SNi§ 
ME 
AMERICAN GRAPE CULTURE. 
That before many years we shall rival the finest 
vine growing districts of Europe in the quality, 
variety and hardiness of our grapes, is our faith. 
In quality we are certainly making rapid advance. 
The Diana, Delaware and Rebecca, make a near 
approach to the very best European varieties. 
The Isabella has been known and cultivated but 
about forty years, and the Catawba even a less 
time. Previous to that time we had only the Frost, 
or Fox grapes. Now, some of our nurserymen’s 
catalogues contain names and descriptions of from 
twenty to fifty or more varieties, and we notice 
one with over two hundred. Not five per cent, of 
these, perhaps, will prove worthy of general cul¬ 
ture, or even of a place in the garden or vineyard; 
yet with the Diana for general culture, the hardy 
Hartford Prolific, for co’d sections, and others we 
might name of a somewhat similar character, and 
the good opinions we entertain of the Delaware 
and others, we have done enough the past ten 
years to satisfy the most sanguine, and to encour¬ 
age all to future effort in the production of hardy 
grapes of excellent quality. 
Hundreds of persons are engaged in the produc¬ 
tion of seedlings, but we must not neglect the 
careful trial of those already produced. It will 
not do to cry humbug and condemn every new 
thing indiscriminately, as some seem disposed to 
do, insisting that the Isabella is good enough, for 
this would put an end to all progress; nor should 
we neglect our old sorts, and believe every¬ 
thing with a new name to be an improvement. 
The only safe way is to follow the scripture rule, 
“try all things and hold fast to that which is 
good.” 
In our issue of November 19th, we gave the 
opinion of Mr. Meehan, editor of the Gardeners’ 
Monthly, that the Delaware was a native grape, 
and that it could be found growing on the banks 
of the Delaware river, where Mr. M. thought he 
had seen it years ago, but this was only an opinion 
without proof, and it seems strange that if Mr. M. 
saw such a fine grape growing wild that he should 
pass it by instead of introducing it to the notice of 
the public. The November number of the Monthly 
also contains the following communication: 
Pleasant Valley, Bucks Co., Pa, 
Mr.. Thomas Meehan— Dear Sir: You will remem¬ 
ber that, when I was at your place, you gave me a 
bunch of the Delaware Grape to taste. You will 
remember that I remarked that I thought we had the 
same grape growing about us in abundance. The 
public has been humbugged long enough, and I think 
it no more than just to make its true character known. 
I believe the history of the Delaware Grape is, that 
Mr. Prevost, a gentleman living at Frenchtown, N. J., 
received some grape vines from Italy, and this is a 
supposed seedling from those grapeS. We have had 
this wonderful grape growing in our neighborhood at 
least thirty years,—long before we had the Catawba 
and Isabella. Mrs. Derr, an old German lady, first got 
them at Mr. Prevost’s at least thirty years ago, and 
introduced them in our neighborhood. I have two 
large vines growing in my garden as thick as an arm, 
which were planted about eighteen years age, and 
never bore scarcely anything until last year, when I 
had about half a crop. I always thought, from the 
quality of the grape, and from its being a poor bearer, 
that it did not deserve a place in my nursery. 
Not long since there was a nurserymen, I think, 
from Jacksonville, N. Y., trying to sell fruit trees. 
When he found out that we had the Delaware Grape, 
he was for buying all the young vines he could get. 
If any person wants cuttings, I could supply him with 
a cart load for merely the price of cutting. 
Yours truly, Charles B. Ott. 
We have not the least idea that the unproductive 
vine of Mr. Ott is a Delaware. Our experience is 
that it is remarkably productive, rivaling the 
Clinton in this respect. To this communication 
of Mr. 0. we have received the following reply: 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker: —In the Gardeners' 
Monthly for November, appeared a communication 
signed Charles 13. Ott, Pleasant Talley, Bucks 
Co., Pa., which is a little extraordinary in its 
character, and is possibly designed to accomplish 
some extraordinary end, but what that end may be 
is not to me apparent from the communication. 
That Mr. Ott is no humbug is sufficiently mani¬ 
fest from his implied hatred of humbuggery, and it 
is equally clear that some ulterior motives ani¬ 
mate him. He is also, at least, in part, endorsed 
by the editor who ha3 had some indefinite dream 
of something for some indefinite period, haunting 
him. 
Now, in all matters on which an editor has no 
certain knowledge even after discovery of things 
that never have been, and never can be, it is not 
strange that he should, at least, have had “a 
dreaminess” in reference to it; and also have been 
about to announce the same. 
So far, Mr. Meehan is all right, but if he had 
made the announcement, he would have been all 
wrong. He was saved by his editorial “instinct,” 
which is palpably “ a great thing.” But, Mr. Ott, 
having no such guardian angel, is all wrong, and 
beyond remedy, unless he goes over incontinently 
to the Prince of humbugs. 
When Mr. Ott had stated that lie had a Dela¬ 
ware vine eighteen years old, and that the region 
was “filled with them growing wild,” he had 
waded to the utmost limit of safety. He took one 
more step, and that swamped him. ne states 
that his vine at the age of eighteen years, last 
season, for the first time bearing, produced only 
half a crop. Now, unless something had urged 
him on, he would not have taken this step, for he 
would have known the Delaware vine never attains 
one-sixth of that age without bearing a most pro¬ 
fuse crop, under circumstances which would have 
precluded bearing on any vine. 
For seven years past I have been intimately 
acquainted with the Delaware, and during its 
season of growth, carefully noted all of its charac¬ 
teristics. I may further say that I have had a not 
uninterested general or special knowledge of the 
greatest part of the vines that have left, the garden 
of Jodge Prevost, of Frenchtown, and its vicin¬ 
ity, and of their products, or the offsets that sprung- 
from them. With the few that remain there I 
have also a hand to hand acquaintance. Many 
thousands of them have passed under my hands, 
and my heart warms and enlarges at every remem¬ 
brance of them, for it is a noble vine, and no 
treachery, deceit or false promise lurks in any part 
of it. Of sturdy vigor, and most enduring hardi¬ 
ness of both wood and foliage; most abundant in 
fruiting; unequaled in beauty, and flavor, and 
wanting in no good quality. I cannot but feel a 
grateful pride in the good fortune that has so inti¬ 
mately associated me with the Delaware grape, 
and permitted me to take partin its dissemination. 
I need not fear to say I hnoiv the Delaware 
grape, and certainly “none can know but to 
praise.” The excellence of gold only is counter¬ 
feited ; counterfeiting ofcopper is rarely attempted, 
and although from the tenor of Mr. Ott’s commu¬ 
nication, I knew that it could not be the Delaware, 
I did not know how to understand his communica¬ 
tion otherwise than as a broad joice, —for I cannot 
be persuaded that he ever thought he had the Del¬ 
aware,—yet I felt so much curiosity to know what 
he really had, and also to learn what he aimed at, 
that I made a journey to his place, where I found 
a vine, and Mr. Ott and Mrs. Ott, but no suspicion 
of a Delaware. 
The vines in question Lave a small black fruit 
far below the Clinton in quality, and is one of the 
northern Foxes that approach most nearly to the 
Frost grape in quality. Of what I further learned 
on my journey I shall speak to you on another 
occasion. Of something which I inferred, I may 
speak to you in private. J. C. Rennison. 
Feekskill, N. Y., Nov., 1S59. 
While Mr. Meehan and some others are so 
decided in the opinion that the Delaware is a 
native, Wm. R. Prince is just as decided in the 
opinion that it is a foreign variety, brought from 
Europe, and planted and propagated in New Jer¬ 
sey. The following extracts will show Mr. P.’s 
opinion on the subject: 
“Delaware, small, round, clear red, thin skin, not a 
trace of pulp or foxy flavor, seeds few and small, very 
sweet, rich and juicy, vinous and aromatic, with a 
slight musk flavor similar to Chasselas Musque and Red 
Frontignan; excellent for table and wine; cluster 
small and compact; it makes delicious amber-colored 
wine; vine hardy, but of very slender delicate growth 
like the Rebecca, until the third year, after which it 
grows vigorously. It is not productive when young, 
but very fully so when it attains considerable size and 
age; ripens the beginning of September, two or three 
weeks before the Isabella. 
It requires to be protected by training it against a 
wall or house having a warm southern exposure, or on 
a trellis in a protected garden, and will then produce a 
perfect and abundant crop. It is as subject to weak 
and stinted growth and to mildew as any other foreign 
variety. This grape has been widely disseminated as 
a true native variety, although the Germans in Ohio 
have from the first declared it to be the Red Trammer 
of the Rhenish vineyards. 
The writer (W. R. P.) having inspected the Tines at 
Delaware, Ohio, and elsewhere, has fully satisfied him¬ 
self of its foreign origin. It appears to have been 
introduced to New Jersey by Mr. Prevost, who emi¬ 
grated from Switzerland, and brought this and other 
foreign grapes with him. He cultivated these foreign 
vines only, as, at that time, no Native Grapes were 
regarded as suitable for vineyard culture. From Mr. 
P.’s ground, vines were carried by his brother-in-law 
to Chester county, Penn., where some are now found 
over twenty years old. Joseph Heath, formerly an 
employee of Joseph Bonaparte at Bordentown, and 
now a resident of Delaware, Ohio, carried this vine 
from that garden to Delaware. Whether Bonaparte 
obtained his vines from Prevost, or imported them 
direct from Europe, is as yet unknown. If seedlings 
have been found similar, the seeds were undoubtedly 
dropped by birds, who are especially fond of its early, 
small, sweet berries. 
The foreign origin of this grape is also fully estab¬ 
lished by the fact that, from all recent investigations, it 
combines every specific attribute of the Vitis vini/era, 
and that it possesses none whatever indicative of indi¬ 
genous origin.” 
Now, we have given our readers the different 
opinions on this subject, and the facts, so far as 
they can be ascertained. We do this to show' on 
whatg rounds opinions, so confidently stated, are 
founded, so that our readers may not be misled on 
this subject by any who use bold assertions for 
arguments. There is not the least proof that the 
Delaware was brought from Europe, nor that it 
originated from seed of any European variety. 
Nor, on the other hand, do we see any evidence 
that it can be found growing wild in any section of 
our country. Of its quality and productivenesss 
there can be no doubt. Of its hardiness over a 
very large section of our country we have the 
highest hopes. This point settled, and the Dela¬ 
ware takes rank as the first of American grapes. 
The only objection we could ever make to the 
Delaware was its small size. On mentioning this ; 
once, in the presence of a number of horticultur¬ 
ists, Mr. Downing replied that its small size he did 
not consider a defect; on the contrary he thought 
it rendered it much more convenient to handle 
and consequently more suitable for the dessert. 
We have several times seen statements that the 
Isabella grape had become unhealthy and must be 
abandoned. It was first started, we believe, by 
that celebrated institution, the JYeio York Farmer's 
Club, Mr. Underhill’s celebrated vineyard of Isa¬ 
bellas was reported as worthless, along with many 
others. We saw nothing of the kind in Western 
New York. Our Isabellas were never better; and 
now Mr. Underhill denies the whole statement, 
and says he shall plant this year more than ever. 
A gentleman, in whose judgment we have the 
greatest confidence, writes us—“ You made a great 
mistake in saying the Rebecca is a higher flavored 
grape than the Delaware and Diana. It is more 
highly perfumed, but vastly inferior in flavor, lack¬ 
ing tartaric acid greatly, and sugar considerably.” 
Owing to the kindness of Mr. Brocksbank, and Mr. 
Downing, and Dr. Grant, we had a very fine 
opportunity of tasting and testing the Rebeccas and 
Delawares the present season. Perhaps, however, 
out taste is all at fault. With a similar opportu¬ 
nity next year, we will endeavor to revise our 
opinion, and perhaps may improve our taste. 
---- ■ - 
Winter Exhibition or tuf. Horticultural Society 
of Southern Illinois.— This exhibition is to be held 
at Tamaroa, December 20th and 21st. 
THE JAPAN QUINCE. 
The following interesting article on that beauti¬ 
ful plant, the Japan Quince, we take from the 
London Gardener's Chronicle. More attention 
should be given to this shrub—it is fine for the 
garden, and not excelled by any thing for an 
ornamental hedge: 
wWAwmm 
W. 
FLOWER OF THE JAPAN QUINCE. 
It has often struck us as a singular omission on 
the part of gardeners that they have not attempted 
to domesticate the Japan Crab, or Pyrus Japonica 
as it is improperly called, the plant being in reality 
a Quince, or Cydonia. This most beautiful of all 
hardy shrubs except the Rose is now in precisely 
the same state as when it first, about the year 
1815, arrived from China; the poor pallid variety 
called “white” having been also an importation 
and not of home production. Here was a plant 
unsurpassed for hardiness, for brilliancy of color, 
and for the durability of its blossoms, a winter 
flowerer and an evergreen, propagated moreover 
with the greatest ease, left disregarded by those 
who would have expended a life in experimenting 
upon the Rose. And what is the more remarkable 
it was a species evidently having a tendency to 
change, as its two or three unimportant varieties 
plainly indicated, and most nearly related to the 
Apple and Pear on the one hand, and the Rose 
itself on the other, all three of which are among 
the most domesticable of plants, as all men 
know. 
It has perhaps been owinsjfio the unwillingness 
of the plant to ripen its fruit here that the oppor¬ 
tunity of raising seedlings has been neglected. 
And yet it does sometimes produce good seeds, 
more often perhaps than has been suspected, the 
fruit itself being worthless and disregarded. 
Attention has moreover been turned more in the 
direction of the fruit, whose qualities have been 
thought hopelessly bad, than towards the flowers, 
which appears to possess all the elements of 
mutability. When we think of the poor field 
Rose, with its red blossoms, not broader than a 
florin, which, when transferred from an Austrian 
corn-field, grew up from generation to generation 
in increasing beauty till it stood revealed what it 
now is—the loveliest of flowers, there is surely 
every inducement to subject the Pyrus Japonica to 
the same discipline. 
We have been led to these remarks by the 
examination of a case of very marked improve¬ 
ment actually effected in the plant before us. Not 
in the flowers, however, but in the fruit. The 
Quince which the species bears is described by 
Tiiunberg as having the size of a Walnut in 
Japan, where it grows wild on the mountains. 
With us it sometimes becomes twice as big—a 
rugged angular unattractive thing, which none 
pause to look upon. But we received the other 
day from Messrs. Lowe & Co., some specimens of 
an improved variety raised by one of their corre¬ 
spondents in the South of France, which presents 
so very marked an advance towards change as to 
hold out great encouragement to skillful breeders. 
Instead of the shapeless, angular, rugged fruit 
that we see here, the specimens in question were 
very exactly oblong, as large at one end as the 
other, without any angles whatever, and clean¬ 
skinned like a Nectarine. The largest specimen, 
of which the annexed cut represents a section,, 
mm 
^ I 
fruit of the japan quince. 
weighed 4j-£ cz., and was 8 inches round when 
measured lengthwise. The flesh was very firm, 
sub-acid, but rather austere, with a weak fra¬ 
grance. As it did not promise to be eatable when 
raw it was made into a preserve with sugar in the 
usual way, and it proved to be admirably suited 
ior that purpose, becoming semi-transparent and 
having a very delicate flavor resembling that of 
Quince marmalade. 
It is now clear that the Pyrus japonica does not 
belong one of those unchangeable natures that 
defy attempts at alteration; but that like others 
of its Rosaceous kindred it is capable of yielding 
to the influence of the arts of cultivation. To 
what extent it will yield can only be ascertained 
by experiment; but considering the changes 
already brought about in China in its flowers, and 
in Europe in its fruit, there is surely no extrava¬ 
gant enthusiasm in anticipating the appearance of 
it, some day, with flowers as double and as large 
as those of the China Rose. This at least is cer¬ 
tain—there are now sufficient grounds to jus¬ 
tify serious attempts at operating upon it. 
NURSERYMEN’S CATALOUGES. 
It has lately occurred to me to wonder why 
nurserymen do not take greater pains to circulate 
their published catalogues. So far as I am aware, 
the only effort they make in that direction is to 
furnish them free to those who make personal 
application for them, and, according to advertise¬ 
ment, to send them by mail to such as apply in 
writing and inclose a stamp, to pay the postage. 
A principal object of nurserymen in publishing a 
descriptive and priced list of their wares, must be 
to inform the public what trees, vines, plants, &c., 
they propagate for sale, what are the distinguish¬ 
ing qualities of each, and at what rates they are 
sold. This information, contained in the attrac¬ 
tive little pamphlets sent out by nursery establish¬ 
ments, it is the proprietors’ interest to scatter as 
widely as possible among the people; but the 
means spoken of above are sadly inefficient. F*>r 
even of those who would like copies of such cata¬ 
logues, many neglect to send for them, as they 
neglect to procure for themselves many other 
things which they want, but cannot obtain with¬ 
out a little trouble; while the multitude of persons 
who are naturally careless of such things, and 
need to be educated to an interest in them, can 
never be reached in this way at all. Agents for 
nurseries do something towards spreading a 
knowledge of the existence of finer fruits and 
flowers than are commonly found in country 
gardens, but they generally carry about but a 
single copy of the list of articles they wish to 
obtain orders for, and, as they can make but a 
brief call at each house, the people whose patron¬ 
age they solicit are necessarily limited to a very 
hurried examination of it. It too often happens, 
also, that the agent himself is a person of little or 
no horticultural knowledge, unacquainted with 
the reputation of different varieties, and their 
fitness for different localities, and, therefore, ill 
prepared to render intelligent aid to persons 
bewildered and perplexed in the attempt to 
make a hasty selection from a long list of strange 
names, each claiming some peculiar and desirable 
excellences. Horticultural journals are of im¬ 
mense service to the nursery interest; their draw¬ 
ings and descriptions of fine fruits and flowers 
being the best advertisement of the things they 
represent, and doing more to bring them into 
notice and create a demand for them than any 
means employed by nurseryman themselves. 
But, a3 comparatively few of those who read 
the proposal to furnish catalogues to applicants, 
avail themselves of the offer, and as agents cannot 
profitably spend much time discoursing upon the 
merits of articles to people who do not want them, 
and as there are thousands of homes wherein 
horticultural journals are yet strangers, we sug¬ 
gest to nurserymen the policy of sending their 
catalogues unsolicited—making a general distri¬ 
bution of them as dealers in stoves, patent medi¬ 
cines, Ac , scatter abroad pamphlets containing 
the best things that can be said of their vendibles. 
The great advantage expected from such a plan of 
advertising is, that, while informing persons who 
wish to procure articles of horticultural commerce 
where they may obtained and at what prices; it 
would also create a desire for these things in 
thousands of persons who have yet felt no want of 
them. For, so long as one hears little or nothing 
of the improved fruits, splendid flowering shrubs, 
plants, &c., nurserymen ofler for sale, he is con¬ 
tented without them; but, leave in his house 
where he can take up half-a-dozen times a day, 
for a moment’s reading, a little book containing 
the names and characteristics of rare fruits and 
flowers, with perhaps drawings of some of the 
finest, and a statement of the small cost at which 
they can be obtained, and it will not be long 
before he experiences a longing to possess some 
of them.* 
It would be an experiment well worth trying by 
an agent for some nursery, to distribute catalogues 
of the establishment for which he is canvassing, 
over a certain territory, say one town, informing 
the recipients that after a time, some weeks or 
months, he will return and take their orders. A 
comparison of the aggregate value of orders 
obtained on a second tour through that town 
with the worth of those collected in another 
district equally large, populous and able to 
purchase, but canvassed in the usual manner, 
we have no doubt would show largely in favor 
of the former. For, even those who most gladly 
4 improve an opportunity to obtain choice trees 
M and shrubbery, will seldom make out so large 
i\|\ an order, during a flying visit from a nursery 
ill agent, and after only a hasty glance at the list 
III to be selected from, as they will if they go about 
ml it leisurely, with the advantage of a catalogue 
ml constantly at hand to consult, as long and as 
l]J often as they please. One will rarely look over 
y the pages of a nursery list without noticing 
some tree, shrub or vine that he would gladly 
add to those he has already determined to 
purchase, and the ofeener it meets his eye, the 
stronger the inclination for it becomes, till, 
finally, he concludes he cannot do without it. 
But, reader, if the nurseryman neglects to con¬ 
fer upon himself and you the benefit of providing 
you with a catalogue gratuitously, do not inflict 
upon yourself the injury of doing without one. 
If you have never examined a descriptive list of 
fruits and flowers, you have no idea how much 
pleasant reading it contains. Once get a taste of 
this delightful literature, and you will return to it 
again and again. It is wonderful how rich a 
language may be made up of a few strong, simple 
words, descriptive of the size, form, color, texture, 
odor and flavor of fruits, and the characteristics 
of trees and flowers. By all means, send and get 
one of these little books; you will find it a per¬ 
petual garden. a. 
South Livonia, Nov. 1859. 
Remarks. —A cheap way of circulating trade 
catalogues among the people, is pursued by the 
English nurserymen, and might, perhaps, be 
adopted here with advantage, which is to publish 
them, in a somewhat condensed form, in the 
Agricultural and Horticultural Journals. 
WINTER PROTECTION OF GRAPE VINES. 
Messrs. Editors :—In No. 511 of the Rural is a 
timely and valuable hint over the signature of 
S. N. Holmes, of Syracuse, viz.: a Cliea.p Insurance 
for Grape Vines. For some time I have intended 
to send you my experience for 12 or 14 years on 
that subject. When my large vines first began to- 
bear I practiced covering them with dirt through 
the winter, and they never failed to give a crop of 
fruit with that treatment. For eight or ten years 
they have remained on the frame on account of 
their large size. Three winters in that time has 
the crop of fruit been injured by the severe cold. 
The winter of ’52 or '53 I got only two-thirds or 
three-fourtlis of a crop of grapes; the winter of r 55 
and ’56, when the thermometer was 32° below zero, 
every fruit bud was destroyed excepting a few 
branches that got off the frame and were covered" 
with snow, showing clearly that even a covering 
of snow was a sufficient protection to the fruit 
buds with that degree of cold, as I got on them 
large and well filled clusters. The sudden change 
from warm to cold of last winter, that destroyed 
about every peach bud in this section, injured the 
grape crop more than the June freeze did. The 
freeze injured my crop of fruit scarcely any, yet I 
got only about one-tliird of a crop of grapes. 
I estimate the loss of fruit in ten years by the 
severe cold of three winters, to be at least 1,000 
pounds of grapes. Now what would have been 
the expense to take these two vines down for ten 
years, cover them with dirt and put them back 
again in the spring ? I estimate that ten dollars 
would be ample to meet the expense for ten years, 
and if 1,000 pounds of grapes can be saved by that 
outlay, is it not a valuable one? 
There was an inquiry last summer from one of 
your readers how to manage his vines on the south 
side of a building. He said they were destroyed 
in the winter. I had a large vine destroyed back 
close to the ground in the same position; the 
changes from heat to cold are frequent and sud¬ 
den, just as it was last winter. One day at near 
evening it was thawing, the second morning after 
at sunrise the thermometer was 13° below zero. 
That was the time the peach and grape crops of 
Western New York suffered so much. The grape 
vine proved itself the most hardy. Take such 
vines down and cover them is the cheap insurance. 
Bleomfleld, N. Y., 1859. Alvin Wilcox. 
wm 
ALMOND CUSTARD, GOLDEN PIE,. &c. 
Dear Rural:— Seeing an inquiry in your paper 
for Almond Custard, I send my recipe, with some 
others, for the benefit of those ladies who like new 
things, and would be pleased with something new 
for Christmas. 
Almond Custard.— One pint of new milk or 
cream; one teacup of white sugar; one-quarter of 
a pound of almonds, blanched and pounded, two 
spoonfuls of rose-water; yolks of four eggs,—stir 
these ingredients in a spider, over a slow fire, until 
it is the consistency of cream, then remove it 
quickly to a deep dish or cups. Beat the whites 
of the eggs with a little sugar, a few drops of 
brandy, and lay lightly on the top. 
Golden Pie. —Take one lemon, grate the peel, 
and squeeze the pulp and juice in a bowl,—be sure 
to remove every seed,—to which add one teacup of 
white sugar; one teacup of new milk; one table¬ 
spoonful of powdered starch, and the yolks of 
three eggs, well beaten; pour this mixture into 
a nice paste crust, and bake slowly. Beat the 
whites of three eggs to a stiff froth, and when the- 
pie is just done, pour it over the top evenly, and 
return to the oven, just to stiffen, not brown. 
Silver Pie. —Peel and 'grate one large white 
potato into a deep plate, add the juice and grated 
riud of one lemon; the beaten white of one egg; 
one teacup of white sugar, and one teacup of cold 
water,—pour this into a nice under-crust and bake. 
When done, have ready the beaten whites of three 
eggs, half teacup of powdered sugar, a few drops 
of rose-water, pour this over the pie, and return to 
the oven to set. When ready for table lay a few 
lumps of currant jelly on the top. Have these 
pies just cold for dinner. Mrs. M. L. Scott. 
Toledo, Ohio, 1S59. 
Ointment for Burns. —Herewith I send a recipe 
for an ointment for burns, which is the very best 
I ever knew, and no family who will try it will 
live without it. It will retain its virtue for years. 
Take half a pint of white manure from under tb« 
hen-roost, and simmer it in fresh lard ten minutes; 
then strain it off into a tin box, and it is ready for 
use. The offensive odor will pass off in simmer¬ 
ing, which is but trifling, and you will have an 
ointment that will heal a burn quicker than any 
other ever invented. — Mrs. M. A. Rice, Rozce, 
Mass., 1859. 
Cooking Egg Plant, Ac. —Will some of the 
Rural friends give us directions to cook egg 
plant, and also to make rancid butter sweet?—A 
Subscriber, Mexico, Oswego Co., N. Y, 1859. 
