MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER 
withont being able to draw their borers ont again.” 
THE PEAR THEE BORER 
AND ITS ICHNEUMON ENBMY. 
F.vbrgrbbn Treks and 3hritbs. — A correspon¬ 
dent thinks that evergreen trees, and especially 
evergreen shrubs, that make the garden so cheer¬ 
ful daring onr long winters, are sadly neglected 
in this country, and wishes ub to nrge all oar read¬ 
ers to give attention to this beautiful class. There 
is no country where evergreens are more needed 
than onr own. Withont them, how cheerless and 
desolate onr gardens appear full five months of 
the year. Oar attempts to introduce new ever 
greens, however, have not always been crowned 
with success, as many things of which we had 
strong hopes, have proved too tender for onr se¬ 
vere oliraate. Then our most beautiful native 
evergreen shrub?, such as the Holly, the Rhodo¬ 
dendron and the Kalmia, are difficult to re¬ 
move, and do not thrive well with common treat¬ 
ment and in an ordinary soil. They are generally 
propagated or planted, and deserve far more atten¬ 
tion from both nurserymen and amateurs than they 
have received. We have, however, many beauti¬ 
ful evergreen trees, that will grow as easily as a 
Poplar, and are hardy enough for any climate be¬ 
tween tbis and Kane’s Polar Sea. On this subject, 
we will give one or two articles before planting 
time. 
This is bo, as I have seen it. 
Nature in her Divine Laws, has established cer¬ 
tain safe-guards to prevent vicious tendencies from 
effecting a retrograde movement. The great law 
is onward and upward, 8ud it is well for ns to be¬ 
come acquainted with those laws, so that we may 
take hold at the right end in onr efforts to assist 
or promote the good and suppress the evil. This 
consideration ia the only apology I have to offer 
for penning the above, Jacob Stauffer. 
Mount Joy, Pa., Deo , 1857. 
Ena Rural: —I have seen but a single copy of 
yonr valuable paper, that of Oct. 17tb, containing 
an article on “ The Pear Slug,'’ by A. 0. Moore, 
Esq. In the Batne number, Wii. EL Olin calls the 
attention of fruit growers to their Pear Trees and 
the work of a certain borer, and concludes by 
saying:—“Not having seen any account of borers 
in pear tree?, in the works on frnit oultnre, I am 
disposed to regard him 8 s a new enemy.” Pomiit 
me to qoote from T. W. Harris, (if I am not anti 
eipated) on page 389:—"In the antumn of 1876, 
Major E. M. Bartlhtt, of Northampton, found, on 
the body of odb of bis almost lifeless pear trees, a 
dead insect, about lj inch long, attached to the 
tree by its awl or rorer, of about the same length, 
near an inch of which was fast in the hard wood; 
and there were several deep punctures near if,evU 
dently made by the same instrument, and in s^me 
of them eggs were deposited. Not long after¬ 
wards, Major Bartlett round that the body of this 
tree, two or three feet from the ground, was pierced 
with small holes, to the depth of an inch or more, 
and, in these holes there were great numbers of 
larvae, about one-sixth of an inch in length, wbfeh 
he supposed were hatched from the eggs seen there 
before; and he came to conclusion that the tree 
was destroyed by the deadly needles of the winged 
Insect above mentioned.” 
Announcement.— Dnr ng the year and volume 
now closing, tbis Department of the Rural bas 
been conducted by Mr. jImfs Vick, former pro¬ 
prietor and associate editor of The Horticulturist. 
The ability which Mr. V. hss brought to the work, 
and the valae and interest, which have been added 
to the department during the year, have been very 
generally recognized and appreciated—insomuch 
that cor Horticultural Department has been pro¬ 
nounced superior to that of any other journal in 
this country. It attords us great pleasure, there¬ 
fore, to announce ti at, this important department 
will continue under the supervision of Mr. Vick 
during the ensuing year and volume, and that no 
proper effort or expense will be spared to render 
its columns increasingly interesting, attractive 
and valuable.—E d. Rural. 
So intimately are all onr ideas of things mate¬ 
ria] connected with light, that it ia impossible for 
a lmmr.n mind to conceive or form any distinct 
appreciation of this world, or the heavens of w dch 
it forms a part, and hy whi :h it 1 b sum onded, be¬ 
fore the issuing of the Almighty mandate, “ Let 
there be Ught.” The beauty of the fltne »3 of all 
things is in no way more truly appreciated, than 
when we consider tne diffusion and adaptability 
of this omnipresent, elemental force. En eh beam 
of the pore, colorless Ught of day is composed of 
three distiuct revs, the ted, me blue, the yellow, 
and these and their compounds nr complimentary 
colors, form the beams that travel from the sun 
to us In eight minutes. All nature derives its 
color from these colored rays, and really there is 
no Buch thing as actual color, it ia only decom¬ 
posed light. ThuB the tender, modest viok . push¬ 
ing its tiny loveliness from among the coarser 
plants on aome hedge side, is so constructed that 
it absorbs all the rays except the violet one, and 
that it reflects, and this reflection is the color of 
the plant: the hardy old red sandBtone cliffs ab¬ 
sorbs all rayB but the one shown in its color, and 
the same is the case with all created things. This 
fact f all objects being really colorless, is easily 
proved by a simple experiment that may be tried 
by our juvenile readers any winter’s evening.— 
Now then for the exceriment: — collect as 
many articles of different colors as yon can in a 
small room, the more glaring the more astonish¬ 
ing the result; wbeB rhis is done, pour some alco¬ 
hol on a plate and throw into it a handfal of com¬ 
mon salt, light it, and it will barn with a yellow 
flame, and all the gandy eolors will be gone, 
nothing bnt one dead yellow being visible, even 
the color is taken from the cheeks and dresses of 
the spectators, all of them appearing a ghastly 
hue; thus proving that color depends on light and 
not light on color. —Scientific American, 
The Teltow Turnip. —Noticing an advertise¬ 
ment in a Philadelphia paper of the seed of the 
Sweet Herman 7 urn'rj), I procured some of thiB 
Bnaimer’ = growth and sowed it in September. The 
roots are now halt grown, and ic is the finest tast¬ 
ing tamlp I have ever eaten, the same sort I used 
to raise in Bonthern Germany as a garden turnip 
for table use, but it is more sweet than I used to 
grow them. I thiak this is caused by a more fa¬ 
vorable soil and climate. I never tasted the Tel¬ 
tow turnip, but in Germany I always understood 
that it was the same kind as our garden turnip, 
only growing to greater perfection, and with finer 
flavor on the sandy plains of the Province of New 
Mark, in Eastern Prussia, near Teltow. I think 
the soil of Florida and that of New Mark much 
the same, (impregnated with marine matter.) and 
that the turnip can ne grown here as fine as at 
Teltow. 
Storing Roots. — In Germany, if the root crop 
was so large that the cellar would not hold them, 
we used to dig ditches in dry loam, 10 feet deep 
and only 1J wide, so that the laborer could work 
conveniently. The roots are then packed in this 
ditch and covered with straw and earth, openings 
being left for the steam to escape. 
Blight in Pear Tbbks, I think, is caused by 
miasma inhaled by the leaves, and this is the 
cause of disease also in other treea Sometimes it 
may result from metal oxyds in the soil. Boring 
into the stem and applying Bulphor, lime, mercury, 
&c., Is a sure remedy for this, as well as for tosecta 
bnt it needs an experienced hand to know the size 
of the hole, doges of the medicine, etc. It is jnst 
like writing a recipe for a patient [This theory of 
the cause of disease a 9 well as the cure we con¬ 
sider very doubtful—E d.] 
Spare the Birds.— Have mercy with the birds. 
If they do sometimes a little mischief they pay for 
it. in destroying insects. If Tonng America must 
shoot, let him tire at a target. Also, save toads, 
lizzards and small, harmless snakes, for they de¬ 
stroy myriads of worms aud insects; and the 
wasps, which build small cells ol clay, for in every 
cell they pnt one egg, and lots of little caterpillars, 
worms, Ac., for the support of the larvae. 
Jacksonville, (E. F.,) Nov., 1857. Chas. Lossdsigk. 
One more number cloees the present year and 
volume. The next Rural will be bo much occu¬ 
pied with a fall and carefully prepared index that 
we shall not be able to give onr usual variety, and 
therefore make a few closing remarks at the pres¬ 
ent time. We have no reason to suppose that 
these are farewell words to any considerable num 
ber of onr readers; on the contrary we have every 
reason to believe, from the scores of letters we 
have received, and other shadows foretelling oom- 
ing events, that all who have peraeed this depart¬ 
ment daring the present year feel well repaid, and 
will not only continue the fast friends of the 
Rural the coining, and lor many yearB, bnt will 
exert themselves manlally to add to the number of 
onr readers, aud thus aid ns in onr efforts to in¬ 
crease knowledge and improve taste—the love of 
the beautiful and true—until our coantry houses 
shall become truly rural homes, the lily spring up 
where once grew the thorn and briar, waste hearts 
as well as waste places he made glad, and the des¬ 
ert blossom as the rose. 
The department of the "Orchard and Garden” 
has contained daring the present year more read¬ 
ing matter than would fill an ordinary book of 600 
pages. We have endeavored to make it as plain 
and practical as possible, avoiding almost all sci¬ 
entific and technical terms. We have tried to 
convey valuable information in a manner that 
could not be misunderstood, 
Cherry Stocks—(G. W. P., of Grand Rapids, 
Mich.) —Rather light soil is best for cherry seed. 
If the ground is ieady It is best to plant as soon 
as yon obtain the seed, in •>ammer or fall. Bow in 
drills, and give each plant room to grow withont 
being crowded. After they come np keep the 
ground mellow and all weeds destroyed. After 
one season’s growth, ihey wi'l be fit to take np 
and pnt out in nursery rows, and should be budded 
the second summer. 
Another Western Fruit Book.— By a Circular 
just received, we learn that Dr. J. A. Wardkb, ol 
Cincinnati, is preparing a new Western Fruit 
Book. This is a work of no small magnitude, and 
we hope onr old friend the Dr. will give to it suffi¬ 
cient time and attention, to make a book of real 
value, one of which he will have no reason to be 
ashamed. 
To Correspondents. —Several inquiries will be 
answered In futl in the first number of next year. 
We gladly receive and publish all communications 
containing facts derived from experience. Those 
who wish to give information, or seek it from 
others, will find our columns always open. 
We Americans have at home little opportunity 
to know the grand effects produced by hells of a 
large size, as they roll forth their tones of an inde¬ 
scribable dignity and solemnity—a deep bass to all 
the varied sounds of city life. The only large bells 
I know of in America, are—That on the City Hail 
of New York, said to weigh 21,000 pounds, and 
two at Montreal, one upon the Cathedral, weighing 
some 30,000 ponrds, which is the largest one ever 
cast in England, unless the new bell for the Par¬ 
liament clock, be larger, the weight of which I 
have not seen. The largest bell in England, except 
perhaps that just mentioned, was cast in 1845 
for York-Minster, aud weighs rather more than 
27,000 pounds. The most notedof the other Eng¬ 
lish bells are the “Great Tom,” at Oxford, 17,- 
000 pounds, that at Lincoln, a little more than 11,- 
000 pounds, and the principal one on St. Paul’s, a 
little less than that. 
Bat the bells on the continent of Europe far sur¬ 
pass those of Great Britain. At Erfurt, Germany, 
is a very famous bell, weighing over 27,000 poon l-, 
which was baptized by the name of Sosanne. and 
is distinguished for the excellence of its metal, 
having the largest proportion of silver. It was 
cast in 1497, while Columbus was still exploring 
the Antilles, and Martin Lather was a chi’d at 
schooL As I stood by this noble bell I thought, 
how often a few yeais later, with his exquisite 
s?nse of musical effects must the future Reformer 
have listened, delighted with its deep tones, as be 
went from house to house begging for himself and 
brother monks. And what recollections most 
have awakened within him, when he stopped at 
Erfurt and preached, white on his way to Worms; 
or towards the close of Ms life, when he came 
thither, the great apostle, honored and beloved by 
the third part of all Christendom.— Lecture on Bells, 
by A. W. Thayer. 
We have labored to 
teach the learner facts and modes of cnltnre—im¬ 
portant principles—essential to success, and have 
ever avoided nice points more curious than useful. 
As we stated, at the commencement of the year, 
onr aim was not to astonish our readers, but to 
benefit them—not, to become noted, but useful, and 
we flatter ourselves that we have not failed in our 
efforts. No journal has labored more zealously or 
successfully in the field of horticultural literature 
the present year than the Rural. Did not onr 
modesty forbid it, we might furnish abundant evi¬ 
dence on this point. The past, however is before 
onr readers. For the future we have only to say 
that we shall be unceasing in our efforts to make 
this department of the Rubal equal, if not supe¬ 
rior to anything in the country as the amateur’s 
guide and the horticulturist's assistant. While 
m.-fulness will be onr aim and motto, we shall not 
forget, occasionally, to introduce things both new 
and Btrange. Hoping to continue the pleasant 
acquaintance formed with onr readers, we shall 
enter upon the New Year with fresh zeal, and talk 
more fluently than ever of foliage, fruits and 
flowers. 
1‘KaB trxb borbr. 
A, the borer; B, external sheaths or stiles. The borer 
proper has two side segments, or is divided into three parts. 
“The Insect proved to be the Sir ex Columbaoi 
L, or Tremex Columba of Modem Nataralists,” a 
specimen of which is before me. of which T send 
yon u drawing. Body cylindrical, 14 inch long, 
terminated by a small horn, hence called horn- 
tall. The head »Dd thorax rust colored shad¬ 
ed with black. Abdomen hss Beven rings partly 
of a black-brown color, and part'y yellow; nsnally 
two round spots on the first segment, a heart- 
Bhaped depressed spot near the base of tho anal 
point The wings expand 2 inches, lying flat on 
the back and o-r -lapping each other when at 
rest, of a smoky - brown color. The borer and 
sheath arise at about the one-third distance of the 
body from the hind parr, beneath, and project 
nearly half an inch beyond its extremity. This 
insect is especially injurious to timber trees and 
rather common, yet too little known. 
Eds. Rural: —Having noticed in your excellent 
paper varions recipes in the art of cooking, I will 
add my mite, which, I think in these hard times 
will prove a welcome addition to the comfort of 
others, as it has to my own family. 
Indian Bread —One quart sweet milk, half cap 
molasses, 1 saltspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon soda, 2 
tea-cups flour, 4 of Indian meal To be baked in 
a dish of the size of a two quart basin, in a slow 
oven for two hours. 
Hard Gingerbread.— One pint good molasses, 
1 cup butter or lard, 1 cup boiling water, a piece 
of alum large as a walnut) dissolved in half the 
water—-train it so that no lamps go in—tablespoon 
and a half saleratus, 1 tablespoon of ginger. To 
be baked in a quick oven until a light brown.— 
This quantity is sufficient for four baking tios^ 
Crackers —Two quarts flour, j cup of butter, 2 
tea cups cold water, 4 teaspoonfuls cream tartar, 2 
of soda, 2 eggs. After baking, dry them. 
I will add that I have tried them, and they are all 
really excellent— Mart B. Judson, Addison, N. ¥. 
Don’t let insects of varions kinds overran your 
orchard or garden, and then lazily fold yonr arms 
and say, “It's no use, this trying to raise things, 
now that so many vermin are about.” Spend three 
days, industriously, in the early stage of the mat¬ 
ter, in putting down' f be rasca's, and then look 
around yon and see it a little industry is not bet¬ 
ter than grumbling. 
If you want early vegetables, set yourself, in 
winter, about making some boxes to protect them. 
A few cheap boxes, a foot square, with a pane of 
glass in the top, to pnt over tender things at night, 
will cost yon bnt a trifle, and will give yon ten dayB 
3tart of the open ground. 
If you have a tree that grows “apace,” bnt won't 
bear, dig a trench around it, and cut off a third of 
the roots. This will check its growth, and set it 
about making frnit bads. 
If yon don’t love flowers yonrself, don’t quarrel 
with those who do. It is a defeot in yonr nature 
which you ought to be sorry for, rather than abuse 
those who are more gifted. Of what possible 
“ use" is the rainbow, we should like to know?— 
And yet a wiser than you did not think the earth 
complete withont it. 
Do not grudge the cost and labor necessary to 
plant a few of the best shade-trees ronnd yonr 
house; and if you have any doubts about what to 
plant, stick in an elm. There are few trees in the 
world finer than a fine sweeping elm; and two or 
three of them will give even a common looking 
dwelling a look of dignity. If you plant frnit 
trees for shade, they are likely to be broken to 
pieces for the fruit, tnd they grow unsightly by 
the time that forest trees grow spreading and um¬ 
brageous. There are yery lew men whose friends 
build so fair a monument to tneir memory, as they 
can raise with their own hands, by plauting an 
elm or a maple where it can gro w for a century, to 
be an omameut to the country. 
Don’t be amid to clip hedges, or cut back 
young trees, when you are planting them. Yon 
gain more growth than you lose, though you may 
not be able to comprehend it till yon have seen it 
with yonr own eyes. 
Never work yonr ground in wet weather if you 
can avoid it, as it makes it clod like and compact 
by forcing tho air ont. And ridge up your kitchen 
garden ground before winter, so as to expose as 
much surface as possible to the action of the frost. 
Never lose, an opportunity of getting sous from 
the corners of old pastures, nr th« breaking np ot 
commons or meadows, where they can be spared. 
Placed in heaps, and rotted, they make excellent 
mould for tender plants or trees. 
Never buy fruit trees in the “ market places.” 
of unknown verniers, who have no character to 
lose. Yon cannot tell by “ examining the article’” 
whether they cheat you or not; and you get your 
INFORMATION WANTED 
Your dCBire to communicate information on all 
subjects within the scope of your popular journal, 
induces me, on behalf of myself, aud others in a 
similar position, to solicit yonr advice. At pres¬ 
ent, I am essaying to acquire the "art and myste¬ 
ry” of tree growing, as practised in an extesslve 
and systematic Nursery in this city. As Rochester 
is famous throughout the Union for its establish¬ 
ments in this department of National Industry, this 
indication of locality will not be sufficiently ex¬ 
plicit as to suggest to the ardent imagination of 
Mr. Scott any idea of a misplaced advertisement. 
I am anxious to become proficient in all the neces¬ 
sary operations of the business, and to know the 
reasons why certain things are performed at a 
given time, and in a particular manner, in prefer¬ 
ence to any other time and mode. The lack of 
information on many small matters is often felt, 
and it would be inconvenient and annoying to 
refer at all times to the principals, or those having 
charge of the varions departments. The long 
evenings are now propitious for mental culture, 
and I would be glad that yon would designate each 
books as could be advantageously perused to ac¬ 
celerate my progress. I am desirous especially 
that yon would point ont such as treat of the prop¬ 
agation and culture of ornamental trees, shrubs, 
rosea and generally such hardy, half-hardy, and 
tender trees, shrubs and plants as are usually col- 
tivaied in commercial nurseries in the vicinity of 
populous cities. 
As concerning frnit trees—I am familiar with 
Mr. Barry's “Fruit Garden”—T presume that it, 
and the revised edition o! “Downing’s Fruits and 
Fruit Trees of America” characterized by G. as 
“being the joint result of tbe experience and ob¬ 
servation of many minds” will suffice for tho pres¬ 
ent to enlighten me on the subjects of whioh they 
treat. Ftuua 
Rkmahks— A good work on the “Propagation 
and Culture of Ornamental Trees, Shrubs,” <fcc„ is 
what we very much need. It should be plum and 
practical, a hand-book and guide for the amateur 
and tbe learner. A woik on this subject, similar 
to Mr. Barry’s on frnit, would compensate both 
author and publisher, and prove ol groat value to 
thousands. At present wet have Break's Book of 
Flowers, Buist's Flower Garden, Parson's on the 
Rose, iand several very fine and expensive 
English works. The works named are good, bnt 
the descriptions are brief, and often unsatisfactory 
We hope, however, no one will uudertake to give 
ns a new book on ornamental trees and ulunta mi- 
Eds. Rural: —In a late issue of the Rural we 
noticed a request for a recipe for Ginger-Snaps. I 
tbink I have a very good one which I send with a 
few others. 
Ginger-Snaps.— 1 cup of molasses. £ cap sugar. 
4 cup butter, 4 enp of warm water — the butter 
should be melted,—a small teaspoonful of salera 
tus dissolve-) in the water, 2 teaspoonfa's ginger 
Sugar Kisses —Take the whites of 4 eggs beat 
en to a thick froth; stir in half a pound of white 
sugar, flavor to your liking. 
Cookies.—3 cnp3 of sugir, l cup butter, 3 eggs, 
1 teaspoonfnl saleratus dissolved in 4 enp milk. 
Nothings.— 1 egg to a tablespoonful of white 
sugar ami as much flour as will make a stiff’dough, 
roll it very thin and cut them in cakes the size ot 
a coffee enp. Drop in boiling lard. Wnen they 
rise to the surface and turn over they are done; 
take them out with a skimmer, lay on a seive to 
drain, sift white sugar over them as quick as taken 
out Put jelly or jam on them when served. 
Will some of our elderly ladies give ns a good 
old Li.>hioned recipe tor Indian Padding, snch an 
one as onr good mothers used to give us Thanks¬ 
giving Day. We are too late for that this jerr, 
but we would like it for another, also for Christ¬ 
mas or New Years.— Mrs. J. H., Richland, Mich, 
Paper Impervious to Water. —Take 24 oz. of 
alnm, and 4 oz. of white soap, and dissolve them 
in 2 lbs, of water; into another vessel dissolve 2 
oz. of gum arable, and 6 oz. of glne in the same 
quantity of water as tne former, and add the two 
solutions together, which ia now to be kept warm, 
and the paper intended to be made water-proof 
dipped into it, passed between rollers, and dried; 
or withont the use of rollers, the paper may be 
suspended until it is perfectly dripped, and then 
dried. The alum, soap, glue and gum form a kind 
of artificial leather, which protects the surface of 
the paper from the action of water, and also ren¬ 
ders it somewhat Are proof. This is a preparation 
for water-proofing paper intended for packages 
exposed to the weather, recommended by Profes¬ 
sor Muschamp, Germany. 
an Ambrican in Turkey.— In Turkey, a gentle¬ 
man who, twenty-five years ago, was a watchmak¬ 
er in Portland, Maine, has established himself, 
and the great object of his life is missionary worK 
in that empire. He thought that modern Christian 
civilization was to take the place of miracles as 
evidences of Christianity, he studied the natural 
sciences an 1 took over to the Saltan magnetic tel¬ 
egraphs and miniature railways aud steam engines. 
When tbe armies of England and France wanted 
bread, he cona'ructcd steam mills, ground np the 
wheat, and supplied their urgent necessities. Now 
the 8oitan is most favorable to h m and his mis¬ 
sion. This is the true way to extend civilization. 
One man is thns, by schools and other means, 
producing greater benefit than has been accom¬ 
plished by all the armies of the East. 
ICHNKUMON FLY. 
A, ovipositor; B, sheaths; C, bead in front; D, end of the 
ovipositor. 
Several years ago, a gentleman engaged in the 
ir->n business, sent me an insect in a letter, stating 
that he had “captured a villainous fellow, that was 
the destruction of hickory trees to a vast amount, 
and that with his long and delicate sting he could 
pierce to the very heart of young hickory saplings 
and thereby kill them in the course of a single 
season.” Alas, no—the poor fellow entrapped was 
only desirous to pnt an egg into the grub which 
was tbe canae of all the mischies’complaiuod of,— 
and had he succeeded would have hatched a mag. 
got thatwonld have consumed the fell destroyer 
and bred another fYiend to tho woodmen. The 
body of Ibis was dark, of a metallic lustre, head, 
antenna? and thighs yellow, perhaps trie PLupL 
atrcUa or lunata, the only two species I have seen 
named, but not described. The one figured is of a 
light cinnamon-brown, beautifully marked with yel¬ 
low lunate Bpots shaded with black,—a species of 
Ichnenmonous Fly. Mr. Harris also says "these 
flies may frequently be seen thrusting their Blender 
borers, measuring from three to four Inches in 
length, into the trunks cf trees inhabited by the 
grubs of the Trenxex, (borer,) and by other wood- 
eating insects; and, like the female Tremex, they 
sometimes become fastened to the trees, and die 
CURING HAMS. BEEF AND VSNSON. 
To cure hams properly it is important that no 
more salt i - use d than is necessary to make them 
salt enough to cock without freshening, and suffi¬ 
cient to preserve them. We have cored tuns of 
hams according to the following recipe, and al 
ways found them jnst right: 
To every twenty ponnrs of hams take 2 oz salt¬ 
petre, 4 pint molasses, and 4 pint salt. Dissolve 
and thoroughly mix the ingredients with a quan¬ 
tify of w ter, only sufficient to cover the hams 
when packed rather loosely. After making the 
brine, let it stand a Utile time to settle; pour it on 
the bams, but keep them from floating in the brine. 
About once a week take ont the hams and re-pack, 
that every point of the hams may come in contact 
with brine. In about four weeks they will be cart d 
for smoking, and may be smoked at pleasure. No 
fear need be entertained that they will become too 
salt. After smoking they may be replaced in the 
brine aud kept any desired time without injury.— 
If saltpetre is objectionable to any one, le>ave it 
ont and add more salt and molasses. Beef and 
venison may be cured in the same way. n. 
New Decolorizing Agent.— M. Mene, a French 
chemisr, has just discovered that hydrate of alu¬ 
mina, prepared by decomposing alum with car- 
borAte ot soda, Is a perfect substitute for animal 
charoua’. in the decolorizing of liquids. He has 
tried It on sugars, syrups and molasses, and It has 
given every aariafacrion; and after having been, 
used once, it can be washed and re-washed. It 
haa a'.ao the great advantage of cleanliness; and 
D is more pleasant to onr fancy to know that onr 
BUgar has been clarified with alumina, than with 
burnt blood, and similar animal products ,—Boston 
Journal 
