames stout 
enough to endure the slamming, be provided with 
very prompt-acting springs, and be no wider than 
necessary. An ordinary kitchen door is usually 
wide enough to allow of a double screen-door, as 
for most uses, one half will be wide enough. 
In a house properly provided with screens, no 
mosquito bars, or nets will be needed. Still, as 
there are cases in which, for comfort, the bed must 
be covered with a mosquito net, we give illustrations 
for some very simple ones. Those who go into the 
country for the summer, will often find that this 
article of comfort is not provided; such will find 
at the furnishing stores a variety of nets or canopies, 
that are portable and readily ad¬ 
justed to any bed. Indeed, with 
a piece of mosquito netting, a 
few wires and light rods, it is not 
difficult to provide any bed with 
a bar. Figure 1 shows how a 
crib may be sheltered by the use 
of two light rods supported by 
strong wires which slip into 
staples attached to the crib. As 
scarcely any two cribs are of the 
same pattern, this attachment 
will need to be varied to suit the 
style. The net may be a simple 
large square piece, to hang grace¬ 
fully at the corners, or the ma¬ 
terial may be economized by 
sewing it together to form a 
square box. The child’s cradle 
or carriage may be provided in a 
similar manner. A mosquito 
canopy, such as is sold at the 
stores, is shown in figure 2, to 
give a hint at a similar home¬ 
made structure. A frame may 
be made of light strips of 
wood—probably the canes used for fishing rods 
could be used—and by means of wires or strong 
cords fastened to a central knob. This top is 
to be covered, and then the mosquito bar tacked 
to the frame, with plaits to allow of the needed 
fullness below. This should be open in but one 
place, and the breadths at this place should lap at 
least half a yard, to make sure that they will close 
securely. Such a canopy may be hung by a cord 
to a small pulley in the ceiling, or marring the ceil¬ 
ing may be avoided by the use of a supporter like 
that in figure 2, which is a strong arm of wood and 
heavy wire attached to the bedstead. Instead of 
Fig. 3.— SUPPORT FOR CANOPY, 
this an independent supporter may be used ; figure 
3 shows one of the kinds sold, and will serve as a 
hint to devising something that will answer. 
Doughnuts.— By “Housekeeper.” Set 2 or 3 
tablespoonfuls of good yeast with a pint of warm 
water, add carefully sifted flour, sufficient for a 
sponge. Let it rise over night. In the morning 
cut up lb. of butter in 3 pints of new milk—a 
little warm—pour it to your sponge, break in 3 eggs, 
add a little cinnamon, and flour enough to knead 
into dough. Let it rise until light. Roll out, cut 
into strips, and twist them, or make into rounds 
pierced through the centre. Fry in hot lard. 
Stuffing for Fowls. —“Housekeeper” says: 
“Slice a loaf of baker’s bread, soak soft in sweet 
milk, and mash with a spoon; add 2 eggs, pepper, 
salt, summer savory, or thyme (powdered fine), a 
MOSQUITO CANOPY FOR A BED. 
lump of butter, the size of a hen’s egg. This will 
be sufficient for two fowls.” Another way: Chop 
or crumble home-made bread fine, moisten with a 
little sweet milk, and to be enough for two fowls, 
add 2 eggs, 2 large spoonfuls of butter, 1 even 
teaspoonful each of pepper and powdered thyme, 
2 do. of salt; mix well together. 
