1864 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
149 
the purple-leaved, yellow, white, and purple 
fruited ; the sweet fruited, and the -seedless. 
Some of the evergreen species, often called 
.Mahonias, are among our finest shrubs. A fool¬ 
ish prejudice once attributed rust in wheat to 
the influence of the barberry—but this has pas¬ 
sed away with other groundless superstitions. 
A Rustic Seat. 
A seat of some kind is needed in the grounds, 
whether they be extensive or of only moderate 
dimensions. What is called rustic-work, that is, 
limbs as nearly as possible in their natural form 
and condition, seems to harmonize with the sur¬ 
roundings better than anything of a more arti¬ 
ficial character. The engraving is taken from 
a rustic settee presented by D. J. Young Esq., 
to the Cove (Oyster Bay) Ladies Soldiers’ Aid 
Society, by whom it was sent to the Brooklyn 
Sanitary Fair, where it was purchased by the 
Proprietor of the Agriculturist. It appears to be 
made of the wood of the Laurel (Kalmia latifo- > 
lia), and a great deal of ingenuity is displayed 
in the selection of the crooked limbs and fitting 
them together. The bottom, which is not shown 
very distinctly, is curiously inlaid with half 
round pieces, forming a sort of mosaic work. 
One who has a fair share of mechanical skill, 
can readily make work of tliis kind, and find 
pleasant occupation for stormy days. The 
woods of the Laurel and Red Cedar are the 
kinds most suitable for such work.—This seat 
will be kept at the Agriculturist Office a few 
weeks, for the inspection of any wishing to 
construct anything similar, after which it will be 
taken to the Proprietor’s place in Flushing. 
THE MtLJSEIHMDm 
Pests of the Household. 
Flies, fleas, roaches, bugs, ants, and moths ! Can 
more annoying pests be named ? “ What are they 
made for?” exclaims the vexed housekeeper after 
“ shooing,” or hunting, or poisoning, as the case 
may demand, to expel the unwelcome intruders. 
For the flies, roaches, and ants, a palliatory word 
may be said. They are most useful scavengers. 
They dispose of a great amount of waste matter 
which would otherwise become Offensive and in 
some cases give rise to malaria and disease. Fleas 
and bugs may be sent as a, scourge to keep lazy 
people lively, or as one suggests, to impel those 
to scratch themselves who will do nothing else to 
rid their skin of accumulating exhalations. Moths 
may serve a good purpose by preventing the hoard¬ 
ing up of unfashionable garments, “ to be used at 
some time,” when they might better be bestowed 
on the unfashionable poor; we can contrive no 
other plea for their existence, but we can not 
doubt they answer some good end. But forty 
good reasons for such nuisances would not recon¬ 
cile any one to unresistingly suffer their presence 
or their attacks. Nor usually is there need of sub¬ 
mitting to them. The whole class most abound in 
uncleanly places. A neglected bam yard,-or other 
depository of decaying matter, will send forth al¬ 
most Egyptian swarms of flies. All must have no¬ 
ticed how the air is almost darkened with them in 
the vicinity of slaughter houses. Their fecundity, 
as is the case with most insects, is so amazing that 
a few weeks will suffice to populate whole town¬ 
ships with them. A wood-shed or other out house, 
where chips or rubbish and dust have been allow¬ 
ed to accumulate, is the very paradise of fleas ; but 
like other evil, restless spirits, they are not con¬ 
tent to dwell there, and soon they nestle in the car¬ 
pets, beds and. clothing, and make themselves felt 
under the most aggravating circumstances. Bugs 
will find shelter in neglected bedsteads; how they 
get there is sometimes a puzzle,but wo<?to the sleep¬ 
ers that seek for rest on uncared-for couches. And 
so with the whole family of household pests. They 
thrive upon neglect; they ask only to be let alone. 
First, then, among spring work comes the re¬ 
moval of the citadels of the enemy. Brooms, 
dusters, scrubbing brushes, white-wash, and per¬ 
severing housekeepers are to be set vigorously to 
work, until a stray insect marauder shall feel as 
much out of place as a guerilla would in a New 
England school house. The flies are the most dif¬ 
ficult to exclude, as they relish the savory fare of 
the best kept kitchen. Against them make screens 
for the doors and windows, of wire cloth, or milli- 
net, and keep them in place. Temporary gauze- 
covered doors for summer use, furnished with 
springs to ensure their being kept closed, will save 
a world of fly-specks and vexation. To drive out 
vermin already in possession is no easy task, but 
it may be done by perseverenee. Mercurial oint¬ 
ment (unguentum) mixed with oil or lard, will 
prove fatal to refugees in the bedsteads; the Per¬ 
sian Insect Powder will drive roaches reeling from 
their cracks, and fleas and other insects will shun 
the scent of oil of wormwood, a few drops of 
which may be sprinkled among clothing. Having 
once obtained a victory, guard against inroads of 
the enemy with all possible vigilance. 
Wines ” in the Household. 
During a few years past the making of “wine” or 
fermented drinks from fruit juice, called Wine, has • 
been rapidly increasing in this country. The ex¬ 
tended culture of grapes, currants, blackberries and 
other small fruits has given facilities for the manu¬ 
facture, and in very many families where no intoxi¬ 
cating beverage had been previously allowed, a 
cask or a few bottles of home-made “ wine ” are 
kept for “ medicine,” for “ company,” or for an oc¬ 
casional treat. In so far as these articles may be 
substituted for the mixtures heretofore purchased 
as wine, when required medicinally, the change is 
undoubtedly desirable; but the introduction of 
them into general use as family beverages, is any¬ 
thing but advisable. The province of the house¬ 
hold department of the American Agriculturist is to 
make happie^ homes, and it would not be true to 
its design- without calling attention to this matter 
which threatens no little injury to domestic peace. 
Some think that the free use of pure wines would 
not only give much innocent enjoyment, but pos¬ 
sibly tend to the decrease of int emperance. While 
we believe that those who are addicted to alcoholic 
stimulants would be less injured by home-made 
fermented drinks than by the drugged compounds 
sold at most of the shops, we also have little doubt 
that the taste for strong drink which holds so 
many in degrading bondage was in most cases ac¬ 
quired at first by indulgence in the so-called “harm¬ 
less fermented drinks,” and as like causes will be 
followed by like effects, it seems unquestionable 
that the common use of wines of any kind will be 
followed by an increase of intemperance. Alcohol 
is of precisely the same nature and will produce 
the same vitiation of taste, and disastrous effects 
upon the system, whether it be extracted from 
grapes, currants, apples, potatoes, rye, or corn. 
The only difference is in the quantity taken, and 
no one can fix a perfectly safe limit by which to 
measure the amount which can be habitually drank 
without ultimately inciting almost uncontrollable 
appetite. It is not necessary here to discuss the 
temperance question; its principles are generally 
well understood ; we only want to fix this fact in 
the mind of the reader, that alcohol in Currant 
“ wine ” or any similar compound, is, according to 
its quantity, just as harmful as alcohol in whiskey. 
Those who have at heart the well-being of their 
children will banish from their tables what might 
prove to them a snare, even if they themselves 
might find no inconvenience from its occasional or 
moderate indulgence. Cold water never vet made 
a: drunkard; wine made the first drunken man of 
whom we have account, and it has made millions 
of confirmed sots since that day.—AM of the so 
called “ Bitters” sold in the country, as medicinal, 
are chiefly alcohol, and are harmful and dangerous. 
---—-- 
Hints on Keeping Provisions. 
In the April number of the Agriculturist, a brief 
sketch was given of some of the principal reasons 
why provisions spoil. Among these were enumer¬ 
ated the instability of the elements of which most 
of them are' composed, the rapidity with which 
decaying matter communicates its own disorganiz¬ 
ing action, and the presence of undue moisture and 
warmth. The two latter conditions require no lit¬ 
tle attention during the coming summer months. 
Where the atmosphere is very dry, there is com¬ 
paratively little difficulty in preserving meat or oth¬ 
er food. In regions where rain seldom falls during 
the hot months, as in the Southern Pacific States, 
and some parts of South America, meat is exposed 
to the air and allowed to dry for future use, with¬ 
out being spoiled ; in this latitude, wherelnoisture 
is almost always abundant, a few days would make 
neglected meat highly offensive. As we . have no 
means at ready command whereby this moisture 
can be expelled, it is necessary to keep provisions 
at as low a temperature as possible. The cellar is 
usually the place of deposit for perishable articles, 
as being the coolest part of the house. It should 
be made as dry as practicable. The windows should 
be protected by screens of fine wire or millinet to 
exclude insects and dust. An occasional sprinkling 
of lime or whitewash about the cellar floor and 
walls will in some cases be beneficial by neutralizing 
the offensive gases arising from decay of minute 
particles of animal and vegetable matter, which 
no degree of cleanliness can wholly prevent. 
The value of ice to keep provisions at a low 
temperature and thus preserve them, will soon be 
appreciated. If there be no ice-house on the prem¬ 
ises, and account be made of the inconvenience ex¬ 
perienced during this season for want of it, it will 
usually be decided that it will pay to construct and 
fill one when the proper time shall come again. 
Many of the refrigerators, or closets made to con¬ 
tain provisions and ice for their preservation for 
sale in the market, are defective in not providing 
for proper circulation of air. An unpleasant smell 
may be perceived in them, and meats or other ar¬ 
ticles kept in them acquire an unpleasant musty 
flavor. A good arrangement is one by which the 
air in the refrigerator comes in contact with the ice 
or a cold surface made by ice, deposits moisture, and 
then, as its temperature is raised by the warmer 
contents of the vessel, it is again cooled and depos¬ 
its both its acquired moisture and the effluvium 
from the substances kept in the safe.. In build¬ 
ing a new house, an ice closet, or provision safe 
arranged on this plan, and convenient to the 
kitchen would be a most desirable addition. 
Removing Paint from Silk and Woolen. 
Frequent inquiries come to the Agriculturist con¬ 
cerning the best manner of removing accidental 
stains of paint and grease from clothing. Benzine, 
which is now very cheap, is the best solvent for 
these things, but it must be used with judgment. 
Many persons rub the spot over with benzine or 
other solvent, and think they have done the work. 
