MOOSE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER 
Domestic (Economy 
ODDS AND ENDS. > 
- i 
To Color Kod on Cotton.—1 have no- i 
ticed an inquiry for a recipe for coloring red , 
on cotton that would not fade. I will send ] 
one that is used here for carpet rags, and is 
considered a very good imitation of Turkey . 
red. One pound sumac to four pounds of | 
cloth; stoop it over night in the sumac; in , 
another tub of cold water put two ounces 
of muriate of tin; dip from sumac to the ( 
tub of muriate aud let stand a short time; 
then rinse in cold water. Make a dye of 
basswood—one pound to one of doth; boil 
fifteen minutes; cool down; add the cloth, 
stirring well; boll an hour, then take out 
the cloth; add one ounce oil vitriol; boil j 
a few minutes; rinse in cold water. 
Another recipe, taken from Scientific 
American some years agoOne. pound of 
sumac to ten pounds of doth; soak over 
night; then give it a strong mordant of the 
acetate of alum. This latter is prepared by 
dissolving one pound of alum for every ton 
of goods; then adding, ill a dissolved state, 
one ounce of acetate of load, stirring all up 
and allowing the sediment to fall to the 
bottom. The dear is then used ns a mor¬ 
dant at a temperature of 100 . The goods 
are handled in tills about ten minutes, then 
sunk under the liquor for six hours, after 
which they are lifted, dripped and washed 
thoroughly. Then they are lit for madder 
dyo. Tills must be done in a copper or brass 
kettle, gradually brought to a boil, then 
boil an hour; one and a-hnlf pounds madder 
to one of cotton; add a little sumac.—J. K. o. 
Graham Bread*—Inquiries of 8. J. D.— 
(See Rural, April IS.) Should the mix¬ 
ture be made so thin as to be really poured 
into the basin, as is said ? Should it, remain 
in the steamer % of an hour from the time 
it is first set on over the cold water, or 
should it bo % of an hour from the time the 
water begins to boil? Is It an even or 
rounded up toaapoonful of soda that is re¬ 
quired? In steaming Graham bread raised 
with yeast, at what stage of the procoss 
should it be put into the steamer, and should 
it, too, be placed over cold water; also, how 
long should it be permitted to remain in the 
steamer? I wish a good way to make Gra¬ 
ham bread without the use of soda, as I do 
not consider that its use is healthy. I ulso 
wish to use no other t han tile Graham flour 
in making the bread. Any information that 
8. J. D., or any of your readers, will be kind 
enough to give in regard to this inattor, 
more particularly to that part which refers 
to making the bread with yeast, will be 
thankfully received by—J. O. n. 
Alcoholic Liquors in Gookiiiff.—Con¬ 
sidering the, terrible evil of intemperance, 
which is annually destroying thousands of 
fathers, brothers and husbands of our land, 
and embittering tile lives of tens of thou¬ 
sands of mothers, sisters, wives and chil¬ 
dren, and in sonic parts of the country 
threatening the very foundations of govern¬ 
ment, should we not, sister housekeepers, 
bo exceedingly careful, in the preparation of 
food, not to use any ingredients which may 
create or excite an appetite for st imulating 
or intoxicating drinks, as many who have 
gone do^n to drunkard's graves have con¬ 
fessed that they acquired the taste for that 
which wrought their ruin, at their mother’s 
table ? Lot us at ouce proscribe, as entirely 
unworthy our practice, the use, in any form, 
of intoxicating or stimulating liquors, and 
discourage it in others, as we desire the 
prosperity of our loved country, and the 
everlasting welfare of mankind.—R. 
salt. Some cook them —we do not know 
how. Let those who do, tell us. 
Soft Graham .Bread. — Stir yeast or 
milk rising into warm skim milk; then stir 
in Graham Hour enough to make a batter as 
thick as can well lie stirred with a spoon; 
put into deep bake dishes and set in a warm 
place to rise, the same as kneaded bread; 
when light, bake moderately until there is 
a bard, brown crust over the top, which, if 
preferred, may bo softened by covering 
with a damp cloth. 
Graham and Indian Bread. —Take 
hot water, though not scalding, and stir 
into it coru meal unt il it is about half thick 
enough for a good batter; then cool it with 
cold water, and make a thick butter by 
adding Graham Hour; give the whole a good 
stirring; put, into pans about three inches 
deep; let it stand an hour or so, then put it 
into a hot oven, and bake steadily two hours 
and a half. When taken out, cover with 
thick cloths for an hour or two. It is best 
if eaten when warm, but is good cold.— 
Geraldine. 
Keeping' Eggs in Salt..—T j. W. DERBY 
asks if eggs, packed in salt, put away in 
some cool place, will keep through the sum¬ 
mer months. We know they will keep 
some time, but have had no experience 
keeping them through the summer. 
To Keep Insects from Hams, it is 
recommended to sprinkle each ham thor¬ 
oughly witli hickory wood ashes, and then 
pack in clean casks. 
THE BEST WAY TO TREAT BEE ROBBERS. 
To House-Cleaners. — When you have 
taken up a dusty carpet, don’t touch a 
broom to the floor until you have taken a 
dust-pan and fill it with moist earth from 
the garden or elsewhere. Scatter the earth 
all over the floor; then use your broom as 
if scrubbing, and finally sweep all up to¬ 
gether. You will find that, you raise scarce¬ 
ly any dust in the operation, and you will 
have a very clean floor, that scarcely needs 
mopping at all. Don't fall to try it once, 
and you will not need urging to repeat it.— 
Mrs. A. L Gregory, Rockford, HI. 
Last year I had great trouble with my 
bees—one swarm robbing another. I should 
like apiarians of experience to tell me how 
to prevent it,.—W. NT. ()., Catuklll, N. V. 
C. Daiiant thus tells, in the Bee Journal, 
liow ho did it:—“l began by contracting 
the entrances of the neighboring hives. 
Then 1 stationed my son in front of tdioone 
attacked, directing him to push away with 
a feather duster (a leafy twig docs just as 
well) all the bees seeking to enter, and let 
pass all those coming out. Meantime, I 
procured two pieces of plank, or blocks, 
about six Inches square. 1 placed one of 
these each side of the entrance, bringing 
two comers together, so as to enclose a tri¬ 
angular space or yard in front of the en¬ 
trance, and covered this yard with a piece 
of wire-cloth having one-eighth inch meshes 
—taking care to adjust it, so close that not 
a bee could enter the yard from the out¬ 
side. Tim robbers soon cluster on the Wire- 
cloth, seeking for entrance, while some pre¬ 
sented themselves under it, striving to get 
out. In eight or ton minutes, I suddenly 
pulled away the blocks and wire-cloth, in¬ 
stantly brushing away anew all the bees, 
till 1 was sure that no robbers remained; 
and then replacing the blocks and wire- 
cloth as bolore. 
“The hives remained thus shut up an 
hour or two. By that time, most of the 
robbers, tired of fruitlessly seeking an en¬ 
trance, had returned to their ordinary la¬ 
bor. The corners of tho two blocks were 
then separated so much as to allow one or 
two bees only to pass at a time. The in¬ 
mates of the hive soon became accustomed 
to the entrance, while the robbers vainly 
endeavored to gain admit tance through the 
meshes of the wire-cloth. If a few succeed¬ 
ed occasionally in finding tho entrance, they 
wore immediately seized by the guards and 
summarily ejected. 
“ After sundown, in order to let in the 
few bees belonging to the hive which had not 
yet found the now entrance, I removed tho 
wire-cloth, and replaced it early next morn¬ 
ing. As soon as J thought that simply con¬ 
tracting the entrance of the hive would se¬ 
cure tho colony from further attacks, I re¬ 
moved all my devices. 
“This mode of checking robbers will al¬ 
ways prove successful, if the ruchce has a 
queen, or the means of raising one, provided 
all the robbers are got out. of the hive before 
the bees pertaining to it are confined.’’ 
costs less than 25 cents a pound, and by 
using good brown sugar, which 1 think 
would be just as good, it would cost about 
20 cents. 1 should think, also, that it need 
not bo worked until very white, thereby 
saving some labor. Of course tho candy 
when done must bo poured on a greased 
platter to cool; use nothing but a little 
Hour to keep it from sticking to tho hands 
when pulling it. When pulled sufficiently, 
draw it out into stick-size, and top it with 
a heavy kuife to out the sticks the proper 
length. 
Pood for Queens when Laying Eggs. 
—W. G. P. Flour is fed to bees for pollen 
by apiarians in spring, as soon us they lie- 
gin to fly. Pollen aud water is the chief 
food of the queen when laying eggs. She 
must have pollen, and hence the necessity 
of supplying it to the bees before they can 
gather it from flowers. Oatmeal, flnely 
ground, is regarded by many bee keepers 
tho best substitute for pollen. 
.^riiMitijic and Useful. 
GUTTA PERCHA. 
Gutta percha is obtained from many 
species of the nwpotaccoe, but chiefly from 
that known as lmnand.ru Gutta of the 
Malay Islands, and consists of the solidified 
milky juice found between the wood and 
the bark. It is imported in the form of 
brown cakes, which are sliced thin and 
washed in hot water, and then kneaded in¬ 
to cakes, which, when rolled between hot 
cylinders, form sheets, and on being cooled 
are us hard us wood. This property of be¬ 
coming plastic is one of the most important 
in a commercial point of view; for gutta 
percha thus forms an excellent material for 
molding, and hence its extensive use in oleo- 
t,retyping, making of picture frames, etc. 
As a coating for sub-marine cables and for 
telegraphic purposes it lias been largely 
used, also for water pipes and the soles of 
shoes. Indeed, it would be impossible to 
name all the purposes to which it has been 
applied since pointed out by 8. Montuom- 
krie, in 1H4‘S, When lie first drew attention 
to its great value and to the source whence 
it could be abundantly obtained, l. s. h. 
I 
USEFUL AND SCIENTIFIC NOTES. 
Mouse Trap. — This little device, for 
catching out-of-door mice especially, is high¬ 
ly commended. EquipmentOne briok, 
two pieces of stick, a piece of matting 
(strong), and a few peas. To set. the trap, 
push the two Htioks Into tn« ground about 
a foot apart. Thread three or four peas on 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
Grub in tlio Head.—A short timo since 
l saw in the Rural a remedy for “ Grub In 
tho head " in Bheop—spirits Of turpentine 
and melted butter. I had a sheep that was 
down with them, for I had seen her blow 
them from her nose. 8ho could not get up 
without help, but when up could walk 
about. I prepared and used the remedy, 
according to directions, and about, an hour 
after, on going to the yai’d, found the sheep 
dead. 1 think that her deat h was hastened 
by using the turpentine, rt is too powerful 
to be poured in tho ear; but I satislied my¬ 
self that she had grubs. I opened her heud 
and found six or bcvou of from }£ to 1 •; 
inches in length. If any of your readers arc 
about using the remedy, let them desist; 
for I fear that the consequences will be 
fatal.—T. b. a._ 
Grass for Pasture — Sulphur l’or 
Nursing Ewes.— What, kind of grain or 
seed is tho cheapest find best to sow for 
sheep pasture the coming summer? Also, 
is sulphur good for sheep nursing lambs; if 
so, in what quantity, and how often.— OU) 
Subscriber. 
Wk know of no grass the seed of which 
can be sown this spring with the hope of its 
furnishing feed for sheep tho coming sum¬ 
mer. Wo do not recommend feeding sul¬ 
phur to healthy sheep. Some breeders do. 
Wo shall be glad to hear from such on tho 
subject. __ 
Kwok Eating tlieir Lambs.—Is there 
any preventive against breeding ewes 
preying on the tails and legs of lambs by 
eating thorn off In a few hours after tho 
lamb is dropped. 1 have several lambs that 
have had their tails bitten Off. To-day t 
found an owe that liad dropped twins and 
had actually devoured five legs and both 
tails within two hours after they were 
dropped. Due or 1.1m lambB was dead and 
the other in a dying condition.—C. J. S., 
Ovid, Seneca Co., N. Y. 
(Ihe $poi[t. ( mran. 
NOTES FOR SPORTSMEN. 
Hunting Partridges.—'The only sports¬ 
man-like way to bag partridges is with a- 
good dog and gun. Lot J. R. get a pure¬ 
bred Setter or Pointer, learn to shoot on 
the wing, and ho will despise tho trapping 
of game birds, as every true sportsman 
does.— Sportsman, Hanover, N. Hi 
When to Kill Woodcock in New York. 
—Geo. Huqunin, P. M., Oswego, N. Y., 
writes us that tho law specifying that Wood¬ 
cock shall not be killed from Fob. 1 to July 
4, was amended April 2fl, 1871, making it. 
unlawful to kill or have in possession from 
Feb. 1 to July 15. 
Jiulu'itrutl mattes. 
Jerusalem Artichokes for the Table. 
—S. P. N., Binghamton, N. Y., asks “ the 
best mode of preparing artichokes for tho 
table," and adds:—*’ 1 remember having 
eaten them, freshly dug, In my younger 
days, and am astonished that more of them 
are not produced.” Ho are we — both us a 
food for stock and for humans. We have 
used them on the table us we do cucum¬ 
bers, for a salad, with vinegar, pepper and 
BEE NOTES AND QUERIES. 
Candy for Bees.— J. S. Chandler sends 
the Bee Keeper’s Journal the following re¬ 
cipe for making candy perfectly whito: 
“Beat coffee sugar, 2* i pounds; the nicest 
syrup, 1)£ pints; boll very carefully, until 
by dropping in a little cool water it will fly 
like glass and will not stick to the teeth 
when bitten ; then work until white. Boil 
in tin, copper, or brass; not iron. This 
tho siring of twisted matting; tie the string 
tightly to the Bticks, the peas being in the 
middle; rest the brick in a slanting direc¬ 
tion on the peas, Tho mice will nibble 
through the peas and tile matting, and down 
falls the brick and crushes the nibblcr. The 
ground under the brick should be flat and 
firm. 
To the Old Subscriber that has a 
Troublesome Siphon.—There is no rea¬ 
son why the water should not run continu¬ 
ously if the pipe is not clogged with worms, 
dead grass, or some such extraneous mat¬ 
ter, and has no air-holes. Try this:—At¬ 
tach the nozzle of ft baud forcing-pump to 
the lower end of tho pipe, and force a co¬ 
pious supply of water back through the si¬ 
phon, and notice the nature of the dis¬ 
charge from the upper end. (’ease pump¬ 
ing, and immediately detach the pump; 
and ir, as above stated, no air-holes exist, 
the water with which the pipe is already 
tilled will change its course and flow con¬ 
tinuously.—A. .J. 
Labrador Tea.—Inclosed you will find 
a specimen of plant which Is used in this 
viemity as tea, and is called Labrador Tea. 
It is used as a very healthy beverage. It 
grows on high, sandy soil. Is Labrador the 
proper name? If not, will you please, to 
give me the proper name ?—J. W. H., it cn- 
dover, Ont. 
The proper or correct name of the plant 
is Ledmn loti folium. We suppose almost 
an}’’ plant, not poisonous, is good to steep 
and make tea, provided one likes such a 
beverage; but we should prefer the genuine 
Tlica, to any of our wild plants. 
INDUSTKIALSOOIETIES. 
The Ingham (!»., Midi., Ag. Hoc.’s Fair is to 
commence September 25. 
The McDonough Co., 111., Slock Ahn'ii holds 
its annual meeting ul Macomb, July <1-5. 
The Holt Co., tin., A g. and Mech.Boc. holds 
its next Fair at Oregon, Mo., Sept. 3-0. 
The Kansas City Ag. and Indus. Anm’ii will 
hold its next Fair Sept. 23*28. 
The Northern Kansas District Fair is to be 
held at Atchison, Sept. 10 14. 
The Aeninhn Co., Kali., Ag. Hoc. holds its 
Fair at Seneca, Sept. 18-20. See . — Win. Uistcd, 
Seneca, Kan. 
The Maine Htale Ag. Hoe. Is to hold its Fair 
for 1872 and 1873 at Bangor, that of 1872 to occur 
Sept. 17 20. 
The Minnesota Htnie Fair is to commence 
Tuesday. Sept. 17 probably at St. Paul, though 
location is not yet decided. 
The AllamaUer Co., Iowa, Ag. Hoe. holds its 
Fair Sept. 10-12. Pres.—J ohn Hanly, Jr. Sec.— 
C. D. Beemau. 
The Greene Co., 111., Ag. uinl Mech. Hoe. holds 
its Fair at Carroiton, Ill., Sept. 3 0. Sec. — 1. K. 
Powell. 
Woodson Co., Kan., Ag. Hoe. Officer* for 
1872: Pith. (}, W. Hutchinson, Center Hidgo. 
Vicc-CirK— James Crane, Neosho Falls. 7 nun.— 
-, Stokobmnd. Rue. See.- J. L. Gilbert, Ka- 
lid«. Cor. Sec. - H. F. Eagle, Rose, 
The Indiana Htute Fair is to be held at In¬ 
dianapolis, commencing Sept. 30 und continuing 
through the week. OfBoers: 1 'res. - John 
Sutherland, La Porte. Flcc-Pres.— I. D. G. 
Nelson. Fori. Wayne. .See. —Alex. Heron. In¬ 
dianapolis. Tree is.-C. Dickson, Indianapolis. 
Berk* Co., Fa,, Ag. mid Hort. Hoe.—Tho fol¬ 
lowing persons have been elected officers of the 
Society for 1872: Pit*. -Isaac Eckert. Sec — 
Frank B. Shalt era. Treeu. Geo. W. Bnickmun. 
This is one of the largest associations In Penn¬ 
sylvania, having over one thousand members. 
The Fairs held on their extensive grounds at 
Reading City, l*u., are among the largest and 
best attended of any In the country. 
