MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
€\t (DccliaQ atih darkti. 
GENESEE VALLEY HORTICULTURAL SOC’Y. 
-AUTUMN EXHIBITION. 
Tiie Fair of our Horticultural Society held 
the past week, was very creditable to the 
exhibitors, and wo much regret that the 
citizens of Rochester did not see fit to show 
a more goneral interest in the matter. Few 
cities in the country can bring forward 
better specimens of Horticultural taste and 
skill than this. YVo give below the awards 
of committees. 
FLOWERS, PLANTS, ETC. 
Tho committee bog to offer their best 
thanks to tho contributors in general for 
tho excellent taste with which tho articles 
wero arranged, and also to all those con¬ 
nected with tho exhibition for their assist¬ 
ance and attention in placing the articles to 
tho best advantage. 
The exhibition upon the whole was remark¬ 
ably good, although we have to regret the 
display of Dahlias was so small, owing to the 
unfavorableness of tho season for that queen 
of Autumn flowers. The premiums award¬ 
ed are as follows : 
Nurserymen's List. 
C. J. Ryan A Co., best collection of Dahlias, 
$5 ; do Phloxes 3. 
A Frost A Co., 2d best collection of Green¬ 
house plants, $10 ; do. Roses, 3 ; do. Verbenas, 2 ; 
best two table Boquets, 3 ; 2d do. 1. 
Ellwanger A Barry, best collection of Green¬ 
house plants, $10 ; do. Roses, 5; do. Verbenas, 
3 ; best two hand Boquets, 2. 
Wm. Webster, best collection of seedling Petu¬ 
nias, $3 ; do. Verbenas, 2. 
J. Donnellan A Co., 2d best collection of Dah¬ 
lias, $3. 
Amateur's Lid. 
Mrs. J. W. Bissell, best Floral ornament, $3. 
Miss S. A. Moulson, 2d do. $2. 
J. Vick, Jr., best collection of Annuals, $3 ; do. 
ten Weeks Stocks, I. 
Mrs. S. G. Crane, best collection of Balsams, 
$ 1 ; 2d best table Boquet, 1. 
Mrs. Rout. Donnelly, best two table Boquets, 
$3 ; best hand do. 2 ; best collection of Asters, l. 
Mrs. Fitch, of Riga, a small collection of An¬ 
nuals, $1. 
Josiah Salter, gardner to J. W. Bissell, best 
12 varieties of Fuschias, $3; two rustic Baskets 
of plants, attracting much attention, 2. 
Wm. Webster, I 
A. Frost, { n ... 
P. Cooney, > Committee. 
E. Daggk, j 
Tho committee on fruits make tho follow¬ 
ing Report: 
Nurserymen's List. 
For the largest and best collection of Apples, 
71 varieties, to Ellwanger A Barry, $3; 2d best 
25 varieties, Hooker it Co., 2 ; 3d do. 25 do. Bis¬ 
sell it Hooker, 1. 
For the largest and best collection of Pears, 131 
varieties, to Ellwanger it Barry, $5 ; 2il best, 49 
varieties, Bissell it Hooker, 3. 
Amateur's List. 
For the largest and best collection of Apples. 
41 varieties, to N. it E. S. Hayward, $3 ; 2d best. 
25 varieties, Wm. Jones gardener, to Dr. Elwood. 
2 ; 3d best, 12 varieties, H. N. Langworthy, 1. 
Best dozen Quinces, Z. Burr, of Periuton, $1. 
Best half dozen bunches of native Grapes, (Is¬ 
abella,) Wm. Jones, gardener, to Dr. Elwood, 2 ; 
2d best (Clinton) to Bissell it Hooker, 1. 
Best foreign Grapes 13 varieties, very fine, to 
Bissell it Hooker, 2. 
Best Water-Melon (Imperial,) J. Donnellan, $1. 
Best Musk-Melon (Green Nutmeg,) J. Don¬ 
nellan, $2. 
There wore only two collections which 
tho Committee thought worthy of premiums, 
to tho best of these, presented by H. N. 
Langworthy, consisting of eight varieties, 
the Committee award tho second premium 
of $3 ; to tho other, of fivo varieties, by Solah 
Mathews, the third premium of $2. For 
the best dish of Pears, ( Bartlett,) to Ell¬ 
wanger & Barry, S3. 
There was too small an exhibition of 
Peaches, in tho opinion of tho Committoo, 
to warrant tho award of any premiums. 
One basket of fine Bartlett Pears was pre¬ 
sented from tho garden of II. G. ‘Warner, 
Esq. Several bunches of well grown Isa¬ 
bella Grapes was exhibited by Mrs. Marcus 
Jewell, but too late for competition. Mr. 
Jamos II. Watts presented three varieties of 
Pears, tho Seckel grown in Washington, the 
Gansells Borgamont, grown in Philadelphia, 
and the Striped Germain, from a tree in the 
garden of tho late A. J. Downing, also a 
Lemon from Kentucky, and Northern Spy 
Apples. Geo. Ellwanger. 
J. J. Thomas, 
II. E. Hooker, 
Zf.raii Burr, 
JosErii Frost, 
Committee. 
PRIVATE FLOWER GARDENS. 
The Committee on Gardens havo visited 
but throe, a part not having boon onterod 
sufficiently early in tho season. The first 
was the garden of S. Siiadbolt, of Scotts- 
ville, who has one of tho best country gar- 
dons wo have seen, occupying about three- 
fourths of an acre, and containing finely 
grown vegetables and flowers, with a good 
and select collection of dwarf apples and 
pears and ornamental shrubs and trees.— 
The successful etforts made by the proprie¬ 
tor of this garden in a highly improved, 
hard clayey soil, are worthy of commenda¬ 
tion. 
Tho next garden visited was that of D. when tho first French settlers explored the 
W. Powers, of Rochester. About two acres country. 
of ground aro occupied in all; that in the , * kavG about half a mile of this wood in 
. * , . . . hedge that is twelve yoars old. Some of 
immediate vicinity of tho residence, is re- the trees are now bearing fruit for the fourth 
markable for its polished neatness, consist- tirno, and are twenty feet high, and six 
ing mostly of a smooth carpet of closely inches in diameter, it is a perfect defence 
shaven velvet turf, in which beds havo been against man and beast. For an outside 
cut for ornamental shrubs and flowers. A !> oun dary to a large plantation, where space 
„ „ ....... ,. . is no object, nothing can be more superb or 
small fountain is lod by a small reservoir ornamental . but t | e shade and th £ grcen 
which is quickly filled by tho kitchen pump, roots will leave space for a wido wagon-road 
two barrels of wator being sufficient for a on each side useless for cultivation by the 
supply for over half a day. The commit- time the tree is ten years old. This is tho 
teo observed a great improvement in the cas ,° in our climate: but as the tree may 
. & „ , not grow so large at tho north. I would not 
construction of walks by the uso of gas tar, 
willingly suggest any idea that would have 
which was mixed with sand and gravel, and a tendency to check tho spirit of improvo- 
applied about an inch in thickness. In a ment in this stage of progress. Have you 
vear, it becomes very hard, keeps the walk no ^> on ^ ie sou th side ot Long Island, (there 
. . , . . were when I saw them, forty years aeo) 
from Avashmg by rains on a sloping surlace, __, , , . ’ 
s J 1 ° ’ some barren sandy plains, on which this tree 
and prevents completely the growth of weeds cou ld be cultivated for timber with profit ? 
and grass. Four barrels of tar, at seventy- It is far superior to the black locust, and 
five cents per barrel, wero found sufficient to adapted to every purposo to which that 
cover a walk eight feet Avide and thirteen ti m ber is applicable, and is of quicker 
. , . . , growth.— Flow, Loom, and Anvil. 
rods long, occupying six square reds, lliese ° _’ 
grounds furnished a striking proof of the UPLAND CRANBERRIES? 
economy of the shaven-turf system of orna- - 
mental gardening ; but a day and a half of At length we have occular proof of the 
Jilcrjiiinir Mb & $mnrt. lomtstir (Kcnnonnj. 
mental gardening; but a day and a half of At length we have occular proof of tho 
labor per week being required to keep all tkat ’ cranberries in the greatest per- 
tho grounds in tho most perfect finish, while ° ° n . u I , ' an< ^ sandy, ant J 
, ... ... gravelly soil. Mr. Joseph Orcutt has bro t 
tho excellence of the tasto displayed could us j- or exhibition, a large root of cranberry 
not well bo surpassed. vino, placed in a box, which is made to con- 
The Committee also visited the beautiful a quantity of tho soil from which it had 
garden of John Williams, of Rochester, * >ec , n removed, the vines thickly hanging 
..... j. , with npo Iruit. IIo made tho experiment 
winch occupies perhaps an acre of ground, threo y ‘ cars ag0 laat Mav< planting / 0 bunch _ 
and is filled with a rich profusion of flowers, , C s in a row two feet apart, without previous 
fruits, and vegetables. The front portion j culture, merely removing the sod, and plant- 
consists of turf, in which ornamental beds i d >g ^ ie cranberries, with no more trouble 
havo been cut, while the back part is closely I or a S? ntion . than ho would havG takei1 ^ 
filled with rich cultivation. Iho exhibitions The soil is a sandy gravolj fit for peach 
of tho Gencseo Valley Horticultural Society trees, and in Avhich 223 aro growing in an 
have been largely indobted for their interest orchard so near as to shed their leaves on 
on former occasions to the products of this | the cranberry vines. The first year he pick- 
o-ardon ! ed aG0ut a P mt fr^t, the second year, 
- 1 ‘ . . ... ! four quarts, tho third or present vear, from 
. The Committee, acting undor the mstruc- sev en to eight quarts, of remakably fine 
tions of the Society, and taking into ac- fruit. Tho vines have shot tho present sea- 
count economy of management, as well as son . three feet six inches in length, and the 
taste, arrangement, and keeping, have con- cld "ood is loaded thickly with the finest 
1 ° berries 
eluded to award the prize ($1° and Diploma) Wen?w considcr the question , ..can 
to D. \\ . Powers. cranberries bo cultivated with success on up- 
J. J. Thomas, Clin. land? ” as decided in the allirmativo.— Bos- 
- - - ton Cultivator. 
SAVE YOUR OWN SEEDS. 
It is a matter of much economy to the 
farmer that he select seeds for use from his 
PRESERVING PEACHES. 
farmer that ho select seeds for use from his We aro confident of tho thanks of every 
own raising. It is but little trouble, if ho notable housewife lor tho following recipe 
,. , . , . - for preserving peaches, which wo obtained 
W.U only havo a earn lor tho subject. And (rot J tho wif / 0 /an experienced fruit grower 
then navmg made choice of the very best of i n this vicinity : 
his crop, while growing, and secured and j To twelve pounds of peaches, take six 
properly cured it, he has the satisfaction of : pounds ot clean brown sugar, and one pint 
knowing what the quality and condition of i best eider \ inegar. Simmer the sugar and 
, . f. rp, , . ,, . vinegar togetlior, which will make a clear 
his seed is. Thereby ho can well improve Syrup . Pour boi ii n g water upon the peaches, 
tho future produce. How easy it is to mark and remove them in two minutes from tho 
tho best cucumber, squash, tomato, head of 1 water, and wipo them dry without breaking 
lettuce, beet, parsnip, &c., care for them till tk o skin. Put them into the syrup, and 
they arrive at maturity ; and then, it is but £ entd 7 unt j[ the fruit is cooked to' the 
stone. Keep the preserves in jars, which, 
a few moments of recreation to take the must bo kept dosely CO vored and in a cool 
choicest of thoir produce and you havo seed, place. They should bo inspected occasion- 
tho like of whoso quality you cannot feel ally, and if a white mould appears upon the 
sure of getting at the stores. t. e. w. surface of the syrup, it must bo carefully 
_ _ __ skimmed off, and tho syrup scalded and re- 
OSAGE ORANGE OR THORNY MULBERRY, turned to tho peaches. The peaches tried 
- last fall were a seedling variety, ripened the 
The Bois d’Arc, or Osago Orange, having l as t of October. They wero acid, but pre¬ 
attracted so much attention for hedging, served tho peach flavor in a high degree, 
some account of it in its native locality may "-Inch was retained by this method in the 
not bo uninteresting to your readers. This m ost porfect manner. This is the most 
treo is of the genus Morus, or the family of economical, and, to our tasto, tho very best 
tho Mulberry, and would bo much more ap- preserve wo know of .—Providence Jour. 
propriately termed the Thorny Mulberry. - - ■ ■■■ ■ —-— . .. - 
It is dioecious, tho male and female bios- NEW INVENTIONS. 
soms being produced on separate trees.— - 
The sap is a milky juice, ami stains a brown Dust and Cinders. — A third invention, 
color. Silkworms thrive on the leaves. The to keop the dust and cinders out of railroad 
roots have a yellow bark, similar to all other cars, is announced by tho New Haven Jour- 
mulberries, and have a tendency to spread nal. This plan is entirely different from 
a great distanco near the surfaco of tho that of Paine’s or Goodyear’s, and exceed- 
soil, and wherever cut with the plow or hoe, ingly simple in its principle, being nothing 
sends up sprouts. The fruit is a ball from more than taking advantage of the fact, that 
three to six inches in diameter, fibrous in the dust from a train of cars docs not rise 
its structure, the seeds, resembling those of before tho first car after the tender, and so 
apples, mingled among tho fibres. Tho preparing all the cars in the train, that no 
fruit when fresh, is eaten with avidity by outside air shall enter but from the front of 
horses and cattle, and is torn in pieces for the first car. Tho whole train being thrown 
the seeds by birds and squirrels. The na- into one continuous saloon makes a much 
tive locality of this tree is in the rich val- more enlivening and social appearance, 
leys and borders of prairies of southern wliilo tho enclosed platform is an effective 
Arkansas and northern Texas, above the security against a class of accidents to which 
raft of Red River, where it frequently at- i passengers are always liablo in tho ordinary 
tains tho height of forty feet, and three feet j cars. A train of cars fitted in this way was 
in diameter; though iu general it is not in- ' run over tho New Haven road on Tuesday, 
dined to tower up, for being of a thrifty and all persons upon tho train were gratifi- 
growth, they bend with their own weight od with tho perfect freedom from dust, and 
and become crooked. the pleasant current of air that was made 
Tho timber is of inestimable value for circulate through tho cars. Success to 
wagon and carriage wheels; for though very improvements ol this kind. 
hard when seasoned, it is worked without - 
difficulty, and is easily cut when green.— Improved Carriage Wheels. — George 
Tho wood shrinks but slightly in seasoning, Poe, of Ellicott Mills, Md., has taken mcas- 
and when dry will not leave the iron when ures to secure a patent for an improve-, 
put on it, though exposed to tho weather, niont in making carriage wheels, which im- 
I know a heavy road-wagon, that has now provement consists in jointing and bracing 
been in hard service twenty years, the the fellies by means of a metal cap of tho 
wheels of which ring under tho knuckle samo depth of a folly, and having ears run¬ 
like a piece of solid cast iron. If I am not ning out each way for the fellies to rest on. 
much mistaken, our friend Portor, of the Each cap lias a circular opening through its 
Spirit of tho Times, drives a buggy with centre, for the reception of the tenon of 
wheels of this wood, which I saw shipped to the spoke, and as the fellies aro fitted into 
Spirit of tho Times, drives a buggy with centre, for the reception of the tenon of 
wheels of this wood, which I saw shipped to the spoke, and as the fellies aro fitted into 
him from here a few years ago. It is well rocesses in tho caps, a very strong wheel is 
adapted to some kinds of furniture and thus produced.— Sci. American. 
turner’s ware, as it receives a fine polish, 
and acquires a beautiful nutbrown color.— 
Improved Grain Separator. —Peter Con- 
It also affords a good dye, equal to logwood rad, of St. Louis, Mo., has taken measures 
or fustic. For knotty walking sticks, tho to secure a patent for an improvement in 
sprouts aro much estoemed. But for fence grain separators,which improvement consists 
posts, no timber can equal it, and it is now in the use of an air chamber in direct com- 
frooly used for that purposo at a high prico. munication with tho fan, and expanding 
Tho name Bois d’ Arc, or bow-wood, was spouts with adjustable valves in combination 
givon to it from tho Indians making use of with gates or slides, by which the grain is 
tho tough, elastic young wood for bows, cloared in a superior manner.— Sci. Am. 
LIST OF PATENT CLAIMS 
ISSUED FROM THE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 
For the week ending September 21, 1852. 
To Wm. H. Audrews, of Cheshire, Conn., and 
R. T. Andrews, of Plymouth, Conn., for improv¬ 
ed alarm time-piece for lighting lamps. 
To James Ashborn, of Wolcottville, Conn., for 
improvement in turning pegs for guitars, Ac. 
To Chius. E. Bacon, of Buffalo, N. Y., for im¬ 
provement in carving machines. 
To Theodore G. Bucklin, of Troy, N. Y., for 
improvement in coating iron with copper. 
To Reuben Daniels, of Woodstock, Vt., for im¬ 
proved hand drilling machine. 
To J. H. Ball A John Lowry, of Wheeling, Va. 
for improvement in horse collars. > 
To Seth L. Hobart, of Hingham, Mass., for im¬ 
provement in portable wardrobes. 
To Robert Knight, of Cleveland, 0., for im¬ 
provement in machinery for beveling the edges of 
skelps or metallic strips, Ac. 
To Amza B. Mewis, of Brooklyn, Wis., for im¬ 
provement in rakes. 
To James E. Mallory, of New York, N. Y., for 
improvement in paper cutting machines. 
To Daniel F. Pond, of New Haven, Conn., for | 
improvement in crayon rubber. 
To Richard Prosser, of Birmingham, England, 
assignor of Thomas Prosser, of New York, N. Y., 
for application of a free joint tube in circumstan¬ 
ces where it is exposed to an external pressure. 
To Moses G. Farmer, of Salem, Mass., assignor 
to himself and Chius. G. Coffin, of Boscowen, N. 
H., for improvement in galvanic clocks. 
DESIGNS. 
To W. A. Allen, of New York, N. Y., for de¬ 
sign for a camera stand. 
To Francis Kilburn, of Lancester, Pa., for de¬ 
sign for a wire fence. 
To Orrin W. Andrews, of Providence, R. L, as¬ 
signor to Isaac Backus, of Canterbury, Conn., and 
J. P. Barstow of Norwich, Conn., for design for a 
cooking stove. 
PHILLIPS’ FIRE ANNIHILATOR- 
We take tho following extracts from an 
article on this new invention, iu the Boston 
Advertiser, which is reliable authority: 
“ To have entire confidence in the efficacy 
of this simple machine—simple after the 
mode of its construction and the materials 
of which it is compounded are known—it is 
necessary that one should witness its prac¬ 
tical effect, and should also be acquainted 
with the philosophical principles by which 
its effects are produced. 
Tho principle of the machino may bo un¬ 
it consists of a strong iron vessel or cylin¬ 
der containing the “ charge.” This charge 
consists of a cako composed of saltpetre, 
charcoal coke, a little gypsum or plaster of 
Paris, which must of course bo mixed in the 
proper proportions. Above this cake rests 
a phial of glass containing a small quantity 
derstood from the following brief description 
of white sugar and chlorate of potash, and 
within this again there is another sealed 
phial which contains a few drops of sulphu¬ 
ric acid. When it is desired to set the ma¬ 
chine in operation, a small rod, projecting 
from the top of it, is struck, which breaks 
this inner phial and allows the sulphuric 
acid to fall upon the mixed sugar and chlo¬ 
rate of potash. Tho result ( as in tho old 
acid matches,) is a deflagration which forth¬ 
with ignites tho whole mass of the charge, 
and a general decomposition ensues. Tho 
first effect of the deflagration, however, is to 
expand by heat, tho air in the upper part of 
tho annihilater,which forces the water-it con¬ 
tains over the cylinder, by which this has 
become heated, and in which the charge is 
held, and it is thus converted into steam.— 
This steam escapes from the annihilator in 
connection with tho products of tho decom¬ 
position of tho charge. The stream of va¬ 
por which issues from the annihilator, and 
which proves so efficacious for extinguishing 
fire, thus consists of a mixture of steam, car¬ 
bonic acid gas, and nitrogen, with some car¬ 
bonate of potash held in solution in the 
steam. All unfavorable to the continuance 
of fire, and their mixture has proved by ex¬ 
perience to be so, to a degree infinitely ex¬ 
ceeding tho amount of their separate ac¬ 
tion, and which is indeed almost inexplica¬ 
ble. Tho residuum, which is left in the ma¬ 
chine. consists of a small quantity of uncon- 
sumod carbonaceous matter, carbonate of j 
potash and gypsum. In order to use tho • 
machine again it is only necessary to clean ■ 
this out with tho aid of water, to" dry it, to j 
introduce a new charge (including tho acid j 
phial) and fill the outer vessolto the proper ; 
height with water, care being taken to keop ; 
it supplied with water, and always ready for I 
immediate uso. It is made of various sizes, ; 
but need not exceed the dimensions which ’ 
admit of its being handled by a single per¬ 
son, like a watering pot, and discharged in 
any direction the operator may desire. 
The peculiar efficacy of the machine, es- i 
pecially when discharged within a closed j 
apartment or building arises from the ex- j 
pansiveness of the“steam and gasses thus 
emitted from it, wnereby the atmosphoric j 
air necessary to sustain combustion is ex- I 
polled, and its place is supplied with gases, 
known to bo destructive of combustion, , 
and which wherever diffused immediately ex- ; 
tinguish any flame with which they come in ; 
contact. At the samo time they aro not 
dangerous, if respired in mixture with at¬ 
mospheric air. 
A striking illustration of this effect of tho 
gases thus produced, is afforded by pour- j 
ing a stream of water through a continous J 
flame, by which it is shown that water has | 
no effect in extinguishing it,—and subse¬ 
quently ejecting upon it a small discharge j 
of tho jet from the machine, which instanta- ! 
neously extinguishes it. 
CHURNING BUTTERMILK-INQUIRY. 
Mr. Editor: — Ono of our most exten- 
sivo farmers and a man of unquestioned 
veracity, tolls us that he is in tho habit of 
churning his buttermilk immediately after 
he has taken off the butter from the first 
churning, and from this second churning 
obtains a sufficient quantity to amplv remu¬ 
nerate him for his troublo. Other of our 
farmers have made the same experiment but 
failed. Queries. 1st, What is tho reason 
that farmer A, can thus obtain a second 
yield of butter. 2d. Why cannot farmer B 
also obtain it. Quaesitor. 
Shuskan, Wash Co., N. Y. 
the qualities of different meats. 
To Choose Beef. —Good ox beef has an 
open grain, and yields easily to tho pressure 
ot the finger; it is smooth and juicy, of a 
rich carnation color in the lean, and the fat 
is of a fine cream-color; rich without being 
oily, firm without being hard. It is small in 
the bone and full in the flesh. 
Mutton. In choosing mutton select that 
which is of a rich red color, close in tho 
grain and of a silky texture, juicy and lively 
in appearance, and whitish in the fat, but 
not shiney and tallowy. Tho flesh should 
pinch tender, and rise again when dent¬ 
ed. 
Lamb. —Observe tho neck vein in tho 
fore-quarter, which should be of an azuro 
blue to denote quality and sweetness. Tho 
flesh should bo light colored and juicy, the 
tat white and rich, tho bones thin and small. 
Lamb should bo dressed while perfectly fresh 
or the flavor will be destroyed. It is in sea¬ 
son from April till August. 
Venison. —Pass a knifo along the bones 
of tho haunches and shoulders : if it stnell 
sweet, the meat is new and good : if tainted, 
tho fleshy parts of tho sides will look discol¬ 
ored, and the darker in proportion to its 
staleness. The cletts of the hoofs of young 
venison aro close and smooth. Tho buck 
vonison is in full season from May till Allhal¬ 
lows ; the doe from Michaelmas to December 
or January. 
Veal. —The lean of good, well fed veal, is 
white, smooth and juicy; the fat is white, 
firm, and abundant. The flesh of a bull 
calf is firmer and of a deeper color than that 
of a cow-calf, and tho fat is harder; they aro 
equally good for eating, if young and well 
ted. It is easy to tell whether veal be new¬ 
ly killed or stale, by its general appearance 
as the color changes quickly, particularly 
under the kidney and flaps of the breast._ 
1 ho flesh of stale-killed veal feels moist and 
clammy, the joints flabby and pliable, and it 
has a faint, musty smell. 
Pork. —If young, woll fed, the lean is easi¬ 
ly broken between the fingers, and the skin 
indented if nipped with the nail; the fat is 
white and waxy, and the rind thin and clean. 
►Stale-killed pork is easily detected by tho 
skin looking dark on tho top, and clammy 
between the creases of tho legs and shoul¬ 
ders, and by its strong tainted smell. Pork 
is in season from August till March. 
Ham and Bacon. —Run a knife along the 
bone of a ham; if it come out clean, and havo 
a savory flavor, the ham is good ; if smeared 
and dulled, it is spoiled either by taint or 
rust. Hooks and gammons of bacon may 
bo proved in the samo way. Good bacon is 
red in the Jean, and the fat is white, firm, 
and pulpy; the rind is fine and thin. If it 
be sheathed with yellow, it is rusty and un¬ 
fit for use. 
Poultry. —In selecting poultry choose 
those that aro full grown, but not old._ 
When young and fresh-killed the eyes aro 
full and bright, the joints neither stiff nor 
flabby; the skin thin and tender, so that it 
may be easily torn with a pin ; the breast¬ 
bone is pliable, yielding easily to pressure. 
Fowls, if young, have a hard, close vent, and 
tho legs and comb are smooth. A goose, if 
young, has but few hairs, a yellow bill, and 
is limber footed. Ducks, when fat, are hard 
and thick on tho belly; it young and good 
they are limber footed. 
Tgg3 .—Put your tongue to tho larger 
end, it it teel warm, the egg is fresh: or put 
the egg into a pan of cold water ; if perfect¬ 
ly fresh it will sink immediately, and so in 
proportion to its freshness; a rotten egg will 
float on the top of tho water. 
Butter. —Tho only way to try butter is 
by the smell and taste: never trust to its 
external appearanc e. Do not buy that which 
is speckled with pinky spots, nor that which 
has a milky appearance; such butter has 
not been well washed from tho buttermilk, 
and will quickly turn sour or lose its 
flavor. 
Fish. —Tho best are thick and firm.— 
When fresh they have stiff fins, bright 
scales, red gills, and eyes full and bright?— 
Freshness is best indicated by the smell.— 
In proportion to the time they have been 
out of tho water they are soft and flabbv, 
tho fins pliable, the’scales dim, tho gills 
dark, and the eyes sunken. Cod, turbot, 
&c., should be firm, white, clear, and trans¬ 
parent. Salmon, mackerel, herrings, &c., 
are chosen by their brightness and brillian¬ 
cy of color. Shell-fish, such as lobsters and 
crabs, can only be chosen by the smell, and 
by opening them at the joint to discover 
whether or not they are well filled, for they 
sometimes feel heavy through their being 
charged with water. ’ If a lobster be fresh, 
the tail will be stiff, and spring back sharp¬ 
ly if pulled up. A cock lobster may be 
known by the narrowness of the back part 
of his tail and the stiffness of the two upper¬ 
most fins within it, while those of the hen 
are soft, and the back of her tail is broader. 
