1865.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
125 
be set in tlie stove oven with the doors open, tak¬ 
ing care when it is almost dry not to let it burn. 
If dried too slowly it may sour. Next spring or 
summer this will make as good pies as fresh squash 
if prepared as follows : Kinse the dried squash in 
cold water at night, pour on suftlcient boiling wa¬ 
ter to cover. In tlie morning simmer a few min¬ 
utes and stir until all seems softened, then sift and 
proceed as with fresh squash. 
Ualceil SlDtI»1>nr«l Squasl*. —Contributed 
by T. H.askell, Essex Co., Mass. Cut off a piece at 
one end, sufficient to make an opening to admit a 
spoon, and scrape out the seeds and tlie libers sur¬ 
rounding them. Pour h.alf a teacupful of water in 
a spider, put the squash in open side down, and 
bake one hour in an oven rather hotter than is 
needed for loaf bread. Remove from the oven, 
scrape the squash out of the shell with a spoon, and 
all will like it who are fond of sweet potatoes. 
iB(DYS <k 
About tUc MoBitb of* April. 
The month of April was represented by the ancients as 
a playful dancing boy with a rattle in Ids hand. Chil¬ 
dren are easily made to smile or to cry, and the figure 
was therefore quite appropriate, as we expect sunshine 
and rain to follow each other in quick succession during 
the present month. The name April, it is said, is derived 
from the Latin word aperire, which means to open, and 
at this season the buds and blossoms are opening under 
the warm sunshine and frequent showers. The Dutch 
call it the Grass month. It will be interesting to our 
young friends to observe each year at what time the va¬ 
rious trees and plants in their neighborhood first open 
their bnds, and to write down the dates. See how much 
earlier the lilac bush in the front yard puts forth leaves, 
than does the apple tree in the orchard ; .and so with oth¬ 
er shrubs, trees and plants. Such a record kept from 
year to year will sliow the comparative earliness of 
the diffeent seasons. It will also lead the observer to 
notice otlier facts about vegetation, all of which will 
furnish most agreeable employment for leisure hours. 
The first day of April is known as April Fools’ day. and 
all over Europe, as well as in America, the custom pre¬ 
vails of sending people on foolish errands or playing oth¬ 
er practical jokes, an,I then laughing at the viclims. 
How this singular practice originated is not certainly 
known. Some think it first prevailed among the Hin¬ 
doos, who keep up similar performances .at a feast called 
huli ; this however does not account for the origin of the 
custom. Others, perhaps with more truth, say it is kept 
up in commemoration of our Saviour being sent back and 
forth between Herod and Pilate at the time of his trial. 
Whoever attempts to play a trick upon another sliould 
make it a pleasant one ; such for instance as was carried 
Dut by a party of young men on a poor neighbor, whose 
corn needed hoeing badly, while he was sick. Some 
twenty of tliem assembled one fine moonlight evening 
and by 10 o’clock had it all in prime order. You can 
Imagine the poor man’s feelings a few days after when he 
crawled out to try and do a little for his suffering crop. 
Iflalcc Friends Amongj the Birds. 
Birds can provide quite well for themselves, but they 
are very thankful for any assistance. The robin asks 
only to be let alone and he will be likely to choose 
some snug covert in the branches of an evergreen, or 
other thick foliaged tree near the house in which to com¬ 
mence housekeeping. He and his mate may be made 
very tame by frequently scattering bread crumbs and 
other dainties near their haunts. They have been ren¬ 
dered so familiar by such means, that they would come 
when called and feed at the feet and in some cases 
from the hands of their friends. The blue birds will hunt 
all about the premises for some suitable hollow with a 
narrow opening in which to build their nests. They 
some times choose very singular dwellings. An old boot 
jung in the wood-house was for years a favorite nesting 
place for a pair of these birds. A workman once left 
his coat hanging on the fence in a back lot. Several 
weeks after, he remembered it, but found other claimants 
in possession, two blue birds being very busy rearing a 
family in one of the sleeves. A few plain boxes with en¬ 
trance holes just large enough, placed in trees or on the 
buildings, will attract these pleasant visitors. The pert 
and lively wrens, will quickly occupy similar accomma 
dations, and give much pleasure with their sprightly 
songs and noisy chatterings. The martins go in flo^s 
and will require larger accommodations. A box three 
leet long, six to nine inches wi.le and a foot high, with 
openings six inches apart wil' suffice for a small 
colony. The barn swallows will find quarters in the barn, 
if openings be left in the gable end, and the mud swal¬ 
lows if undisturbed will make quite a cornice under the 
eaves. All these birds will work faithfully for the neigh¬ 
borhood where they are encouraged. Moths, caterpil¬ 
lars and worms will be devoured by wholesale where 
birds abound, and the music they make will certainly 
afford more pleasure than can be derived from shooting 
or stoning such innocent creatures. If our young read¬ 
ers desire feathered pets in a cage, let them procure a 
pair of Canaries, which have always been accustomed 
to such a life, and not rob the free field birds of liberty. 
Perhaps before the summer is over, some of the boys or 
girls will have plerrsant stories to tell of their success in 
making friends with the birds ; we should be pleased to 
hear and if of enough interest to publish them. 
ISewati-e of a Frevaleiit Vice. 
Boys, if by a few earnest heartfelt words you maybe 
induced to keep clear of a vice now fearfully prevalent 
in this country, it will be worth more to you than a large 
present in money. We refer to the iise of profane lan¬ 
guage. It is almost the only sin that has neither excuse, 
pleasure, or profit. Offensive alike to God and good men, 
it marks a vitiated taste, a want of refinement, and a dis¬ 
regard both of virtue and the feelings of others. Instead 
of relieving the passion of anger as some declare, it only 
strengthens it by giving it expression. If it be urged that 
it is a habit difficult to be broken, this is a confession that 
disregard of right has become a settled part of the char¬ 
acter. No boy old enough to know the meaning of 
words, utters his first oath without a shudder; if by rep¬ 
etition lie is able to swear without compunction, it is not 
that the sin is less, but because his own sense of right has 
been blunted; the crime and its penalties are the seme. 
Cut the habit can be subdued. Scarcely a boy or man 
will use profanity in presence of his mother ; then, if he 
will, he can restrain it at other times. Let every boy re¬ 
spect himself too mucli to yield to this habit, but rebuke 
profanity wherever heard, by expressive silence and 
a good example, if not by words. 
'B’liie I5*liiy ©f ChariMlcs. 
This amusement is quite common in many localities, 
but may be new to some. A director is chosen who may 
employ as many assistants as he needs. They retire 
from tlip room, and select some word w hich is to be acted 
out. part at a time, or otherwise, in presence of Hie com¬ 
pany. and the spectalors are to discover the word from 
the acting. Thus, suppose the word “Alternate” be 
chosen. The director may come in and make on a slate 
or paper a large figure 8; then each of his assistants 
turns eight over : that is all turn eight (alternate). The 
word "Intemperance" may be divided into four parts 
or acts. The first to represent a scene .at an inn ; next a 
display of temper, then a meeting of aunts, and finally 
a representation of the whole word, by a person feigning 
intoxication, etc. If the words are well chosen. :tnd the 
actors ready with suitable impromptu dialogues, tins play 
may be made very entertaining, and often instructive. 
A 4jSood Hint tor tlie Boysnnd Cnirls. 
.M iss “Hattie” W'rites to the American Agriculturist. 
“Sweeping is unpleasant and unhealthful work. Dust 
was not made to be breathe.I. Now, nearly or quite half 
the usual amount of sweeping can be avoided. How? 
Keep tlie litter and mud out of the house. Do not bring 
it in on your shoes : then it will not have to be pushed 
out with a broom. The next time you go to a neighbor’s 
keep your shoes as clean as possible, but if you get them 
muddy, look for a scraper and mat to wipe them, and 
if you can find none, don't go into the liouse unless it is 
necessary ; do your errand at the door, and say, “ my 
shoes are muddy, I will not go in ?” If you are particu¬ 
lar to clean your shoes, other boys and men will be so, 
when they come to your house. Anl as the price of 
brooms is now very high, you may save as much as three 
cents a week on the wear of them, just by keeping your 
shoesclean ; I think you will save more tlian thaton your 
shoes, for the cleaner they are kept the longer they last. 
The mud takes the oil from them, renders them very 
hard and unpleasant to the wearer, they will soon crack, 
and vou must have a new pair. Now, instead of all this 
trouble you cause your mother, in removing dirt by 
sweeping show her that you can do something to lessen 
her labors by learning to be always neat and tidy.” 
Damaged Glass.—F. S. Mitchell, sends the fol¬ 
lowing to the American Agriculturist, His man Sam 
and wife were unpacking a box of glass fruit jars. While 
taking them out one by one, Sam would say, “ Here is 
a good one,” or “ This one is broken, or cracked,” as it 
happened to be. He found one that had been somewhat 
flattened on one side in making it. He says, “Here is 
one that is not cracked, but is badly bruised," He evi¬ 
dently dill not understand the nature of glass. 
An.S'wers to Problems aud Pazzlet*. 
The following are answers to the puzzles, etc., in the 
Mareh number, page 89. No. 12i, Illustrated Rebus, — 
Awls weal th at ends well, or “ All’s well that ends well.” 
No. 125. Mathematical Problem, — Diameter, 173.2 ft. , 
Whole area, 985.8 ft....No. 126. Curious Word, —The 
word " Written,"....'No. 127. Illustrated Rebus.—Rebel 
lion will B over throne and piece re T urn two cheer 
our country ; or Rebellion will be overthrown, and peace 
return to cheer our country_No. 128. Abbreviation. — 
R. U. L No. 129. Anagrams.—\, Merchandise; 2, Sur¬ 
geon ; 3, Reformations ; 4, Conversation ; 5, Locomotive ; 
6, Transmission _No. 130. Conundrum. —The Jin it 
(finis)_No. 131. Mathematical Problem. —60.16 ft. to 
one corner, 64.34 ft. to each of the others — No. 132. 
Ethical Mathematics. —The preponderance of truth is in 
C’s favor....No. 133. Charade. —Mad-a-gas-car.. ..No. 
134. Puzzle.—C (lOO)-I (1)-V (5)-I (D-L (50).=Civil.. .. 
The following sent correct answers up to March 10th : 
E. Prevost, 124; R. H. Wilson, jr., 127 ; Harry, 132 ; M. 
E. Waring, 124, 127,145 ; Eddie Shelden, 128 ; Augusta 
Brigham, 117. 128, 133 ; Arthur Shriver, 124, 127, 128, 130, 
132, 133, 134 ; “Subscriber,” 124, 127, 128, 130,133, 134 ; 
Lucy R. Weeks, 124, 125, 127, 128, 130, 133, 134 ; Robt. G. 
Weeks, 127, 12S, 130, 133 ; George F. Weeks, 127, 128 , 
Budgar, 124,127, 128, 130, 133,134; Jas. H. Chidlaw, 12-7 
D. Sheaffer, 124, 126, 127, 128, 129,130, 131, 134 (well done). 
New Puzzles to be Answered. 
No. 135. Illustrated Reiuj.—Something to remember. 
No. 136. French Riddle. —Je suis capitaine, de vingt- 
quatre soldats. Sans moi Paris serait pris. 
No. 137. Latin Sentences for translation. —1, Equus est 
in stabulo, sed non est. 2, Mea mater sus mala est. 3, 
Pugno pugnas nugnat. 
Fig. 1. Fig. 2. 
No. 138. Illustrated Rebuses. —Fig. 1, A French sen¬ 
tence. Fig. 2, Advice for business men. What are they ? 
No. 139. Charade. —My first denotes company , my 
second shuns company ; my third calls company, and my 
whole delights company. What is it ? 
No. 140. Conundrum. —What light is most generally 
diffused throughout the world? 
No. 141. Word Puzzle. —Behead a small wild animal, 
and leave a large, strong useful domestic one. 
No. 142. Illustrated Rebus. —An important truth. 
No. 143. Geographical Names. —1, Part of the body and 
a small pond. 2, Men of high rank and a weight. 3, 
Strife and a tool. 4, A lady, a taste, and a pie. 
No. 144. Philosophical Question. —Suppose the earth 
to cease its annual motion around the sun, but continue 
its daily revolution. Would it be necessary to lengthen 
or shorten the pendulum of our clocks to make them keep 
correct time? Why? 
No. 145. Geographical Question. —At what line on tha 
earth does the Christian Sabbath begin ? 
No 146. Planting Problem. —How may twenty-four tree* 
be planted in eighteen rows, with four trees in each row T 
