and paste a strip of it on the inside edges; 
then glue aeoras on the pasteboard in any 
shape or after any design selected. When 
the glue is dry, varnish the acorns (or other 
seeds) all over two or three times; lay a glass 
on the back of the frame and glue it down 
with a piece of factory cloth over the edges, 
and paste the picture on the back of the 
frame.— M. e. p. 
jQoincstie Cfconomi) 
| The commercial bee keeper has got a strong 
i competitor in sugar, and when a poor season 
for honey comes, or a disease that was as de¬ 
structive ns last Winter, would bo disastrous 
to him. When corn is only t wenty cents per 
bushel, (ho common people, cannot buy 
honey, and all who can should keep a few 
stocks of bees and encourage the bees by 
planting orchards, honey timber, etc., when 
they are of other commercial value. 
An Iowa lady related an instance of a man 
returning from market with four largo empty 
wagons in which ho had hauled four loads of 
corn, having in Ills pocket just twelve dollars, 
the net receipts of the loads; while his wife, 
who had taken in on one of the wagons the 
surplus honey from live hives of bees, which 
she had cared for alone, had twenty-five dol¬ 
lars in her pocket. She urged every family 
to keep bees; to begin with one swarm, if 
not able to get more, and they could be 
quickly multiplied. Sho had most encourag¬ 
ing reports from many sources in the West 
of success in bcc keeping. It was especially 
a woman's occupation to car© for them; had 
never known of its being a failure in a wo¬ 
man’s hands; was much less labor and risk 
than in poultry keeping, and it was more 
profitable. Another thought if every one 
kept bees thero would be no purchasers, 
while one gentleman believed it best to be 
sanguine about the business as an employ¬ 
ment for all, as there were many who could 
not handle or come near bees without being 
stung; said he had found no luck of demand, 
could have sold tons of extracted honey at 
twenty cents per pound. 
There were further discussions which, we 
shall notice as we have space. The President 
was authorized to address a circular to all 
North American Bee Keepers, inviting them 
to co-operate with the Society by forming 
Neighborhood, County, State, Territorial and 
Provincial Associations for the promotion of 
bee keeping. 
MY METHOD OF WASHING 
NORTH AMERICAN BEE KEEPERS' ASS’N 
When the clothes are removed Sunday 
morning, they are put to soak in a tub or 
barrel containing cold water, (wit hout soap,) 
which is made ready the evening before, of 
course, assorting them into four lots- name¬ 
ly, fine, coarse, colored and flannels; flannels 
are not soaked. On Monday morning they 
are pounded and squeezed in this water with 
a long handled light mallet, then wrung out, 
and after the water is removed thrown back 
into the band with a sufficient quantity of 
soap, and boiling water poured over them 
(flannels and colored clothes not put into 
boiling water); then pounded and squeezed 
again a few minutes. Very few, if any, will 
need rubbing on the board, as this process 
leaves them clean; they urc then wrung out 
and put into a bag and on to boil in cold 
water, with a little soap. 
After boiling about twenty minutes they 
are removed to a tub of water and gently 
rubbed, that no particles of soap may adhere 
to them; then wrung, and put into a little 
rinsing water, a little blue and slightly warm. 
Rinse, wring, shake out well and hung up to 
dry. White flannels should be washed in 
clean suds, and all woolens rinsed in water 
of the same temperature as that in which 
they have l>een washed. 
A very little starch in the rinse water im¬ 
proves the looks of white as well as colored 
clothes; besides, they are more easily ironed. > 
My clothes, washed in this way, are as white 
and clean as any one could desire. 1 find a 
Wringer a great help in washing. 
Starch for common clothes I make as fol¬ 
lows, and find it superior to that which is 
boiled and strained, and much less trouble: 
Stir about four table spoonfuls of Hour with 
cold water into a thin paste,* leaving no lumps, 
and pour into it a quart or two of boiling 
water, stirring all the while. Then pour 
into it a quart or t wo of cold water, and let 
it stand n few minutes to settle. After it lias 
settled the top may bo poured off for use. 
Mrs. Julia M. IVueelock. 
Ake none of the numerous washing ma¬ 
chines better than the old pounding barrels 1 
It seems to us so. 
This organization met at Cleveland, Ohio, 
Dec. 4 and ti. There was a large attendance, 
representing the. States and Canada. The 
officers elect are:—President, W. F. Clarke, 
Guelph, Ontario; Sec., H. A. King, New 
York City; Cor. Sen.. D. I.. An air. Haws- 
HOW TO MAKE SHIRTS FIT. 
In answer to an inquiry, the shortest way 
to get shirts to fit is to go to the best and 
Letter Box 
nearest tailor, and get him to measure the 
subject and cut you a pattern. The cost will 
be but, a trifle, and there is no greater con- 
Figure 1. 
Ill.; Vice-Presidents from each State repre 
sented were also chosen, as follows; — s, w. 
Shipley, Ohio; Capt. Hetuerton, New 
York; Seth IIoaglam), Pennsylvania* W 
R, Kino, Kentucky- Dr. T. B. Hamlin! 
Tennessee; W«. A. Scofield, Indiana; Dr. 
J. J. Davis, Illinois; J. W. Dossier. Minne¬ 
sota; Mrs. E. S. Topper, Iowa; 8. Waite 
Missouri; Noah Cameron, Kansas; IV. D 
Roberts, Utah; E. J. Beck, New Jersey• A 
J. Cook, Michigan; A. H. Hart, Wisconsin*; 
Dr. J. c. Thorn*, Ontario; Hugh Cameron 
Washington, D. C. 
Several topics were discussed. Some of 
these elicited curious facts and theories. One 
topic was, “Will the right management of 
bees develop peacefulness of disposition?" 
Of course there was a difference of opinion, 
but it appears to ha ve been shown that some 
families of bees (not specified) are much 
more tractable than others; and that a bet¬ 
ter acquaintance with their habits might re 
suit in breeding them so as to secure and 
perpetuate peaceable dispositions. One mem 
her, pregnant with this theory, suggested 
that as our breeds of catllo had been im¬ 
proved by shortening the horns, etc., that 
perhaps in time, with further light and pa¬ 
tience, we might secure bees with longer 
proboscis, broader wings and shorter stings, 
if not without the latter at all. 
IS GENERAL BEE CULTURE DESIRABLE. 
The question, l> Is bet} keeping desirable on 
all farms and at suburban homes? One 
speaker t hought, that it could only be made 
profitable on large farms and where honey 
plants were cultivated for the bees to work 
upon. Thought Alaike clover did not do well 
on elevated soils; Mclilot clover does better; 
Golden Rod had been plenty this season, but 
yielded a small amount of honey; 200 tooOO 
colonics can be kept and made profitable on 
most largo farms. Another thought there 
was danger of overstocking the market if 
beekeeping became general; another assert¬ 
ed that every 1 fanner who can raise general 
farm produce eau raise bees; can raise Alsike 
which will furnish food for beds and the 
best hay for stock. Would keep his bees at 
work the whole season as he would his hired 
man. The clover first blossoms in June. 
Would commence cutting a portion so as to 
have a part in bloom all the season; did not 
think it would pay to raise it for honey alone. 
Still another thought that every farmer or 
orchardist can make, it profitable for a limit¬ 
ed number of stocks; all districts are not well 
suited to large numbers. 
Another gentleman asserted that there are 
few Localities that are especially well adapt- I 
ed to bee keeping on a large scale. There is 1 
not a farm or home where bee keeping is not ! 
desirable; even it is often made a source of 
profit in towns and cities. It gives healthy 
exercise and pleasant recreation and study to 
the women and those who cannot do the 
hard labor of the farm, and gives them a 
sweet that is most delicious at small cost. 
Industrial Societies 
WHAT SOCIETIES ARE DOING. 
i\ <• w Hampshire Poultry Soc.— The following 
officers were elected Dec.2: Pres.—Hon. V. C. 
Gilman, Nashua. Vice - Pres?la. — Gen. Natt 
Head, HopksoU; Albert Heard, Nashua; Jas. 
(>. Adams, Manchester; F/Owell Eastman, (Jon- 
enrrt; linn. 11. Wudlcigh, Milford; Hon. Chester 
Hike,Cornish; Hon. Frank Jones, Portsmouth : 
Hon. IVarren Brown, Hampton; Hon. .Samuel 
M. Wheeler, Dover; N. A. Shu:*, Exeter; W. 
K. Daniel I, Franklin. See.- Wm. G. Garmon, 
Mmionester. Trca j>. — Col. George W. Riddle, 
Manchester, 'hr. Com Wm. T. Evans, Man¬ 
chester ; 8. S. James, Manchester; A. W. Quint, 
Manchester: I). II. Goodell, Antrim; G. M. 
Roynton, Concord; O. A. Humblett, Milford; 
W. H. Knowls, Nashua: D. \V. Klim. Nashua; 
J. P. Gilley. Exeter; D. F. Meatier, Dover. The 
annual Exhibition is to be held in February 
next—date not yet fixed. 
ilnnii.ili'ii Co.. Mac*., la. Hoc. —Officers for 
1873; /Vo. X. T. Leonard. Westfield. J'rw*. 
James E. Rusaoll, Springfield. Sic. -J. N. 
Bagg, West Springfield. Vicc-Pres'ls.— B. D. Al¬ 
loa, Agawam; E. W. Boise, Hlandford; James 
U. Brown, L'. rim field: Dr. T. K. DoWolf, Ches¬ 
ter; R. \V. Betnls, GhLeopeo: Edwin H. Sey¬ 
mour. Granville;CyrusL.Frink,Holyoke; Wm. 
il. Burt. Longmeaaow; G. G. Fuller, Ludlow; 
W. N. Flynt, Monson: T. IV. Pomeroy, Mont¬ 
gomery; J. 8. Loomis, Palmer: J. w.Gibbs, 
Russell; 1J. Trask, Springfield ; F. L. Clark, Wll- 
brabam; F. T. Moore, L'uJland; N*. T. Smith, 
West Springfield ; Henry Fuller, Westfield; T. 
N. Fowler, South wick. Member oj the State 
hoard. Horace M. Sessions, South wllbraham. 
Wwburgh Hay. X. V., Hurt. Sue.—Officers 
elect for 1873: Pro:,—H. W. Sargent. Vice- 
Frest's.- W. L. Findlay, O. g. Hathaway. See.— 
D. A. Scott, TneuB.—D, Smith, hr. Vom.—W. 
U. Murtfeldt, I. C'. Chapman, T. U. Roe, tv. D. 
Barns, G. G. Fowler, W. lL Brown, T. S. Force, 
J. F. van Nort, J. R. Cornell, D. A. Morrison. 
I >irestore —Chos. Dubois, Henry Cornell. Au~ 
UUor a—J. N. Weed, Francis Scott. 
Ohio State Ilort. Soc.—At the recent annual 
meeting of this Society the following officers 
were elected for the ensuing year: Pres.—Dr. 
John a. Warder Vice-Prcs.— G. W. Gamp- 
bed. Treat.—J. W. Dunham. Sec.—M. B. Bate- 
hanr hr (.•mi— D. C. Richmond, Geo. Weltz, 
N. Cmtuor. W. J. Townsend, IV. K. Kipton. 
Dalrvmen'* ronvemioim.—We call attention 
to notices of Dairymen's Conventions in onr 
Dairy Department, which were unavoidably 
crowded out of our last number. These meet¬ 
ings are important. We wish our friends would 
send such notices at an earlier dato than they 
usually do. 
Middle hope, X. V., Fruit-Grower*’ Woe.—Offi¬ 
cers elect for 187.1: Pres.— John 8. Purdy. 
Vicc-l’rest'g— Nathaniel Barns, Jr., J. 0. Conk¬ 
lin. Sec.—T. S. Force. Treat).— D. H. Merritt. 
E. v-Com.—H. A. Holmes. H. G. Northrup, W. D. 
Barns, W. H. Wood, C. G. Fowler. 
Merrimack Go., X. II.. A it. Soc.—The follow¬ 
ing are the officers elect for 1873:—Pres.—Aaron 
Whittemore, Pembroke, Vtcc-Prce.—C. If. Car¬ 
penter. Chichester. .Sec.—Walter A. WebBter, 
Concord. Treat.— J©bn C. Webster, Concord. 
Concord, X. II,. Hurl. Hoc.—Officers elect for 
1873; Free -Charles S. Eastman. Vice-Pres'te. 
—John D. Teel and Calvin Eaton. Sec. and Treats. 
Frederick 8. Crawford. Trustees.— A. T. San¬ 
ger, A. Leavens. D. F. Lee o mb. 
Mrrrbnac Go., X. II., Yg. Hoc.—Officers elect 
for 1873: Free. — Aaron Whittemore, Pem¬ 
broke. Vice~Pres,—t J. If. Carpenter, Concord. 
Sec.—Walter A. Webster, Concord. Treas.— 
John C. Webster, Concord. 
The Central Bee-Keepers’ Ans’n of Iowa 
holds its annual meeting at Cedar Rapids on 
Jan. 15. 
TO MAKE SAUSAQES. 
To an eight-quart pan of ground meat add 
six table-spoonfuls of salt, five of sifted sage 
and five of pepper. Set the pan on a grate 
or brick m the oven, so as not to burn on the 
bottom, and when warm enough to mix 
easily, thoroughly mix and stuff in bugs or 
skins. if to be kept in warm weather, add 
more salt.— Mrs. N. B. 
We know a housewife 
who uses one—abandoned the pounder for it, 
and couhl not be induced to return to it under 
any consideration; indeed, she has not used 
a pounder for years. Cannot some of the 
Rural housewives tell abetter and quicker 
way of washing than that given above? 
LETTER-BOX, 
JELLY CAKE. 
IVe have an inquiry for a recipe for jelly 
ike. Mrs. N. B. supplies it as follows: 
One cup of sugar, three table-spoonfuls of 
sew 
/fo^cT, . & pX „ v ©v 
Will you not continue to give illustrations 
of pretty things that may be made by farm¬ 
ers’ girls with which to ornament their own 
rooms or please their friends ? Mary G. F. 
Certainly wc will; and we give herewith 
a letter-box (see Figure 1). The frame is made 
of mill-board and covered with thin leather, 
velvet, silk, or even heavy velvet paper. A 
beading of stamped leather or gimp is laid 
all around the edge. The medallion for the 
center is worked on white satin in blue and 
gold, or in colors harmonizing with the 
foundation. In the back a calendar is in¬ 
serted. The foundation can be made of wood 
plained very thin. Any ingenious person can 
readily adapt the illustration to whatever 
material they may happen to have. It 
makes a very pretty and very useful present. 
Figure 2 represents the medallion for the 
letter-box in detail. 
Medallion for Letxer Box—Fig. 2. 
butter, one tea-spoonful of baking powder, 
one cup of Hour, three eggs. Bake in three 
round pie tins.” 
TO TELL GOOD FLOUR FROM POOR. 
In a late Rural New-Yorker I notice an 
inquiry from Cornelia E., asking how to tell 
good flour from poor. The following rules, 
taken from the Minnesota Journal of Com¬ 
merce, some rime since, are very highly 
recommended by leading flour dealers here 
as being infallible:—First look at the color; if 
it is very white, with yellowish or straw- 
colored tint, buy it, If St is very white, with 
a bluish cast, or with white specks in it, re¬ 
fuse it. Examine its adhesiveness; wet and 
knead a little of it between your lingers; if it 
works soft and sticky, it is poor. Tltrow a 
little lump of dry flour against a dry, smooth, 
perpendicular surface; if it falls like powder, 
it is bad. Squeeze some of the llaur in your 
hand; if it retains the shape given by the 
pressure, that, too, is a good sign. Flour that 
will stand all these tests it is safe to buy.— 
E. A. Owen, Elgin Co., Out. 
DO BEES INJURE GRAPES 1 
Correspondents of the Rural New- 
Yorker have discussed this subject in exten- 
so, generally uniting in testifying that they 
do; but hero couimGeo. IT. Campbell, Dela¬ 
ware, O.. an extensive grape grower, who 
writes the Ohio Farmer as follows;—“The 
point which I wished to establish was, 
whether honey bees were justly classed 
among the grape destroying insects, or 
whether they simply utilize' t he juices of the 
grape by appropriating what would other¬ 
wise have- been lost after the skin of the ber¬ 
ries had been broken by some other agency. 
I have, up to this time, been wholly unable to 
ascertain that t hey ever attack a sound, un¬ 
broken grape, and believe t hey have acquired 
t his reputation only by reason of being some¬ 
times found in bad company. The wasp is 
furnished with a powerful and efficient saw¬ 
toothed cutting apparatus, with which, the 
TO MAKE A RUSTIC FRAME. 
see inquiries in the Rural which I an¬ 
swer;—Take four strips of pastboard, an inch 
and o-half wide, and make it the size of the 
picture to be framed. Take some gilt paper 
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