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THE SEASON. 
For several weeks we have been enduring a 
V dry spell ” of unusual length aud severity. 
Newly planted trees felt its effects very sorely, and 
some that were not properly cared for, we fear 
have perished. Many have we seen withering and 
dying that a good forking up of the soil, a few pails 
of water, followed by a mulching of refuse stuff 
would have saved. It is strange that people will 
spend their money for trees and allow them to die 
before their eyes without an effort to save them. 
The dry weather affected the Vegetable Garden 
very materially. The peas ripened up without 
giving half a crop, and the early potatoes are few 
and small. Corn can endure a great amount of 
heat and dry weather if the ground is kept mellow. 
Indeed, stirring the soil is the greatest protection 
against evil effects from drouth. A good hoeing 
among the garden vegetables or what is better, a 
forking is as good as a shower. This it is pretty 
hard to make people believe, but whoever tries it 
will be satisfied of its truth. Within the few days 
past we have been blessed with copious showers, 
and all nature is revived. 
Many varieties of Cherries are still on the trees. 
Currants and Gooseberries are ripening, as are the 
Raspberries. On these small fruits we shall give a 
chapter after a little further opportunity for exam¬ 
ination. In the Flower Garden the Phloxes and 
other Herbaceous Plants , are now the most attrac¬ 
tive. Next week we will describe the principal 
varieties in flower. 
VINE CULTURE AT HAMMONDSPORT. 
While at Ilammondsport to-day, and waiting 
for the shower to pass, a sensible man who had the 
Rural, lent it to me to read for the time being. It 
seemed very much like shaking hands with an old 
friend to take hold of the old familiar sheet. 
It’s a beautiful drive from Bath, and the best corn 
I have seen was along the route, several fields 
being in tassel, and some showing silk. The wheat 
along the hillsides looked beautiful. It will not be 
harvested till next week, (the 18th and later.) 
Other crops, except grass, are looking very well. 
But what most struck my fancy, is the tendency 
to vineyards among the farmers on the north side 
of the valley. The hills rise rather abruptly to 
quite a distance, and are being rapidly converted 
to vineyards. The attempt to raise grapes in this 
region has been very successful, and it will be but 
a few years before they can sing or talk of their 
“vine-clad hills.” They are not, as a general 
thing, bestowing the necessary care in the prepara¬ 
tion of the land, and will not, of course, succeed as 
well aa tt>ej ought or might with a very little more 
labor in the start. Instead of planting in rows up 
and down the hill, they should trench them into 
bot'ders or terraces about 8 feet wide, running 
round the hill. The fruit will ripen much better, 
for no part of one row will shade the other; be¬ 
sides it will prevent washing, otherwise a serious 
difficulty upon these steep hills. 
The land already appropriated to the vine in the 
towns of Urbana and Puitney would be quite an 
item even now. Ultimately all the available land 
will be used for that purpose, and will add largely 
to the wealth of these towns. It will be but a few 
years before the domestic wines will entirely su¬ 
persede the foreign article. Pie-plant, currant and 
grape vines can be produced to an unlimited ex¬ 
tent—as soon as it will pay.—p. 
-»-»-♦■»- 
MAMMOTH RHUBARB. 
Messrs. Eds. :—Col. J. F. Morgan, of our village 
to-day presented me with a stalk and leaf of rhu¬ 
barb, grown by himself,—which would throw 
Marsh’s entirely into the shade, especially if placed 
over it,—the dimensions and weight of which 
are as follows:—Length of stem, 23% inches, cir¬ 
cumference, 6% inches; weight of stem, 1% lbs.; 
weight of stem and leaf, 3 lbs. 11 oz.; length of 
leaf, 4 feet; width of same, 3 feet 9 inches; circum¬ 
ference, 24% feet.—D. M. Norton, Akron, Erie 
Co., N. Y., June 24,1859. 
Large Rhubarb.—H aving noticed an article in 
your valuable paper headed Large Stalk of Victoria 
Rhubarb, and asking all to beat it, and as a neigh¬ 
bor of mine, Mr. C. A. Dutton, has fairly done it, 
I will give you the dimensions. The length of 
stalk, exclusive of the leaf, was 20 inches; largest 
circumference, 7 inches, and weight, 2 pounds and 
II ounces, which exceeds the weight of Mr. Fitch’s 
by eleven ounces, leaf and stalk together. But, as 
we consider the stalk the most valuable part, we 
have made no account of the leaf. However, I 
don’t see how Mr. Marsh gets so large a circum¬ 
ference of the leaf to so small a diameter. I am 
sure it can’t be by geometry, or else he has taken 
one more lesson than I have. Perhaps he can 
explain it. However, I think he will have to try 
again. — Geo. Townsend, Elma, Erie Co. N. Y., 
July, 1859. 
Rhubarb.—O ur friend, F. A. Marsh, speaking of 
a stalk of rhubarb which weighed fifteen ounces, 
says, “beatit who can.” My neighbor, H. Hayler, 
brought a stalk into our village market which 
weighed on my small scales, one pound and eleven 
ounces, clear of leaf. He has more nearly as large. 
A. Willson, MarceUus, N. Y., June, 1859. 
Salt for Wire-Worm and Quack Grass.—(0. 
R., Jcrseyville, C. W-, and others.) — The worm 
you describe is the wire-worm. Enough salt to 
kill them would destroy the plants. If salt had 
been given early in the season, so that its strength 
might have been expended before tha plants were 
set, enough might have been given to trouble the 
^ortns, and destroy some of them. Salt will de¬ 
stroy Quack Grass, but it will require a very large 
dose—enough we would think to prevent the growth 
of all vegetation for some time. 
-r^aa c 
Aeifjf ‘ X'jWSNgr 
iM 
mww 
TIIE SCALE INSECTS. 
One of our subscribers brought us a branch of 
the Flowering Currant, covered with scales, as 
shown in the engraving. On examining these 
scales through a glass we found they covered mass¬ 
es of transparent eggs, attached together like clus¬ 
ters of grapes. These we sent to our attentive 
correspondent, Jacob Stauffer, of Lancaster, Pa., 
who with his usual courtesy aud promptness fur¬ 
nishes us the following interesting article. 
Dear Rural:— Yours with the enclosed twigs 
of a gooseberry bush, (as I judged,) covered with 
small brown excrescences, or “ scales covering 
masses of transparent eggs,” as you state, are the 
remains of the female scale insects—a species of 
Coccidce, an order embracing several genera and 
numerous species. 
The cocci are a prolific race, and like the aphides, 
or plant-lice, are a source of vexation and annoy¬ 
ance to the horticulturist and arboriculturist. 
They have become so common that almost every 
nursery is infested with one species or another. 
These insects vary much in form and habit, and 
seem remarkably discriminate in their choice of 
food, almost every species being peculiar to some 
particular plant, so that they usually bear the 
name of the plant they feed on; for instance, the 
coccus cacti, found on the cactus opuntia, or prick¬ 
ly pear tree, in South America, produces the 
commercial cochineal, and with several other 
species, used for their coloring matter, are cul¬ 
tivated by certain attention to the breeding of 
these insects. 
A dark colored fluid often exudes from some 
species common with us, and perhaps at the 
proper season, treated as the cochineal insect is, 
they might prove a good substitute. I would call 
attention in that direction. 
There is this singular fact that many of these 
insects, when fully matured, become more and 
more imperfect, losing all traces of articulations 
in the body as well as of the limbs, becoming, in 
fact, inert, and fixed masses of animal matter, 
motionless, and eventually a dry, senseless scale, 
under which, however, the numerous egg 3 are 
hatched and sheltered until they vesture forth to 
sap vegetation, and disfigure it with its excres- 
sence-like carcass over a fresh brood. 
The males are much smaller and more active 
than the females. Fig. 1 and 2 from, beneath one 
of these scales sent me, are highly magnified—fig. 
3, a vieiv of the twig with its scaly granulations 
upon it. 4, an enlarged scale. 
The females have a three-jointed promuscis, ap¬ 
parently arising from the breast, capable of being 
greatly extended, which they insert into the bark, 
&c., of plants—the males appear to be destitute of 
of a mouth of any kind, become winged and fly 
about. When at rest their single pair of wiDgs 
are carried horizontally—one covering the other. 
Fig. 5 and 5—1 illustrates the Pseudo coccus, male 
insect, much like the c. cacti. Several species of 
birds, such as the chic-a-dee and wren, prey upon 
them. A minute Jchneumonpus fly also oviposits 
into the female cocci, for a nidus, and thereby 
many are destroyed, aud a check put upon their 
excessive increase. 
Where these insects once gain possession of a 
plant or young tree, its disfiguration aud death is 
almost certain, through exhaustion, by the myriads 
of this class of minute vermin, and requires 
prompt and energetic action, otherwise it is next 
to impossible to exterminate them. 
The recipe of Mr. Harris is perhaps the best, 
which is to make a wash composed of eight parts 
of water, two of soft-soap, with quick lime enough 
added to bring it to the consistency of a thick 
white-wash. This ought to be laid on early in 
June, when the insects are young and tender, with 
a brush covering the surface of the branches and 
filling the cracks with it. 
The apple tree bark-louse noticed in your issue 
of July 9th, (vol. 10, No. 28,) I judge is similar to 
the coccus conchi formis of Gonelin. Fig. 9 
represents some that I found on an apple tree, 
beautifully striated, covering numerous oval eggs, 
9—1 is a section showing a lower ridge. Fig. S is 
a species found on the lilac, of a drab color, and 
oval shape. In last year’s Rural, vol. 9., p. 231, 
(No. 29, July 7,) you figure the vine scale insect. 
Fig. 6 is the coccus vitis, as I have seen it repre¬ 
sented, and is a different species. Fig. 7 is a beau¬ 
tiful pearly species, checkered with radiating da> k 
spots, (7—1, the underside and posterior end turn¬ 
ed up,) which I found on a grape leaf—a single 
specimen only—and may belong to a different 
genus. Fig. 10 is taken from a branch of maple 
(Acre Dasycarpum Wild,) an ornamental tree on 
the S. W. corner of South Queen street, in this 
city, giving the tree a very unsightly aspect, and 
will evidently be its destruction, if nothing is done, 
speedily. 
This latter belongs to the wooly tribe of scale 
insects. Their eggs are so numerous that their 
bodies are insufficient to cover them, hence they 
have the faculty of emitting a fine cottony excre¬ 
ment, of a viscid consistency, capable of being 
drawn out into the finest cobweb-like threads, of a 
pearly whiteness. The embedded eggs are ex¬ 
ceedingly numerous and of an oval shape. My 
friend, S. S. Rathvon, wrote an account of this 
species in the Farm Journal, for 1854, and pro¬ 
posed to call it coccus innumerabilis. It mav 
prove a species of PoAhesia Rose, the Cionops of 
Leach. I have my eyeon some close at hand, on 
the maple referred to, £)d shall become better ac¬ 
quainted with this inset, as to its transformation 
before long. Much njre might be said on this 
subject, but this is akeady sufficiently lengthy. 
Ever ready to respond^ am very truly yours, 
Lancaster, Pa., 1859. Jacob Stauffer. 
-. .. 
DISEASED PEAR TREES. 
Messrs. Editors :—hi reading (in your paper of 
Saturday last) the veryinteresting aud instructive 
proceedings of the Fruit Growers’ Society of West¬ 
ern New York, I find that Dr. Spence, and other 
members of said Society have been troubled with 
“ a mysterious disease afflicting their pear trees.” 
Having for a number of years noticed the differ¬ 
ent phases of said disease, and tried various reme¬ 
dies therefor, I have by the merest accident 
discovered a certain remedy. It is this:—Care¬ 
fully examine both body and limbs of your trees, 
and with a sharp knife as carefully remove the 
outer bark of the diseased parts, leaving only the 
fresh inner bark, with but a small portion, if any, 
of the outer bark remaining thereon. Tbe second 
or third day thereafter, give the body and limbs a 
thorough coating of soft soap. Do this in the 
summer months. 
I have never positively ascertained the cause of 
the disease; yet from having seen the tracks, but 
not the worm itself, I believe it to be caused by a 
very small worm, the egg from which it is pro¬ 
duced having been deposited in the outer bark, by 
some insect at present unknown to fruit growers. 
In its first stages the disease discovers itself by 
brown or purplish specks showing through the 
clear and otherwise healthy outer bark. 
I have tried tbe above remedy two summers pre¬ 
vious to the present, and with decided success in 
every instance. Geo. C. Beecher. 
Livonia, N. Y., 1859- 
American BL.\CK,«J^^£j'Ei;Y,—The finest quart 
uf tv.wjjvici nca nc -aKThus far skcu mo present 
season is one of the Amcpieail Black , presented us 
by Asa Anthony, who is growing this variety for 
market, near Rochester. Mr A. thinks they will 
prove more profitable than any other sort; for, 
although injured by the June frosts they are yield¬ 
ing a good crop. The specimens sent us were the 
largest we have ever seen, as large as Antwerps are 
usually grown. 
— A fine basket of the same sort came to hand 
just as we were going to press, from II. H. Doolit¬ 
tle, of Oaks Corners, Ontario County. Mr. D. 
has made a specialty of this fruit, and his system 
of propagating and managing tbe plants was given 
in the Rural of March 5th. Though far inferior 
in quality to the Antwerps, Erinckle’s Orange, etc., 
the hardiness and productiveness of the plants, 
and the firmness of the berries, makes the Ameri¬ 
can Black Raspberry very popular and profitable 
as a market fruit. 
Pie-Plant Wine. —Some time since we received 
from the Oneida Community several bottles ofwiue, 
made from pie-plant., the native grape, and currants. 
The labels on the bottles did not correspond with 
the description given in a note accompanying 
them, so that we were not able to report as we 
would have done. One bottle of the pie-plant wine 
had a strong sherry flavor, and it seemed fully 
equal to any of our domestic wines. We hope the 
time is not far distant, when not a single bottle of 
wine or spirits will be imported. We have soil 
enough, and can raise fruit enough to make all the 
wines, and cordials, and syrups we need. There 
is no use of spending our money for foreign 
mixtures. 
-- 
UNION SHADE TREE ASSOCIATION. 
The beauty of a village, as every person of taste 
is aware, does not depend on its showy buildings so 
much as on its shady trees. Any place properly 
ornamented with trees is handsome; without them 
the most costly architecture is bare and unattractive. 
The citizens of Union Springs, a thriving village on 
the banks of Cayuga Lake, resolving to profit by 
these truths, formed an Association, with the fol- 
fowing regulations in substance:—Each member 
pays an admission fee of one dollar, which is ap¬ 
plied in procuring and setting out trees in such 
places as the owners are unable or unwilling to 
plant—any additional sum from a member is ex¬ 
pended in planting trees, at cost, along his own 
grounds or where he may direct. 
The admission fee of the Association amounted 
in the first place to some forty or fifty dollars—a 
part of which was from day laborers to be expended 
in work. The executive committee, after explor¬ 
ing the adjacent couutry, found a fine natural 
nursery ot maples and other native trees, which 
they secured at five dollars per hundred. They 
were dug with the roots, (the roots are commonly 
cut off in such cases.) and several teams were dis¬ 
patched for them. Over six hundred trees have 
been thus procured at a small cost, and have been 
placed along the streets; and if half of them grow 
and flourish, they will increase the market value of 
the lots they adorn, at least ten times the amount 
ot the expenditure. This may not be the best 
mode, in every particular, of accomplishing so de¬ 
sirable an object; but it may furnish hints for an 
improved mode of proceeding in other places. It 
will be perceived that in all such cases, cattle must 
be excluded from the streets.— Country Gentleman. 
Inquiries cmi) ^lusuicrs. 
Silver Fir and Deciduous Cypress.— Can you In¬ 
form me through the Rural as to the hardiness of the 
Scotch Fir and Deciduous Cypress?—A Subscribes. 
Both are hardy here. 
Sod Land for Strawberries —Will you, or some 
one who has had experience, please inform me and tbe 
many readers of the Rural tbe best method of prepar¬ 
ing sod ground for strawberries? Should the sod be 
removod entirely, or spaded under, if the latter, would 
manuring, previous to beiDg spaded, be beneficial? 
The soil is a sandy loam, and partly shaded by forest 
trees. - T. II. Tooker, Ypsilantl, Mich., 1859. 
Spade tbe turf under deep. Work the manure 
into the soil while digging, so as to have it well 
mixed. This is better than burying it at the bot¬ 
tom, or spreading it on the surface. If partly 
shaded with forest trees, we fear the roots will so 
“ draw” upon the soil as to injure the strawberry 
crop. 
The Crocus in America, and the Rural in Europe. 
—Permit me to inquire through the columns of your 
1 paper whether Crocus roots will hear beiDg left in the 
1 ground all winter, or whether they must be dug up and 
| laid away every fall like the Gladiolus, &c.? You may 
perhaps like to know what is thought of your paper on 
the other side of the Atlantic. Last week I had a letter 
from my respected mother. When answering some 
queries relative your paper, she eays:-“We get the 
Rural regularly every week. It is the best got up pa¬ 
per in every way I have seen from America.—J. H. J., 
Starkey, Yates Co., N. Y, 1859. 
Crocus bulbs, if taken up after the tops have 
died, must be re-planted in the Autumn. It is best 
to allow them to remain in the same bed about 
three years, then take up and re plant, or they 
will become too thick and the ground impoverished. 
Field Culture of Small Fruits.— Considering the 
failure of the peach, p'um, and partially the cherry, 
should not the small fruits receive more attention? 
They are quite free from diseases and insects so far, 
give quick returns, and for a delicious succession of 
summer fruit, what can we desire better than the im¬ 
proved kinds of strawberries, raspberries, and black¬ 
berries offer? With the aid of sealed cans, or bottles, 
we can prolong their duration, and increase ourestima- 
tion of their good qualities”. Now, will you, or some 
one who has experience in the matter, give us practical 
directions about their field culture, particularly rasp¬ 
berries and blackberries? How far apart should the 
rows or hills be, what varieties should be most depend¬ 
ed upon, and would the Red Antwerp raspberry answer 
very well without protection in winter in this climate? 
Would it not be well to plant in rows to facilitate a 
succession of new plants before taking up the old ones? 
And, lastly, has any one experience in putting them up 
in bottles or cans for sale ? 
A word about those Farm Hand Books of Fowler 
& Wells. I confess I rather thoughtlessly practiced 
the author’s suggestion, “ putting a mound of ashes 
around apple trees as a preventive of the borer.” I 
think the author must he a believer in the strongest 
doses of allopathy, and by way of retaliation, I should 
like to have him take his own phjsic, for, judging from 
effects, the remedy is worse than the disease.-H. V., 
Seneca Co., N. Y., 1859. 
While leaving these inquiries to be answered, 
' in the maiD, by our readers, we will give a few 
fact's. rtaspv v -'.«d es and strawberries are too ten¬ 
der and perishable to shin a zre-nt distance to 
market, particularly the former. Those who live 
near a good market cannot put their land to a 
more profitable use than in growing these fruits. 
Generally, the Red Antwerp would not be injured 
in this section by the winters, though occasionally 
the canes are more or less killed. Large growers 
for market, even around New York city, find it 
more profitable to lay down the canes in the fall, 
and cover them with a little earth. The growth 
in the spring is more vigorous, the crop better, 
and perfect safety secured against an unfavorable 
winter. The Dorchester, or High Bush, and the 
New Rochelle are the two best varieties of black¬ 
berries. Which would prove best for field culture 
we cannot say. We would plant a portion of each. 
The currant is a most profitable crop when well 
grown. Our people don’t begin to know the value 
of this fruit. The currauts sold in our markets 
are poor things, grown without care or culture, 
and are not prized, nor do they deserve to be. 
For the last two seasons the gooseberry caterpillar 
has been exceedingly destructive to the currant 
here, destroying not only the fruit, but in many 
cases the plants. The raspberry may be planted 
for field culture 3 or 3% feet each way, so as to 
admit horse culture both ways, or 2 feet apart in 
the rows, and the rows 3 or 3% feet apart. A lit¬ 
tle wider planting is necessary for the blackberry, 
as it makes a larger growth. Some cultivators 
set raspberries as wide as five or six feet apart 
and three plants to each hill. Nothing keeps bet¬ 
ter than the currant in cans or jars, and in the 
winter no fruit is more delicious. The strawberry 
aud raspberry do not Keep as well; they lose both 
color and flavor. This is our experience. 
Wash to Destroy Insects. —In the Journal of 
the Horticultural Society of Paris, it is stated that 
an excellent wash for destroying insects is made 
by boiling 1% pints of water, G2 grains of red 
American potash, and the same number of sul¬ 
phur, and the same of soap. If it is necessary to 
make it stronger, double the quantity of sulphur 
and of potash, leaving the soap the same. Immer¬ 
sion for a second kills ants, large caterpillars, and 
cockchaffer grubs. The solution does no harm to 
plants. This is important, if true, and it can be 
easily tested. The large white grub of the Cock¬ 
chafer, or as it is commonly called here, the Hay- 
Bug, has been doiDg a good deal of mischief the 
last two or three years, particularly to strawberry 
beds, by destroying the roots. Specimens have 
been sent us from various sources this summer, 
and we have heard much complaint and seen many 
beds almost ruined. The potatoes, too, they have 
attacked most voraciously. Last summer we as¬ 
sisted H. N. Langworthy in killing about twenty- 
in one hill of potatoes, the tubers being almost 
entirely eaten up by them. 
Cherries. —The cherry crop has been much bet¬ 
ter here this season than for many years previous; 
indeed, most abundant. To many of our friends 
are v. e indebted for fine specimens—amoDg others, 
Alexander Wilson, for a fine basket of Eltons, 
j to Anson Arnold for Elton and Yellow Spanish, 
and to Henry Bell for fine Yelloio Spanish. 
BEEFSTEAK, SALAD DRESSING, &c. 
Dear Rural :—As it is through your agency 
that we are favored with so many valuable recipes, 
I think it but right to acknowledge your benefits 
in striving to improve and add to the interest of 
th's department, by contributing my “mite” occa¬ 
sionally, so please accept the following for all 
those who are fond of preparing good things: 
Fried Beefsteak. —Take a nice, tender steak, 
which is about an inch thick, lay it evenly in a 
frying-pan, over a quick fire ; add salt and a little 
boiliDg water; cover it close and boil twenty 
minutes ; then add a large piece of butter, aDd fry 
both sides until done. Take on to a hot platter, 
sift pepper over, pour on the gravy and serve.— 
This is superior to broiled steak, as it retains its 
flavor more perfectly, and is much tenderer. 
Fricaseed Turkey. —Cut up a small turkey and 
rinse in cold water; put it into a stew-pan, with 
but little water. If the water boil3 out before the 
meat is tender, add more. It should be covered 
closely, and boiled gently until done. Skim off 
the scum as it rises, and when tender, add % of a 
lb. of butter, a large teaspoon of salt, and half a 
one of pepper. When the butter is melted, dredge 
in a tablespoon of flour, or rolled crackers, and 
brown nicely. Turn the pieces, that they may 
have a fine color, then take them up, put a cup of 
boiliDg water into the gravy, then strain it over 
the turkey and serve. 
Salad Dressing. —One cup good cider vinegar, 
a teaspoon of oil, one of made mustard, a salt- 
spoon of salt, and the yolk of a hard boiled egg 
rubbed fine; pour over the salad, and send to the 
table. 
Batter Pudding. —Five eggs beaten light; one 
quart of sweet milk and one pint flour. Bake ten 
minutes without a crust, and eat. it hot, with butter 
and sugar for sauce. 
Lemon Pie. —The yolks of four eggs well beaten; 
three tablespoons brown sugar; one of water, and 
the grated rind and pulp, cut fine, of one lemon. 
Line a plate with rich pie paste, pour in the mix¬ 
ture, and bake till done. Beat the whites of four 
eggs light, with four spoonsful of double refined 
white sugar, pour upon the top of the pie, and 
bake three minutes longer, and you will have a 
truly delicious pie.— Cora W., Lima, N. Y., 1859. 
STRAWBERRY SHORT CAKE. 
Eds. Rural :—Herewith please find a recipe for 
a strawberry short cake, in answer to the inquiry 
sent by a “ Bachelor.” I am somewhat interested 
in that species of human beings, therefore I wish 
to promote his happiness as far as short cakes are 
concerned. I can make one as nice as the next 
one, and if mnicea it as I writ a the reeijie, I can 
assure him and you it will be good. Thus: Two 
cups of cream; 2 of buttermilk; % of milk, in 
which dissolve one teaspoon of soda; a little 
shortening and salt. This is the cake. Hull your 
berries, dissolve sugar in cream, and pour upon 
them. Eat it, and I guess you will not wish for 
anjthing better.— Mollie Flagg, Grove Hill, N. 
Y, 1859. 
“Bachelor” wishes a recipe for strawberry 
short cake, and calls upon some of the Marthas to 
favor him. Unfortunately I do not happen to bear 
that name, consequently I suppose that my recipe 
will be unappreciated ; yet, perhaps, there is some 
one (with whom Lizzie is a favorite name,) that 
may have the benefit of it, so I will send it for in¬ 
sertion. Make a cake the same as for soda biscuit, 
and bake it whole. Having previously prepared 
your berries with rich, sweet cream, and sugar, 
part tbe cake while warm, butter it on both sides, 
lay on the berries and put together, and serve 
warm.— Lizzie, July 9 th, 1859. 
A BATCH OF CAKES. 
Here are several recipes, which I hope will 
prove serviceable to some of the many readers of 
the Rural. I have tried them, and I know them 
to be good. 
Railroad Cake.— One cup full of flour; 1 do. of 
sugar; 4 eggs; 1 teaspoonful cream tartar; % of 
soda. 
Mountain Cake. —One lb. of sugar; 1 lb. of 
flour; % lb. of butter; 5 eggs; 1 teacup of sour 
milk ; 1 teaspoon of soda ; a lemon grated, and 
added with the juice. 
Jenny Lind Cake.— One cup of butter; 2 of 
sugar; 5 of flour; whites of ten eggs; % cup of 
sweet milk; 2 teaspoons cream tartar; 1 of soda. 
Tea Cake. —Two cups of sugar; 6 tablespoon¬ 
fuls of melted butter; 1% cups of sweet milk; 2 
teaspoonfuls of cream tartar; 1 of soda; 1 quart 
of flour; grated peel of a lemon.— Yeritas, Cherry 
Yale, Pa. 
Tomatoes in a New Style.— The Harrisburgh 
(Pa.) Union says:—“As the tomato season will 
soon be here, the following method of preparing 
them for the table, we are assured by one who has 
made the experiment, is superior to anything yet 
discovered for the preparation of that excellent 
article:—Take good ripe tomatoes, cut them in 
slices, and sprinkle over them finely pulveriezd 
white sugar, then add claret wine sufficient to 
cover them. Tomatoes are sometimes prepared 
in this way with diluted vinegar, but the claret 
wine imparts to them a richer and more pleasant 
flavor, more nearly resembling the strawberry 
than anything else.” 
Pickling Beef. — We would like to know the 
best way to pickle beef, and how, if there is any 
way to keep beef good more than one year. Per¬ 
haps some of your correspondents can tell us.—S. 
W. Bisbee, Westfield, Chau. Co., N. Y., 1859. 
