fortunate as we were, you will not need to regret 
it. For I suppose that American beef will vary 1 
in quality, just as English beef does, and that 
one may happen to get a cut from a prime beast, 
such as would here be sent to the Loudon mar¬ 
ket, or a joint off an ill-fed, leathery sort of ani¬ 
mal, such as wo poor provincials have often to 
put up with. This beast that we fell ou must 
have been a good one, for the steak had a beau¬ 
tiful bit of fat in the middle and a streak round 
the edge, just sufficient, and no more, to make 
the lean ’ eat well.’ It had traveled fourteen 
miles by rail, from a county town in the south of 
Scotland (before that, of course, it must have 
had journeys both by laud aud sea), and three 
miles in a game-bag huug over a groom’s shoul¬ 
ders—trying enough conditions, one would say— 
and yet it was perfectly fresh, aud so pleassnt, 
both to nose and eye, that the cook went into 
ecstacies over it, hoping to add to her culinary 
reputation, which is often at stake when home- 
fed steaks arc to bo cooked. 
“ In the eatmg, the grain seemed a little 
coarser than our English meat, but that was the 
only difference ouo could seo. The flavor was 
much tbo same, and it w T as certainly quite as 
sweet. Tbo roast was not one ol' tbo prime 
cuts, but still it stood the tost, and was much 
relished. The osmazome seemed more abundant 
than in the home-fed, as the odor, the tine 
browu color, and the good gravy testified; and 
there was nono of that overpowering smoll in 
the kitchen that cake-fed beef often gives forth 
in the cooking. 
“As the meat in its raw stato looked very 
juicy, I suspected the presence of an undue pro¬ 
portion of moisture, but by testing this mattor 
by weighing, both before and after cooking, I 
found that, instead of greater loss, there was 
less than in our English beef. Taking the aver¬ 
age of several chemists’ tables, about 25 per 
cent., or 1 Hi. in 4 lbs., is pretty near what beef 
loses in roasting ; but this beef, weighing 7 lbs. 
6 oz. before putting to the fl.ro, maintained a 
weight of 5 lbs. 12 oz. afterwards—that is, a loss 
of 1 If). % oz., or something like 20 per cent. 
This fear, therefore—and it was an important 
matter, greatly affectiug the price — was re¬ 
moved, so far as one experiment could remove it. 
“ There still remains the bone to be considered, 
and I think, from the greater ago of the cattle, 
we may lay our accounts for larger bones than 
we have been accustomed to. Htill, as the bony 
pieces are sold very oheap, the price will nioro 
than make np the dilTereuce. 
“ On the whole, 1 was glad to find things no 
worse, for 1 bad beard terrible stories of the 
beef looking so nutemptlng that intending pur¬ 
chasers had turned away disgusted; of some 
getting sick in eating it, and some gravely de¬ 
claring that it was tough aud striugy, because 
the cattle had been working in the yoke before 
the Yankee kindly slaughtered them for our 
benefit! 
“ Certainly the beef does not seem to have 
come a day too soon, for in spite of the immense 
quantities imported, home prices are fully main¬ 
tained ; and where the British householder of 
limitod means would have been withont it by 
this time, it is bard to say. Without being fully 
aware of it, so far as animal food was con¬ 
cerned, we must have been on the verge of 
famine. 
“Therefore, let farmers take heart, and take 
advantage, too, of the cheap moat, when they 
require to go beyond their own flocks and herds. 
Unless some change sets in, John Bull, whose 
appetite for beef is ail but inexhaustible, will be 
quite able to do ample justice to all parties.” 
- -■ — ■ - 
FROM JULIA M. WHEELOCK. 
Uncultivated (drapes as Food.— Since there is 
such au abundance of wild grapes in this part of 
the country, of course they are utilized, more or 
less, as food; but the seeds are a great objec¬ 
tion, spoiling the otherwise nice and palatable 
dessert. This difficulty may be obviated by rub¬ 
bing them through a colander or sieve, after stew¬ 
ing soft, so that the pulp may be readily sepa¬ 
rated from the seeds, and adding to the juice, 
while it is boiling, one tablespoonful of corn¬ 
starch, rubbed smooth in about a gill of water, 
to two quarts of grape-juice. Sweeten to suit 
the taste. It resembles jelly when cold, but is 
not so rich or concentrated, and is, therefore, 
better for common or everyday use. Wo have 
seen and eaten very nice jelly-cake, the jelly of 
which was made in this way. Dried grapes aro 
used in the same way, except that they should be 
soaked in warm water a few hours before stew¬ 
ing. 
Puff Pie-Crust.—In former days I supposed 
that the lard should be well rubbed into the 
flour, until it would adhere in a mass by pressure 
with the hands, and practiced accordingly; but 
the crust was not “flaky” without extra pains 
of rolling out, and spreading on more lard and 
rolling again. I think that I have since learned 
the art of making puff pastry without so much 
time and trouble, but do not Claim to have orig¬ 
inated the idea. Having tested it thoroughly, I 
know whereof I spoak. Take one piut of uu- 
molted lard—half lard aud half butter is bettor— 
to two pints of sifted flour and a piuoh of salt. 
Cut tbo lard into bits about the size of filberts, 
and drop into the dry flour ; stir it around once 
or twice, until the lard is well covered with flour, 1 
and add one-half pint of cold water, stirring to¬ 
gether into a stiff dough ; work it as little as pos¬ 
sible ; divide it in small pieces; dust the board 
with flour, and roll out and lino the plates ready 
for the fruit, unless you prefer pies as I do— 
with only an upper crust. 
Destroying Eats and Mice —Those who are 
troubled with theso pests may soon be rid of 
them, by placing in their paths dishes of corn- 
meal and flour well mixed (dry) with an equal 
part of finely-pounded glass ; but one cannot be 
too careful to koep it out of the roach of all ani¬ 
mals aud fowls, as it is a violent mechanical 
poison. 
Cleaning Spittoons. — Every woman knows 
what an unwelcome task it is to clean spittoons, 
and would gladly try an easier way, if there is 
one to be found. I havo known some persons to 
beep sawdust in thorn constantly, which is a good 
idea, as it absorbs tho moisture aud renders 
them more easily cleansed: but as I cannot got 
sawdust, I uso paper—browu or newspaper - 
folded sovoral thicknesses. This can bo easily 
removed and bnrnod, and saves a deal of 
troublo; but except for thoso with movablo 
covers this hitter would hardly suffice. 
Vessels in bed-rooms would also bo more easily 
cleansed, as tho sediment would not adhere to 
them, if bousokeepees would always remember 
to put about a half pint of cold water in them 
every morning after they aro w’ashod. 
For scouring knives aud forks, water cement, 
such as is used for cisterns, is quito as good as 
Bath brick, which costs ten or fifteen centB oach. 
In many families enough of tho formor is 
wasted, which was left from the cistern, to last 
them for yoars for scouring purposos. I have 
boon using tho comont for several months, and 
like it just as well as tho seouriug-brick. I use 
a raw potato for rubbing tho knives, and like it 
oven hotter than cork; but they must be wiped 
off with a dry cloth immediately, and not loft to 
dry. The potato makes them very bright; but 
it also stains them if left to dry on. 
■ - ■ 
ORIGINAL RECIPES. 
Corn Starch Cake .—One cup of sugar; one- 
third cup of butter ; oue aud one-fourth cups of 
flour; one-half cup of sweet milk; one-half cup 
of corn starch; two teaspoons of baking powder. 
Cocoanut Cake .—One egg ; one cup of sugar ; 
one tablespoon of butter; two-thirds cup of 
sweet milk; one and two-thirds cups of flour; 
oue teaspoon of cream tartar: one-half teaspoon 
of soda. Cake should bo split open, frosted, 
and coooannt sprinkled on the frosting. 
Baking Powder Cake. White of one egg; one 
cup of white sugar; ono-half cup of sweet milk; 
one and one-third teaspoons of baking powder ; 
one aud one-tbird cups of sifted flour. 
Jell Cake —Two eggs; oue cup of sugar; four 
tablespoons of water; oue cup of flour; two tea¬ 
spoons of baking powder. 
Sponge Cake .—Throe eggs; one cup of sugar ; 
three tablespoons of water; one teaspoon baking 
powder; one cup of flower. 
Number Cake,—One cup of butter ; two cups 
of sugar: two tablespoons molasses ; three caps 
of flour; four eggs ; one teaspoon of Boda ; two 
teaspoons of cream tartar ; one cup of raisins ; 
epico to taste. 
Corn Starch Cake , No. 2.—One cup of sugar ; 
one-half cup of bntter; oue-half cup of sweet 
milk; one cup of flour; ono-half cup of corn 
starch; one-half teaspoon of cream tartar ; one- 
fourth teaspoon of soda. 
Jjemon Peel Cake.—Oao cup of sugar ; butter 
size of an egg; three eggs; three tablespoons of 
sour cream; one aud ono-half cups of flour; one 
teaspoon of cream tartar; one teaspoon of soda. 
Lemon Jelly .—Grate the peels of two lemons, 
and squeeze the juice out; with throe eggs ; two 
cups of sugar; bntter size of an egg; stir it over 
a slow fire until it boils. The above cake should 
be baked in four layers, and the jolly spread on 
the layers, as for jelly cake. Mrs. Kn\vpi\ 
■-♦ ♦ » — — 
USEFUL HINTS. 
To Take Stains ont of Marble. — An equal 
quantity of fresh spirits of vitriol and lemon 
juice: put in a bottle and shako up well; wet 
the spots with the mixture, and in a few minutes 
rub with a soft linen cloth till they disappear. 
To Destroy Wa,rts .—-Dissolve so much com¬ 
mon washing soda as the water will take up ; 
wet the warts with this for a minute or two, and 
let them dry without wiping. Keep the water in 
a bottle and repeat the washing often, and it 
will take away the largest warts. 
To Soften Sponges.—A sponge, when first pur¬ 
chased, is frequently hard, stiff and gritty. To 
soften it, and dislodge tho particles of sea-sand 
from its crevioes (having first soaked and squeez¬ 
ed it through several cold waters), put the sponge 
into a clean tin sauce-pan, set it over the fire, 
and boil it a quarter of an hour. Then take it 
out, put it into a bowl of cold water, and squeeze 
it well. Wash out the sauce-pan and return the 
sponge to it, filling np with clean cold water, and 
and boil it anothor quarter of an hour. Repeat 
the process, giving it three boils in fresh water, 
or more than three if you find it still gritty. 
Take care not to boil it too Jong, or it will be¬ 
come tender and drop to pieces. You may 
bleach it by adding to the water a few drops of 
vitriol. 
Industrial tfojrits, 
IT IS COWARDICE. 
Capitalists aro like a “burnt child, afraid of 
the lire,” and that would be well if they did not 
carry the feeling too far. The wealthy meu 
who have gained by speculation launch out and 
become gamblers, aud when they meet with a 
first rovorso tho cautious ones give way to timid¬ 
ity, and instead of looking out for safe invest¬ 
ments at a fair interest, whore there could be no 
risk, they aro afraid, aud thus justify the in¬ 
quiry, “ Is it cowardice ?" 
In England, whore laud is dear and gives less 
interest than any other kiud of property, ovory 
man of moans purchases a largo domain as soon 
as it is possible to do so. But when tho repairs 
to the buildings on tho farms, and the salary of 
a steward to collect routs and see that the farms 
aro kept fully stocked and the produce con¬ 
sumed iu a way to keep up the fertility of the 
soil, aro paid for, tho balauco in bank is often 
not more than ouo and a half por cent., and 
rarely more than two per cent. The security, 
however, is so safe, the standing of a landed 
proprietor so elevated, aud the feeling of being 
a country gentleman, as well as having a town 
residence, so gratifying, that every man who 
makoB a fortune contrives to gain possession of 
some largo estate, with its mansion, and a num¬ 
ber of farms, with their homesteads, all around it. 
It is cowardice whioh prevents moneyed men 
in the United States from doing tho same, for 
although they could in this way get a good in¬ 
terest on their money, they are afraid to go tho 
only way to work to secure a permanently safe 
return, by binding by lease every tenant to farm 
on such a system as to improve, instead of run 
down tho soil. It is true some men in tho West 
rent farms ; but look at tbo difference from En¬ 
glish farming. Thoso lauds are rich and uatu- 
rally hotter than much of tiro soil in the old 
countries; but instead of any restrictions as to 
selling away the strength of the land iu market¬ 
ing ike raw production, they are allowed to con¬ 
tinue growing corn and grain year after year 
and to send all away, the value of manure being 
foreign to the idea of owner or tenant. 
Now that moat can bo sent to Europe and that 
almost every production has a ready sale, wliat, is 
there to provent a millionaire iu New York, or 
any other largo city, from buying a large tract of 
laud and becoming a power in tbo country, like 
the English aristocrat, or rather say the English 
country gentleman, for tbo titled men of the 
present day iu England and all the body of land¬ 
owners aro, as a class, the most affable, aud in¬ 
crease their revonuca by improving their land 
aud the condition of their tenants, iuatoad of 
very few flies or mosquitoes, oxcept around tbo 
ponds and marshcB, and thero they aro not so 
numerous as t hey aro in many places in Indiana, 
Illinois, and other Northwestern States. Along 
the coast of the Gulf of Mexico,'mosquitoes and 
sand flies |are sometimes quito bad. Thero aro 
but few snakes and alligators in Middle Florida.” 
It has long boen onr desire to spend a season 
in Florida for tho boIo purpose of making addi¬ 
tions to our entomological cabinet; but if in¬ 
sects aro so scarce, wo shall cease to regret tho 
circumstances which havo heretofore prevented 
us from visiting that promised land. Besides, 
we now know why objects of natural history 
gathered in Florida command such good prices 
among naturalists. 
Now, when we hear of any othor colooptoriHt 
collecting twelve hundred now and undcscribod 
species of beetles in Florida, as did Messrs. 
Schwarz aud Hobhard two years since, wo shall 
not believe it, because insects are really scarce 
there, and we have the above as proof of it. 
Then again, when another bug-hunter tells us, 
as one did a short time since, that bug-huuting 
in Florida is rather a precarious business, inas¬ 
much as every time he turned over an old log, in 
looking for specimens, he had first, to kill a 
venomous snake or two and a half-dozen centi¬ 
pedes, and by tho time those preliminary affairs 
were attended to, the bugs which may havo been 
secreted there had disappeared! No, we shall 
not believe such yarns again, but will know that 
those who tell them do so merely to got us to 
pay an exorbitant prico for the specimens thoy 
offer for sale. 
If thero is any roally good place “down 
South " where insects are plentiful, wo hope 
some one will inform us of tho fact before tho 
cold weather again sets in np hero in the North. 
---— 4 » ♦ ■ ■ 
FARMERS AS LEGISLATORS. 
I was thinking to-day how it was possible that 
tho greatest interest in the great Republic had 
tho least representation of any branch of indus¬ 
try in tho National and State Governments. 
Is it possible that thero cannot bo found 
among agriculturists, men with brains enough to 
represent their own interests and those of their 
oo-laborors? Often, when some needed legisla¬ 
tion is proposed iu response to our demands, tho 
legislator of tho common stripe is ready to put 
on a broad grin or takes up bis daily paper. It 
is strange that people whoso Interests are solely 
on tho farm should elect as their representative 
some banker or lawyer who has has not tho 
slightest practical acquaintance with tho subject 
which is of vital importance to them. I hope 
that farmers, like myself, may be induced to de¬ 
mand a Secretary of Agriculture, and if they do 
so unanimously, their demand is not likely to bo 
rofuaod. Wo should also see to it that we are 
better represented in our legislative halls. 
Urbana, Kan. Jas. M. Allbn, 
jihmtuljfrir. 
BERKSHIRE SWINE. 
There aro parties here who claim to have 
pure Berkshire swine, the animals being of a 
reddish color. Now, I supposed that Berkshires 
were white, and I write to ask if yon will favor ns 
with a full description of thin famous brood, in 
order that myself aud neighbors may know more 
about it than we do at present. 
Atso, will you tell us what is good for tender- 
footed pigs, and what is the best food to hasten 
engaging in railroad speculations, “ rings,” and footed pigs, and what is the best food to hasten 
other gambling and questionable transactions, the growth And fattening of hogs of all ages ?— 
In England tho tenant farmers havo money to G* S. IL. Saudersvillc, (fa. 
In England tho tenant farmers havo mouey to 
buy and keep a heavy livo stock, and it is tho 
duty of a steward to have proof of tho ability of 
a tenant to keep up a full flock of sheep and 
other animals. Hero it would be a great bless¬ 
ing if capitalists would buy land and establish 
numerous largo stock farms, and bind tho ten¬ 
ants to farm upon a system which would, aR the 
while, reimburse the land for everything grown 
upon it. From the extraordinary number of 
farms advertised for sale in tho Eastern States, 
and the vast tracts of land lying unoccupied out I 
West, immense domaius might be purchased for 
so low a sum that, by good management, any 
agent acquainted with the system of agriculture 
in England could make it pay. a. o. 
-- 4 » » 
HAPPY FLORIDA! 
In a late issue of the ,Semi-Tropical, we find 
tho following paragraphs in regard to the insects 
and reptiles of Florida 
“ There are no ckegres, centipedes, tarantu¬ 
las, seed ticks, stiuging lizards, hooped and 
jointed snakes, horned toads, or other cadaverous 
insects or reptiles in Middle Florida that will kill 
or swallow a man; if there are, they have failed 
to make themselves known to the writer hereof. 
*• in regal'd to insects and reptiles, there aro 
but few. Snakes are not as numerous as they 
are in tho more Northern States. There are 
Tho old or original Berkshire hogs were black- 
and-white, with an occasional spot of a sandy 
color; but the improved Berkshire of tho pres¬ 
ent day should have nono of the sandy or roddish 
color, aud tho white should bo confined to four 
white feet, a whito spot between the eyes, aud a 
few white hairs behind each shoulder, while all 
other partB should be coal-blaok. Of course tha 
absence of the white markings would not be proof 
of Impure blood; but should there be much 
white, it would be good ground for being sus¬ 
picious, unless tho pedigree was well-established. 
The Improved Berkshire is a moBt excellont 
breed aud well-adapted to tho climate of tho 
Southern States. 
Tender feet in pigs aro usually the result of 
some disease, caused by allowing them to run iu 
filthy, damp pens or yards, and especially in 
cold, frosty, or cool weather. 
To make young pigs grow rapidly, give them 
plenty of milk and slops from tho house, Into 
which put bran, ground or soaked oats, and 
very little, if auy corn. But as the animal gets 
older, stronger aud more fattening kinds of food 
may bo given, such as peas and corn - meal, 
closing up with a month or two of feeding with 
little else but sound corn. Some of the best 
pork we remomber ever to have seen was from 
hogs that had had no coni until within about six 
weeks of the time they were slaughtered 
