ders of stout, paper, or thin pasteboard, by put¬ 
ting them around a broom stick, and glue them 
on the shields. Cover the space between the 
boxes by gluolng on a piece of sand or emery- 
paper. The border of the shield and of the ends 
of the boxes may be gilt or any fancy paper. 
With a pen-knife cut the hole for nail to hang 
careful not to let pieces of shell tall m wiui 
the oysters. 
lime Oysters, to he served in state, royally, 
as they should be presented, make their 
appearance “ before the king' in their native 
residence. Wash the shells clean, open 
them, take off the top one, (the flattest one,) 
detach the oyster from the under one, but 
leave it on it; place ball a dozen on a plate 
and serve. The best condiments to use in 
eating them are salt, pepper, lemon juice, or 
vinegar. Graham bread, cut rather thin, in 
inch-wide strips is nice to eat with them. 
Cooking Oysters— They want to be cooked 
just “so much and no more." An oyster 
overcooked is ruined. There is no help for 
it. It is leathery and prosaic. As a rule 
five minutes gentle simmering , a thorough 
heating through, is quite enough. If the 
oysters are large a longer time should be 
allowed. 
Stewed. Oysters— Stew the oysters in their 
own liquor, and season to the taste with a 
little salt and pepper; butter may be added. 
Stews are often improved, in the opinion of 
many, by the addition of milk or cream, and 
condiments in the way of mace, parsley or 
amzik Irmumro 
CONDUCTED BY MARY A. E. WAGER. 
PUMPKINS AND SQUASHES, 
Feather lied*.-In reply to recent inquiries 
about these, allow mo to say that I have often 
seen the tightest be<ls kept light by allowing 
them air through quills sewed Into the corners. 
Turkey quills, or any other that are strong and 
short, will answer, and from four to six are 
enough for any bed. My friend Mrs. Hock- 
weir, a famous housekeeper, says that feather 
ticks when washed should be freely starched, 
and ironed perfectly straight before they are 
quite dry This will prevent the feathers from 
coming through.—J ulia Coi.man. 
[From the New York Tribune.] 
It has for some time been apparent, that either a gigantlo deception was being practiced on the 
fanners of the country, in the sale of the so-called Norway Oats, or that nature had given birth lo 
a new and superior variety of this cereal, destined to reward more abundantly Um labors of the 
husbandman, and add to the wealth of the Uepubllc. 
Believing that we could not confer upon the agricultural community a greater favor than by 
ascertaining the facta about the production of this grain, we requested Ramsdell Sc Co., of No. :.’IH 
Pearl street, of this city, the discoverers atul introducers ol’ the new oat, to furnish us with the 
original letters from the farmers tn the different parts of the country, who have grown tin in 
during the past year, a request which was cheerfully compiled with. After some weeks of careful 
examination of this voluminous correspondence, we have made an abstract, which presents the 
essential facts stated by the writers. Wo have satisfied ourselves of tha genuineness of thc -e 
letters. They aro from farmers residing tn every part of Urn United States. 
By adding up the results In many hundred cases where the rate per acre was distinctly stated, 
we have found the average to be seventy-eight bushels. (The average yield of the ordinary oat, 
during the past five years, as estimated by the Commissioner of Agriculture, is from thirty to 
thirty-two bushels per aero.) An examination of the correspondence from which this table is pre¬ 
pared, goes to show thatThe straw of this variety is more nutritious than common oat straw, 
and we recommend it as a valuable addition to what we now have for early feed in green soiling 
oatt O. --— ----qir»NTIT» JOWH. Ae*a, 
1 bushel. — 
V bushels. 1 acre. 
1 bushel. X acre. 
1 acre. 
1 quart. 
1 bushel. 
52 pounds. 
2K bushels, 
1 bushel. 
Intcrrsling to I.adles.-It is now more than 
M ne *inoe 1 purchased a Grover & Baker Sew. 
iuu Machine. It has been tn constant use for niy 
family sewing ever since, and has done setiwrtl thou- 
80,(4 dollars worth of work on heavy woolens besides. 
It has never hcou out of order, nor cost one cent for 
repairs, since it became u member or our fain 11 y.” 
We consider It truly '"our household /rlnut. ’ Mats. 
Wm. H. Suklmire, No. 726 N. 16f7i St., f’HitnifelpJiia. 
HXHULT. 
80 bushel#. 
08 bushels. 
48 bushel*. 
125 bushels, 
c bushels. 
66 bushels. 
136 bushels. 
110 bushels. 
55 bushels. 
NAME AND ADDRESS. 
Joseph Cate, N. H. 1 
Calvin Thompson, Mich. 
George Curtis, Me. 
I. A. Van Housed, N. Y. ~ 
C. W. Conner. Iowa. 1 
Counted 416 grains on one head. 
Samuel Spenrer, N. Y. 
Lewis Clin, Ohio... 
M. K. Wood, N Y. ! 
Many stalks si* feet high. 
Enoch Arnold, N. Y... .... 
5K to 6 feet high ; 150 to 200 kernel# in the head ; u 
multitude of stalks from each berry. 
James F. Caldwell, Ohio...... 
Lewis Schilling, Ohio. 
Otto sued produced 5,000 grains. 
I, . 0. Tyler. N. Y. ...- 
\V. West, Ohio.....- 
Abm. S. Krauss. Pa.... • 
Joel A. Taylor, N. V. - 
Charles 1). Bush, N. Y... £ 
Jeremiah Townsend, N. Y. 
A. Crawford, lml.... 
Edwin C. llalsey, N. Y... 
.1. <>. Tail, N. Y . * 
11. K. Smoot, Ohio.■ 
G. W. Bradley, Vt,.- 
c. E. anritc, N. .., 
Clark D. Horton, N. V. 1 
John Case. N. V. ..••••• — .. 
one nut produced 17 stalks. 3,412 grains. 
Thomas wooiili. Mich...> 
Robert Strader, Jr.. N. .. 
w. F. Connolly. N.C... 
Orlando Huger*, 1<. I.. .. 
One kernel produced 55 stalks ! 1 head 710 grains. 
J. H. VVolveUOU, N. Y... 
Peter It. ilulst, N. Y....... 
Gilbert Miller, Me. 
Aclna Colburn Sc Ron, 111. 
Ell Pyle, Fa.... 
W. if. Snow, Iowa. 
Robert Williams. N. V. 
John S. Peters, .. 
On very rieh ground. 
Myron H. Avery, N. .. 
L. B. Latbrop, wis. 
I>. II. Young, Pa. 
Zacliaeus Johnson, North Ridgway. 
A. Williams, Ohio..... 
Complains that the seed was ad u Iterated to the ex¬ 
tent of one-third with other oats : t hat the Nprways 
fell short, of his expectations; still ihe yield whs 
double that of ordinary oats—circumstances very 
unfavorable. 
William Cornell, OHIO. . 
Perry Weaver. Ohio ..... 
Upton <». Blackwell, Texas...... 
J. Dallas, Pit.. ■■ ■ 
A single stool contained 70 stalks. 
Milo McCUmbor, N. Y... 
William I airliner, Pa. 
Gusnor Swurts, Pa.. 
;«KI grains ou hub bead. 
C. M. Dow, N. Y... 
N. 8. French, 111.. 
W. B. Seymour, Iowa... 
John 11. GrutiG, Ohio.. . 
One oat produced 08 stalks, one of which had lot 
grains. 
A. Alexander,Ohio.... 
win Biirkhaltur, Pa. 
Charles Partington, Ohio. .. 
Did not meet Ills expectation#—Still did well. 
W.O. Ballard. Mo. 
N. J. Frost, N. Y.... 
John Coy, Ohio. 
J. il. Downer, Kansas.. 
Circumstance# very unfavorable 
claimed prairie. 
George Lathrop. Conn. 
Will sow nothing but Norway* any more. 
Ezra Hicks & Son, Ohio. 
J. Ij. Divine, Term... 
Expects next year to beat the world. 
P. P. PuiiiureriO, M. D., Ohio. 
Samuel Ensign, Ohio....... 
Samuel Carter, Perm.-... 
One hunch had 55 stalks, uno head 23a grains. 
Charles C. Catiaduy, Ind. 
Edwin Lacey. Ponn. 
Moore Morton. Md... 
John II- Ayres, Kansas. 
arirnwr 
1 acre. 
IX acres, 
IX acres. 
X acre, 
ASPARAGUS-DIVISION OF ROOTS. 
w TT.r. gome one tell me through the Rural 
how to transplant or distribute asparagus roofs t 
I Wish to arrange some In spring. Should they 
bo set in drills —or what way Is best?—Mas. 
L S. B. 
Asparagus is as easy to cultivate as n 
crop of potatoes after the bed Is properly 
put out; and, if manured and. kept clean, 
will last for a life-time and furnish a plenti¬ 
ful supply of a healthy vegetable for the 
table. Early iu the season it will grow well 
in any soil, from a light sand lo a heavy 
loam, that is free from stone and surface 
water. As it is a gross feeder, the roots 
Ailing the ground lo a great distance, they 
require plenty of space. The ground should 
be [flowed from twelve to fourteen inches 
deep, and furrowed by running the plow 
each way, throwing the soil out each side 
to the depth of twelve inches. 
For garden culture tlie plants should be 
set four feet apart each way, and five feet 
In the bottom of 
75 bushels. 
133 K bushels. 
67 bushels. 
13 bushel*. 
30 bushels. 
72 bushels. 
80 bushels. 
Mi bushels. 
6 bushels. 
190 bushel#. 
45 bushels. 
81 bushels. 
220 bushels. 
60 bushels. 
28 bushels. 
90 bushels. 
80 bushels. 
87K bushels. 
4S bushels. 
90 ‘ bushels. 
69 K bushels. 
86 bushels on 1 acre. 
42 3-16 bushels. 
22 bushels. 
60 bushels. 
C2 bushels. 
44K bushel*. 
14 bushels. 
180 bushels. 
86 bushels. 
3 bushels and 0 lbs, 
150 bushels. 
08hi bushels. 
Desion for a Match Safe. 
nutmeg. If thickening of the soup is 
sired, grated cracker is preferable to flour. 
The best cooks omit flour entirely. A piece 
of butter rolled in grated cracker may be 
added. Pour the oysters, when done, over a 
di«h floored witli crackers, or covered with 
layers of crispy toasted bread. 
To Cry Oysters .—After they are taken from 
the shell, dry them on a clean cloth or nap¬ 
kin. Beat up the yolks of eggs, with thick, 
sweet cream, one yolk to two tablespoons of 
cream. Rub together some grated bread 
crumbs, or cracker, and a little salt and 
Cayenne pepper. Have hot in a skillet, half 
a pound of melted butter. Dip each oyster 
hi the beaten yolk and cream, and then roll 
g theta to adhere to 
apart for field culture, 
the furrow, under each plant, put a half 
bushel of good, strong, stable manure; cover 
about one inch deep wfltli soil; set out a sin¬ 
gle crown, using car*t to spread the roots out 
flat. The crowns when sot should he about 
eight inches below the surface. Throw in 
about three inches of soil on the top of the 
roots. When the plants have started and 
show themselves, fill in ancl level off the sur¬ 
face; cultivate to keep the ground loose and 
to keep down all weeds and grass. In the 
fall, as soon as the seed lias ripened, cut the 
tops and remove to prevent the seed falling 
and taking root. About the middle of .Tune 
1-16 acre. 4K bushels. 
— 76 bushels. 
— 60 quarts. 
1 acre. 56K bushels. 
— 31 bushels. 
— 70 bushels. 
— IK bushel*. 
1 acre. 70 bushels. 
1 acre. 83 bushels. 
1 acre (nearly.) 60 bushels, 
K acre. 28Ji bushels. 
2 quarts. 
1 bushel. 
1 quart. 
1 bushel. 
31 pints. 
1 bushel. 
1 pint. 
1 bushel. 
1 bushel. 
1 bushel. 
13 pounds. 
50 bushels. 
18 bushels. 
60 bushels. 
4X bushels. 
60 buBhels. 
90 pounds. 
IK bushels. 
X acre. 
1-9 acre. 
1 acre, 
1 peck. 
1 bushel. 
1 quart. 
1 bushel, 
1 pound. 
1 quart. 
1-10 aero, 
it in the crumbs, coaxin] 
it. Drop into the skillet and fry until of a 
light brown color on both sides. They ought, 
to be crisp and light,. Never pour over them 
the melted grease that may remain. 
To Boast, Lake, or Toil Oysters —but a few 
minutes are required. Wash the shells 
clean. To roast, lay the shells on a grid¬ 
iron over a bed of live coals. When the 
shells open they are done. Lift off the top, 
and serve in the under shell. To bake them, 
put in a pan in a hot oven, otherwise follow 
the same directions as for roasting. To boil, 
put them in a pot of boiling water. Serve 
in the shell. 
Scalloped Oysters —are prepared in a variety 
of ways. One French style is to pour the 
oysters into boiling water, just allowing the 
land unre- 
1 bushel. 
6 bush, and 3 pocks. 
750 bushelB. 
73K bushels. 
100 bushels. 
10 bush, and K Billion. 
IK bushel. 
41K pounds. 
8K bush, anil X peck, 
100 bushels. 
3 pocks. 
4 bush, and 3 pecks. 
46 bushels. 
41J1 bushels. 
98 bushels. 
6691 bushels. 
16 bushels. 
6691 bushels. 
250 bushels. 
326K bushels. 
65 bushels. 
120 bushels. 
60 bushels. 
26 bush, and 4 q’t«. 
plants and [flow in. The following spring, 
as soon as the frost is out ot the ground, 
cultivate and loosen the whole of the ground, 
applying a top-dressing of any good line 
manure on top of the plants. The sprouts 
should not be cut until the second year from 
setting, and then hut sparingly. The third 
year it will be in good condition. 
The cultivation necessary after this is to 
top-dress the plants early in spring, and plow 
in manure between the plants in June, after 
cutting it over, keeping the ground loose 
and free from weeds. 
The best variety to set is Conover’s Colos¬ 
sal, a new variety introduced the past few 
years, and which, after a thorough test by 
the leading horticulturists and market gar¬ 
deners, is pronounced superior to all the old 
varieties. In Rural of Kept. 25,1869, page 
617, will be found other directions for cul¬ 
ture and talk concerning varieties. 
cups, like custard. If the fire would need 
to be too hot for the common custard cups, 
large ones of yellow earthen ware can be 
obtained, or if not these, thin tin, such as 
now used for the “corn cakes” ot the pastry 
cook are very suitable for this purpose. 
They are simply deep patty pans holding 
from a third to a half pint. I use the same 
for cooking the batter apple dumplings 
mentioned in a recent article. 
But a very convenient and wholesome 
crust can be made by sifting evenly on 
the oiled pie-disli about an eighth of an inch 
of common corn meal. Then dip on gently 
the prepared pumpkin or squash. Let it 
stand a few minutes and then bake brown, 
(an hour or more,) as usual. Neither egg, 
flour, nor corn-starch will be needed for 
this, as the dry material for tne crust will 
take up enough of the moisture. 
One-flftli or one-sixth part grated cocoa-nut 
added to the prepared pumpkin or squash 
makes it richer. It is becoming quite the 
fashion to make all kinds of pumpkin or 
squash pies without spices of any sort. A 
very sensible and wholesome fashion. 
3 pints. — 
5 bushols. 6 acres, 
1 bushel. 1 acre. 
1 bushel. — 
14.X ounces. — 
X pound. — 
— 2 rods. 
2 qts and 1 pt.— 
1 pint. 
2 quarts. 
K bushel. 
X bushel. 
K bushel. 
4 bushels, 
6 bushels, 
1 bushel. 
2 bushels. 2 acres. 
1 bushel. — 
7X pounds. — 
acre, 
M ivyiun, .. 
j. P. Blllln,Ohio. ; 
S. H. Miller, Penn... 
Jerome B. Jurdella, Ind. 
P. O. Kqdtnon, III. 
E. D. Young, N. Y.. 
T. P. Skinner, Ohio. 
Clark Boyd, Ohio. " 
Henry J. Lyman, N. V. 
j oh n Hoffman, N. J. ■••• . 
8. W. Burr and It. M. Coulter, Ohio. 
Charles N- McGrow, Ind. 
Samuel Stout, Hr., N. J... 
A. Phillips, Ohio... 
Gideon .\1. Brewer, N. J... 
" Their growing and spreading qualities are enor¬ 
mous.” 
8. M. Gilbert,Ohio.... 
Thomas Corns, Ohio... 
Franklin L Buvson, Ohio. 
Thomas P. Budgley, N. J. 
Ollrer Shrove, Pa. 
Joseph Brady Mass. 
H. P. Smith, 111.. 
James B. Bryant. Me......... 
Thomas J. Whitaker, N. Y. 
L. M. Baker, Mich.... 
Frauds O. Bean, Mo.. 
W. H. Proctor, Wis. . . .. ■••••■■•••• 
“ In size and strength qI straw and length of heud 
they surpass all oats of which 1 have any knowl- 
acre. 
1 acre. 
1 acre. 
38 rods, 
75X bushels. 
175 bushels. 
1 bushel. 
98 bushels. 
42X bushels. 
15 bushels. 
37 bushels. 
6K bushels. 
79 bushels. 
2,X bushels. 
86 bushels, 
1 bushel. — 
2 bushels. 2 acres. 
12 ounces. — 
- 2 acres. 
1 bushel. — 
X acre. 
X bushel. K acre. 
2 quarts. 18 rods. 
X bushel. X acre. 
1 quart. 18 rods. 
1 bushel. 1 acre. 
7X bushels. 6 acres 
ALTON NUTMEG MELON. 
The good and bad words said of this 
melon, cause a thought of this sort. As Mr. 
Barler grew it during two or more seasons 
he found success in it as a generally paying 
sort. He thought or perhaps knew, little ot 
what constitutes a variety, or how long, or 
how carefully it becomes an originator, (even 
by chance as this can only he claimed,) to 
grow and examine, one year with another, 
all the points on which he bases his assertion 
of its being a new production ere he can con¬ 
scientiously and honorably distribute it to 
the public. 
I don’t know Mr. Barler, but from his 
writings and the records of his acts I con¬ 
cluded he is yet somewhat verdant in vege¬ 
table physiology allhough he may, and is 
said to be; a very successful grower of market 
garden truck. A. Thorn. 
Remarks.— We are not unwilling to be¬ 
lieve that Mr. Barler erred through igno¬ 
rance ; hut that does not affect the fact that 
the sending out the seed of two or three 
distinct varieties of melon as the Alton Nut¬ 
meg Melon is both inexcusable and dishon¬ 
orable even in the most unsophisticated 
“ sucker” Illinois can produce. 
edge." 
Johu Rulllon, N. Y.. - 
Oue> stool with 177 ntulks, leaves over IK Inches 
wld«-One Htool with 245 stalks—has It on exhibition. 
David M. Burns, Ohio. . . . .. I bushel. 
The Norway# ripen very suddenly ami all together. 
The stalk rtannin* greet) and strong after the head is 
fully ripe. 
Whitman & Gilbert, Iowa. 
C. C. Oaywoud, N. Y. 
II. J. Beam, Canada..... 
J. Sleeper. Pa... 
Gilman Lowd, wis..iu» * 5 • ■ m: 
Contrary to the general testimony, he thinks the 
bull thicker than that of the common oat.” 
J. M. Hpctnco, Iowa...*. 
John B. Sells, Ohio.... 
'• The Norway* ripen about ten days earlier than 
common oats.’’ The general testimony is u week 
later. 
M. Anderson. Wis...... 
Jaiue# Thompson. Ill.... ... 
Grow seven feet high. 
G, H. Miller, Wis... 
G. G. Spattlgue, Pa. 
A. M. Parker, Ohio. 
,T. B. Coler, Mich.* 
William CrUchlOW, Ind. 
R. A. Wilson, fnd,..... 
Wliitam J- Blnkslee, Pa. >•••• 
Jonathan Blh*», IU.•••••••■••;. 
One grain produced over 10,600 grains. 
Jonn Custer, Mich. ••••• 
75 bushels, 
10K bushels. 
45 bushels. 
561-10 bushels. 
86 bushels. 
56 bush, and 14 q’ti 
X peck. 
16 pounds. 
30 pounds 
1 bushel. 
1 quart. 
OYSTERS 
i rods. 
K acre. 
. acre. 
L rods, 
Oysters may he kept 
Keeping Oysters. 
fresh, and even fatted, by placing the convex 
or roundest side of the shell downward in a 
tub or vessel, filled with salt water. Some 
add Indian or oat meal to fatten them. 
Every day the water must he turned off and 
the operation repeated. If the shells are not 
clean they should previously he washed. 
Oysters are unfit to he eaten when dead, and 
where one’s facilities are not good for ob¬ 
taining them often, it is well to know how 
to keep them alive and healthy for a week 
or two. They should be kept in a cool 
place, but not allowed to freeze. Five or 
six ounces of salt to a gallon of water is 
considered sufficient. A tablespoonful is 
about one ounce. 
To ascertain if the oyster is alive, as soon 
as the shell is opened touch it gently with 
your knife and it will contract. In opening 
the shells be careful not to cut the oyster. 
Keep the knife close to the shell, and he 
96 bush, and 6 pecks 
2K bushels. 
1 bushel 
1 quart. 
1 acre. 
1-32 acre. 
85 bushels and 2 lbs. 
14 bushels. 
246 bushels. 
21% bushels. 
71 bushels. 
141X pounds. 
66 quarts. 
61 bushels. 
IK bushels. 
16 bushels. 
63X bushels. 
4 bushels. 
62K bushels. 
371 bushels. 
46 bushels. 
80 bushels. 
6 bushels. 
92 quarts. 
158 pounds. 
50 bush., weight 36 ft 
1 bushel. 
8 quarts. 
2.X bushels. 
K bushel. 
1 bushel. 
1 pound, 
l quart. 
IK bushels. 
1 quart. 
4 pounds. 
1 bushel. 
2 pounds, 
l bushel. 
4 bushels. 
K bushel. 
1 bushel. 
2 quarts. 
1 pound. 
1 pound. 
15 pounds. 
2X acres. 
l acre. 
acre. 
rods. 
acre. 
aores, 
acre. 
acre. 
Jonn ('uH«r, Mien,. 
Daniel Ray, Vt. 
A. M. Valler. Ill. 
O. S. Millard, Wis... 
P. A. L. Cotitee, Md 
John Llndnay, Pa... 
Eli Burger, Ohio.... 
Daniel Drew, N. V.. 
W. Y. Porter, Iowa . 
Geo. Williams, Minn 
Adam Raukin, proprietor of the Premium Farm of Illinois, says: 1 have this year grown the 
following varieties of Oats: “Surprise,” “Potato.” “Black Swedish,” “ White Swedish," “White 
Bbonen,” ** Russian," and “Kamsdell Norway.” The latter is better in quality, and in yield has 
doubled that of all the others. One bushel of this seed yielded as much as live bushels of the 
Design for Match Safe.—Cut out of binder's 
board the shield. Make the two boxes of cylln- 
