FEB.4G 
THE RURAL WE¥¥-¥© 
ER 
sown with corn, as this crop is gathered before 
the Saffron flowers appear, and the furrows 
remain free as pathways for the gatherers; be¬ 
sides which they ere so disposed as to drain the 
plot. In the latter part of October and the 
whole of November the crop is gathered. Women 
gather the flowers early in the morning, and re¬ 
move the stigmata at their leisure. Several 
flowers usually grow from one bulb, in some 
instances as many as ten to twelve. Once 
planted the Saffron plots remain good for two 
years, at the eud of which time they are dug up. 
and in the third year are planted with corn, 
after which they maybe used again for Saffron, 
although they seek to keep the plots shifting as 
much as possible. Cows are lovers of Saffron 
bulbs, and field mice would commit great havoc 
were they not looked after by the peasants, who 
keep small guns and traps constantly in the 
fields. 
Many of the wealthy landowners owe their 
position to Saffron dealing, which in reality is 
speculation, as the price per kilo ranges from 
100 to 300 lire. The poorer cultivators sell at 
the price of the year, but the richer dealers set 
aside their Saffron in tins if the price does not 
suit them. Some seasons have yielded such 
profits that one year's harvest has surpassed 
the value of the land under cultivation; at 
others the cultivation would have ceased were 
not the beds of two years duration, and conse¬ 
quently no expense entailed to wait the result 
of a second season. The adulteration of Saffron 
is carried out in various ways, the chief one 
being by mixing with it boiled and shredded 
beef, the shreds boing stained with Saffron 
water and afterwards dried. The filaments of 
the stamens are also dyed in the samo manner 
Protestants have now ceased to drown and 
burn old women. Roman Catholics don’t break 
all the bones of people while alive, or tear them 
asunder on the rack, as they formerly did. Doc¬ 
tors don't bleed their patients or poison them so 
much as in years past; and lawyers have the 
decency to cheat Bud sell their clients by ways 
aud means not to shock the feelings of the pub- 
lio. But as for governments, and all those hang¬ 
ing on to places, etc., what can bo expected from 
such men ? They ought to have their country's 
welfare at, heart, and, before every other consid¬ 
eration, do all possible to raiBo the character, 
wealth, and power of hor combined people. But 
the first thought is self, the second self, and all 
other thoughts and purposes are selfish. When 
any good whatever is done by any individual 
member, it was commenced, carried on. and ac¬ 
complished altogether to further the selfish ends 
of the originator. w - *’• 
domestic (ttonomij. 
HOW PATE DE FOIE GRAS IS MADE. 
A CRUEL PROCESS.—EPICURES PHASE HEED. 
If any of our readers feels disposed to order 
Pate de Foie Gras from his grocer after 
reading tho following description of how the 
article is produced, as given in tho Pall Mall 
Gazette, we will giro him credit for having 
a very strong stomach. 
We enter one of the moat famonB factories in 
Strasshnrg. A cool yard greets us, and a bland 
Frenchman, who has become Germanized, like 
intermixed. Another adulterant, is an pj a g C0Re , by the force of circumstances, points 
almost impalpable yellow earth found occasion¬ 
ally in the mountains; and finally, before taking 
the product to market, it is damped with wine or I 
water. Dealers accustomed to buying Saffron 
avoid those adulterated specimens, so that tho 
Aquilan or Abruzzi quality rules higher than 
auy other kind, not exceptin g that of Spain. 
Jnhstuial foptrs. 
“ GOING TO THE DOGS.” 
In fhe Rural of January 20th, under the above 
heading, are some very sensible remarks and 
good advice, which have caused mo to think of 
my bovhood. and of the ignorance, superstition, 
and outrageous folly which were rife, even so 
lately as half a century hack. Cruelty to men, 
children, and animals was prevalent to such a 
degree, that what, I have seen and what my 
good old grand-parents have told me, will not be 
believed by hair the people who read or il 
Although matter of local history, yet it will not 
receive credit from those who harp continually 
on the the blessings of the good old times. 
In those days it was fashionable to feed chil¬ 
dren on the poorest, least nutritious food ; and 
every farmer’s or shopkeeper’s wife who wished 
to ape the great folks, followed in this idiotic 
course. Any eating between meals was.also for¬ 
bidden ; so that I have seen little ones four or 
five yearB old. pick up dirty scraps lying out of 
doors and eat thorn. I knew one young woman 
who was so very religious that she thought it a 
necessity for salvation to be self-denying, and 
to carry the wamc spirit out as regards her chil¬ 
dren for their future good, she punished them 
for trivial and imaginary faults, at the samo 
time feeling very bad in doing so ; and, on ac¬ 
count of these rigorous measures, two of her 
children died from the first sickness, because 
they had neither the constitution nor strength to 
bear the then ignorant treatment of doctors. At 
a school I went to myself, when boys were 
flogged, the teacher would flog another boy, in 
case he came forward and said ho would take the 
blows for the delinquent, borne boys would do 
this for pity's sake, and some would be paid for 
taking the punishment. 
Bull and badger baiting, cock-fighting, etc., 
were common amusements. Witches were be¬ 
lieved in, and horse-shoes were fixed upside 
down over the doom, to keep them from going 
through the keyholes and riding the horses 
round the Btables; and not long before the 
writer's birth they were drowned or burned, or, 
rather, poor old women reported to be witches 
were thus murdered. Ghosts also were fre¬ 
quently seen. But it is not necessary for a na¬ 
tive of Old England to tell this of bis native 
land, for New England has drowned and burned 
many old women, and some young ones too. 
Men also have been denounced and murdered by 
to some hundreds of feathered bipeds huddled to- throw over them a pit 
gether in a corner. Their proprietor explains gether. Tio a bnndfr 
that they are all nino months old, and have cost boil about twenty mil 
him, lean as they are, about 2 francs50 centimes tatoos were cooked in 
apiece; he then makeB a sign to half a dozen and pour the water oi 
hare-armed girls, and six geese are collared and Stir well and when n« 
borne away to a cellar, half underground. yeaBt cakes which ha' 
where wide and sloping stone tables are arranged warm water. Keep 
in tiers. In the murky light it becomes up- then set in a cellar, o: 
parent that hundreds of geese are already lying will not freeze. Bre 
strapped on their backs and gasping on the yeast much quicker 
upper tiers. Our business being for the moment with a yeast oake. * 
at the lower tables, the six girls each takes her for threo or four loav 
goose, lays him gently but firmly on the stone, Cofee Cream. —On 
and then ties down bis wings, body and legs ttnfi . ono larg0 cofr „, 
tight with plaited whipcord, the legs and wings ^ pn ,p nre< i f or (hr 
being well spread out. Tho bird s neck is left R ngar ; one pint of ci 
free, and it seems that duriDg the first threo a d)ah with a 
days he makes a violent use of it; but after- f or two hours, 
ward ho may bo trusted to lie still for tho next t he dish on the hi 
seven weeks; that is, tilt tho hour of release gelatine ia delved ; 
and killing. On the upper tiers are birds who when thoroughly di 
have been lying for three, five or six weeks towol When it begi 
respectively, waiting to bo fed by half-a-dozen which )ia s been pre 
other girls laden with wooden bowlB. Each of frf)tll Rjuso r mold 
these bowls is .filled with a thick white paste, mix ture, and set it i 
made of parboiled maize, chestnuts and buck- hours. To bo eaten ’ 
wheat; and tho mode of administering the din- cannot ho procured, 
nor is for the girl to catch tho goose by tho r round lt before 
neck, open his bill with a little squeeze, and Cream ( 
U,,n put tbreo or four ball, of tho past, doira b| , b< 
hi. throat Ulth her uMle huger Dm i» done ol 
six times per day. But now wo bavo done with [ b ox of eel 
the women, for a man climbs upon the topmost ' 
tier of all, aud proceeds to examine the birds I . uJnrJl Ii 
is to fill, and introduced into that pot between 
two thin layers of mince-meat made of tho 
finest veal and bacon fat. both truffled like the 
liver itself; and one inch depth of the whitish 
lard is then spread over tho whole, that none of 
the savor may escape in baking. When the 
cooking is over, it is packed and shipped to the 
four points of the compass, 
-- *-*-♦ -- 
ORIGINAL RECIPES. 
Molasses Cake .—One egg, one-half cup sugar, 
one cup molasses, one cup sour cream, one tea¬ 
spoon saleratuB, one teaspoon ginger, a little salt. | 
Ginger Cookies .—Two cups sugar, two cups 
molasses, two cups scant full of shortening, one 
cup hot water, one tablespoon saleratns, two ta¬ 
blespoons giDger, one teaspoon alum, oue tea¬ 
spoon salt—if there is none in tho shortening; 
put half of the water on the saleratus and half 
on the alum. Roll them to a medium thickness 
and bake a light-brown in a quick oven. 
Aunt 11-—’8 Pork Oake.—One pound of fat 
salt pork chopped very line and dissolved in one 
pint of boiling water, two cups brown sugar, two 
cups molasses, two tablespoonfulacinnamon, one 
tablespoon cloves, two grated nutmegs, ono 
pound raisins seeded and chopped very fine, ono 
heaping teaspoon soda. 
Sponge, or Jelly Cake .—Throo eggs well beat¬ 
en, ono cup sugar, one cup flour, one teaspoon 
cream of tartar in tho flour, one-half teaspoon 
saleratus in three teaspoons cold water. This is 
just right if baked thin for jelly cake; if a loaf 
is desired, it is safer to put in a little more flour. 
Soft Ilop Yeast .—rare six medium-sized po¬ 
tatoes and boil in two quarts of water; when 
I thoy are done nicely, put thorn in a pan and 
throw over them a pint of flour—then mash to¬ 
gether. Tio a handful of hops in a cloth and 
boil about twenty minutes in the water tho po¬ 
tatoes were cooked in ; then take out the hops 
and pour the water on the potatoes and flour. 
8 tir well and when nearly cool, stir in two good 
yeast cakes which have been dissolved in a little 
warm water. Keep warm till it is very light; 
then set in a cellar, or some cool place where it 
will not freeze. Bread can bo made with this 
I yeast much quicker and better than if started 
with a yeast oake. Ono teacupful is sufficient 
for threo or four loaves. Mrs. S. C. 
Co fee Cream .—Ono third of a box of gela¬ 
tine ; ono largo coffee-cup of very strong coffee 
(as prepared for the table) ; one coffee cup of 
sugar ; one pint of cream. Put the gelatine in 
a dish with a coffee-cup of cold milk. Let it 
vtand for two hours. Then add the coffee and 
set the dish on the back of the range until the 
gelatine is dissolved ; meantime, add tho sugar ; 
when thoroughly dissolved, strain through a 
towol. When it. begins to jelly, stir in the err am 
which has been previously whipped to a stiff 
froth. Rinse a mold in cold water, pour in tho 
cities, found to have a healthier cheek and 
robustcr frames than most of those who aro 
nursed in comfort and supplied with all that is 
conducive to health and vigor, except a plentiful 
supply of air. Old settlers in our own country 
tell with enthusiasm of having had more health 
and happiness in their original rudo shanties 
than they have since enjoyed in their ceiled 
houses and when surrounded by every comfort. 
We make no question hut that there is more or 
loss truth in what the veterans say, and that life 
was roally more buoyant and healthful in tho 
early days, when they breathed more of the free 
healthful air of tho woods, and had thereby the 
tiro of life within them maintained in glow and 
vigor. But. why all this? Because tho flno 
house shuts out the puio atmosphere. Its very 
object is, with many, to cut off us far ns possible 
any contact with tho outer air. Mon in their ig¬ 
norance have thought it a first-rate thing to make 
their houses, as far as possible, air-tight, and In 
the majority of cases have had, and have still, 
no proper means either to maintain a regular 
supply of fresh air, or to remove that which has 
become more or less tainted either by tho breath¬ 
ing of tho inhabitants or by exhalations from the 
ground or the sowers. 
The perfeot house would be ono which would 
give an atmosphere as pure and untainted as 
that to be found in the open air, with, in addi¬ 
tion, all the appliances and comforts which skill 
aud wealth can securo. If this were once made 
good, tho shanty would lose its charm oven to 
memory, and tho free life of the woods would 
not be so indispensable to tho recovery and main- 
tenanco of health as lt is now found to bo. F.von 
then, however, and in the most propitious cir¬ 
cumstances, the necessity for spending more or 
less time in tho open air would not be removed. 
Wo could not admit the bracing cold of winter 
into our houses without discarding a chief pur¬ 
pose for which thoy aro made. Yet that cold air 
iu ail its intensity lias an invigorating influence 
upon the whole man, and it is absolutely neces¬ 
sary to have more or loss of it in order that tho 
human frame may attain and retain its full 
vigor. 
What is the necessary conclusion from what 
wo bavo said ? That the more nearly the purity 
of the atmosphere of our houses is kept to what 
is found out of doors so much the better for our 
health and comfort; and that, therefore, noth¬ 
ing iB of more importance than providing means 
for thorough and continued ventilation. With¬ 
out this, the bettor tho house the worse tho 
home. Is it at ail, then to bo wondered at that, 
ns things are generally arranged, there should 
l>o the greatest degree of sickliness among the 
wealthiest of the population, and often in tho 
most substantial and apparently comfortable 
homes? Tho wonder is not that there is so 
much. Tho only grqunri for surpriso is that 
there is not more. A very large proportion of 
the women especially aro necessarily keepers at 
homo. Their tastes and their duties alike make 
mixture, and set it in a cold place for a few , uicir duties amte make 
hours. To bo eaten with cream, or if real cream j this imperative. Many of them aro never out 
who may be 
He has an eye as judicious 
the good old Puritans In tho good old times, each. 
as that of ft gardener Inspecling melons, and 
hiB is the responsible task of pronouncing what 
birds would die of a natural death within 
twenty-four hours if not dispatched before¬ 
hand. 
If a goose dies of natural death it is good for 
nothing. He must be unstrapped and executed 
at the precise psychological moment when nature 
is growing tired of supporting him, and the 
knack of detecting that moment can only come 
of long practice. This inspector has not been 
a minute on the table before he certifies four 
geese ready for the slaughter. All four of them 
have stomachs of the size of pumpkins, and it is 
a sincere relief to these when a couple of men 
climb up, loose their bonds and bear them out 
of the cellar to a pent-house across the yard, 
full of knives and chopping blocks. A click 
with the chopper on tho neck of each, a rip with 
the knife, and in less than five minutes after 
their transfer the carcasses of the four victims 
are lying in a heap, while then- livers are being 
conveyed with all respect and care to the truffling- 
house. The carcasses, shriveled out of all 
knowledge, are sold for about eightpence apiece 
to peasants, who make soup of them ; the livers 
are first cleaned, then put to scale, and our four 
geese are declared fine birds, for their livers 
weigh from two and a-h&lf to three pounds 
Now, as you say, “ Lot us find the good with 
which this world ia filled," etc. All but tho 
The next step is to take each liver and lard it 
with truffles in the proportion of one-half 
ignorant have outgrown the whole of this mon- pound of truffles to one pound of liver, and 
strons stupidity: yet, by not exercising common 
sense in thiukiDg of the influence the moon is 
said to possess over the earth and earthly pro¬ 
ductions, some still allow themselves to be !el 
like lunatics by the most ridiculous absurdities. 
then to convey it to an ice-house, where it 
remains on a marble slab for a week, that the 
truffle perfume may thoroughly permeate it. 
At the end of a week, each liver being removed, 
is cut into the size required for the pot which it 
cannot be procured, make a soft custard and their houses for days together, and whon 
pour round it before sending to the tablo. they venture out it is but a run and back again. 
. „ „ | i, .... „„„„„„ They breatho almost always an atmosphere more 
Orange Cream. — One largo Juicy orange, two / ...... 
. . , .. t . or less vitiated, lo counteract the injurious m- 
tablespoonfuls of sherry WlUQ, ono cup of sugar, , , , 
,, ' . . , „„„ (luences of tho average houses, experts n hygiene 
ye ks of four eggs, one pint of cream. Put ono ° . , * , , J 
third of a box of gelatine to soak in ono pint of 118 thftt °ne °ught to spend at least four 
cold water. Let it stand until soft. Boil the h«nurs «very day m the open air. Wo suspect 
rind of the orange till tender, Tut the juice of tl,at , for very “ a ” y ,fc *»* 
the orange with it. and the little water in wlucli , , . ’ 
.. , , ,, . . . .. . . of doors as it was for tho young lady to wonder 
it was boiled, then strain into the gelatine and .......... .... J : : 
add the sugar and wine Place the dish in a ' vhy thcme bm dld cske - 
ketUe of boiling water ; when the mixture is hot. But many who could easily so spend that time 
add beaten yelks of the eggs ; stir constantly for °f.“ orc - d,J ,,otb r, « of th « kmd ‘ . Th ^ 
a few minutes to prevent the eggs curdling. Re- roon f 6V °7 dm, f clo8ed «P; ar0 
move from the fire and when perfectly cold, but quernbus about, draughts, and can scarcely set 
before it congeals, stir in the whipped cream, j their feet to the ground for very delicacy 
Beat well; then put into molds and set in a cool v ? uc1 ’ i‘ ersonfl l “ their ™ l!d 
place, or on ice. Mrs. Rustic. believe any one who might toll them that they 
1 were deliberately, though slowly, poisoning 
Correction.—Ed. Rural. Iu theOriginal themselves; yet such is tho fact. Their chil- 
Recipes" in your paper of Dec. 30, there should dr4 . n are puny, Bickly, pale-faced things, and in 
have been in the Cream Sponge Cake one enp of tbeir folly th0 p aren (. H rat her look upon that 
sugar. In the Jelly Rolls there is a part of an- f ac t jjj the case of themselves, and their off- 
other recipe commencing with tho whites of four gprjug as a mark of refinement—a clear proof 
egg B » etc. A Farmers Wife. that they aro delivered from the suspicion of 
- - ■ - rude health and plebeian grossness. It is a 
tvrr - ♦ c\f £ 1* wonderful mistake they make, thus to die by 
llljimc Jntormatimr* inches when they conid daily take a bath of 
^ ' ^ ' health by simply stepping out of doors and 
- -- - . — breathing in all its purity the air of heaven. An 
FRESH AIR. increasing number aro coming to understand 
- this; and when once that understanding becomes 
the rogion of the country where the Globe j universal, and all know and feel that the first 
'anada Farmer is published, the air must prerequisite to good health and the enjoyment 
is season of the year to sufficiently fresh to of life is fresh air, and plenty of it, and when as 
ast the ideas contained in the following, tho result every effort will be made to have our 
applicable, however, to all parts of the houses so constructed that comfort and pure air 
try, and is well worthy of consideration: shall be alike secured, and when every oppor- 
a certain sense civilization enervates, and I tunity shall bo utilized of t- pending more or less 
increase of physical comforts is often , ;" t of d ?, orH ' 
. ,_. „„ * ; .. . . . , if civilization, when of tho right kind, does not add 
d to weaken the individual and causo tho to our comforts by impairing hcallh or shorten- 
to degenerate. Look at the children of the ing our days, but that,, on tho contrary, while it 
poor, with a scanty supply of necessaries— continually adds to the comforts of our homes, 
es ragged, food coarse and scant, home it invigorates the general health, jjj® 
. average term of life, and thus gives everything 
:hed, and all the surroundings depressing; j be f r0fl ]jf 6 Q f the savage can secure, while 
somehow or other, if their faces are washed, it has unnumbered benefits and blessings pecu- 
are, except in the lowest slums of our large liarly its own. 
FRE8H 
In the rogion of the country where the Globe 
and Canada Farmer is published, the air must 
at this season of the year to sufficiently fresh to 
suggest the ideas contained in the following. 
It is applicable, however, to all parts of the 
country, and is well worthy of consideration: 
In a certain sense civilization enervates, and 
the increase of physical comforts is often 
found to weaken the individual and causo tho 
race to degenerate. Look at the children of the 
very poor, with a scanty supply of necessaries— 
clothes ragged, food coarse and scant, home 
wretched, and all the surroundings depressing; 
yet, somehow or other, if their faces are washed, 
they are, except in the lowest slums of our large 
