1902 
8o7 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
Ways and Means of the Farmer’s 
Wife. 
The average farmer’s wife and daugh¬ 
ters have less money for their personal 
expenses than the women in almost any 
other station in life. This is rather a 
sweeping statement to make, yet it is 
only too true in the majority of cases. 
This is not attributable to a parsimoni¬ 
ous husband or father, which is an un¬ 
merited slur too frequently cast at the 
farmer paterfamilias. If a farmer be 
rich or well-to-do, the expenditures are 
very large in progressive farming, for 
the improved farm implements are all 
high priced, and the best wear out with 
a few years of constant use, and have to 
be replenished again, or the work can¬ 
not be done properly. If a farmer be 
poor there isn’t any spare money for 
anybody. As a woman’s first natural 
impulse is usually self-denial, she will 
frequently go without many things she 
ought not to, for the general good of 
the farm and those who do the work. 
Of course the acres may be growing 
broad and fertile, while she uncon¬ 
sciously pursues her self-forgetful way, 
denying herself the luxuries life is too 
short to lose. But there is a remedy for 
this that numerous housewives should 
give practical consideration. There are 
many byways to agriculture, or house¬ 
keeping, wherein a woman can earn 
money which she will feel is exclusive¬ 
ly her own, with the right to spend it 
in any way she chooses. The farmer’s 
wife is never afraid of work in whatever 
guise it comes, and there are many lit¬ 
tle things which she can do outside of 
her regular work, provided she has 
good help in her kitchen. This is im¬ 
perative, and a matter of economy, 
whether a housekeeper be rich or poor, 
for no woman can do the best she is 
capable of doing when she works un¬ 
aided on a farm. Efficient help gives 
. her the liberty to use both her hands 
and her brains, and she can accomplish 
many things outside of the regular mon¬ 
otonous routine of housework, which 
will be practically of far more value to 
herself and household than her own 
labor alone could be. 
There are many possibilities open for 
the woman who has a garden plot at 
her command. Small fruits and vege¬ 
tables may be grown as well by a wo¬ 
man as by a man, and even better, as 
it forms a hygienic occupation which is 
especially fitted to her general needs. 
Strawberries, raspberries, currants, 
gooseberries and grapes are all possible 
sources of revenue. It. is not necessary 
to go into this work extensively to make 
either of these fruits realize comfort¬ 
able spending money for a housekeeper. 
Again, early vegetables will form an¬ 
other source, asparagus being one of the 
first and most profitable. Rhubarb and 
perennial onions raised for the early 
markets command good prices, and are 
easy to care for. There are many other 
varieties of vegetables which a woman 
can make profitable. A woman whom I 
know, one whose husband is a well-to- 
do man, makes a specialty of cultivating 
peppers. She takes the whole care of 
them herself, and realizes quite a large 
sum of money each year by this means, 
the amount being fully adequate for her 
personal needs. The seeds are sown 
early in shallow boxes. When the 
plants are about two inches high they 
are transplanted into other shallow re¬ 
ceptacles, remaining in them until about 
June 1, when they are set out in the 
open ground. The ground in which the 
peppers are grown should be made very 
rich with fertilizers for a successful 
growth. The peppers are sold when 
green to wholesale dealers. 
A second industrious farmer’s wife 
raises tomato plants for sale. The seeds 
for these are sown in cold frames, and 
are transplanted from them into boxes. 
To produce exceptionally fine plants 
which command the highest prices, 
each plant should be transplanted into 
a separate pot. The ordinary plants are 
sold wholesale to dealers, 100 plants in 
each box, the prices varying with the 
season. Another farmer’s wife makes 
a practice of saving all of the pumpkin 
seeds. This work, of course, comes late 
in the Autumn. The seeds are cleaned, 
dried, and sold to wholesale dealers. 
Some years she saves several bushels 
of seed. Any of this outside work 
though should not be indulged in un¬ 
less the household includes several 
workers. There is no farmer’s wife but 
what has more than she ought to do 
already, without trying extras, unless 
she makes a special provision for this 
matter. sauaiii rodney. 
Gathered Here and There. 
Apple Butter.—Mrs. C. has just made 
seme apple butter. As she had to buy 
the bottled boiled cider at the grocery, 
she had, in a measure, to make her own 
recipe. The result was so satisfactory 
that those who tasted the apple butter 
announced their intention of making 
seme just like it. She pared, cored and 
quartered tart juicy apples until she had 
six quarts prepared. These were cover¬ 
ed with water and allowed to stew for a 
few minutes. Next she added two bot¬ 
tles of boiled cider (one quart). The ap¬ 
ples were boiled slowly for nearly four 
hours, being stirred often to prevent 
burning. When done it was a smooth 
soft mass. Next were added a teacupful 
of granulated sugar, and a dessertspoon¬ 
ful of ground cinnamon. The butter was 
allowed to boil for a few minutes longer 
until the sugar was dissolved, when it 
was put in cans. Doubtless some would 
prefer to omit 'the cinnamon, but to 
those who like spices it is a very pleas¬ 
ant flavor. 
Suet Pudding.—“What do you make 
for dessert now?” queried a neighbor 
one day last Winter. One item of the 
reply was “suet pudding.” 
“Suet pudding! heavy, indigestible 
stuff, I never make it, my mother used 
to,” was the quick retort. Now Aunt 
N.’s suet pudding was not the kind 
neighbor’s mother used to make. It cer¬ 
tainly is not heavy nor indigestible, and 
its advent is always hailed with univer¬ 
sal approbation. Here it is: One cup¬ 
ful molasses, one cupful beef suet chop¬ 
ped fine, one cupful sour milk, one tea¬ 
spoonful saleratus, one cupful stoned 
raisins, one-half teaspoonful salt, four 
cupfuls flour. Mix thoroughly. Put in 
a buttered basin in the steamer oyer a 
kettle of boiling water. Steam for four 
hours. Do not disturb while steaming; 
at least not for the first hour. If you 
do not wish to use suet, try Nellie C.’s 
recipe for steamed pudding: One cupful 
molasses, one egg, one cupful hot water, 
one teaspoonful saleratus, one table¬ 
spoonful butter, one cupful raisins, ston¬ 
ed, a little salt, flour enough to make 
stiff as cake, steam two hours. With 
this pudding she uses the following 
dressing, which is delicious. Cream un¬ 
til very light one cupful of brown sugar, 
and nearly one-half cupful butter, a lit¬ 
tle salt, and one-fourth teaspoonful of 
vanilla. Just before serving beat in the 
unbeaten white of one egg. This dress¬ 
ing will also be appreciated when served 
with the suet pudding. 
The same good cook makes a melting 
hickorynut cake. It was new to me, and 
probably will be to many readers of The 
R. N.-Y. It is a layer cake and for the 
cake part use any recipe you choose. 
For the hickorynut filling, use one cup¬ 
ful thick sour cream, one cupful granu¬ 
lated sugar, one cupful hickorynut meats 
chopped (not. too fine). Mix thoroughly 
and boil till of the consistency of paste. 
It needs careful attention; a little prac¬ 
tice will teach you how much it needs 
boiling to reach the perfect state to 
which it can be brought. Spread on 
cake while warm. 
Cherry Pudding in Winter.—Nearly 
fill a buttered baking dish with the sour 
canned cherries. (At least that is the 
kind we use). Use just enough of the 
juice so the cherries will be moist. 
Spread over this a dough made from 
one-fourth teacupful sugar, one table¬ 
spoonful butter, one-half cupful milk, 
one egg, a little salt, one cupful flour 
(use a little more if necessary to make 
dough like cake), one teaspoonful bak¬ 
ing powder. Bake half an hour. Sauce 
to serve with it is made as follows: One- 
half cupful butter, one-half cupful sugar, 
one tablespoonful of flour or cornstarch. 
Mix thoroughly. To this add a pint of 
the cherry juice. Boil till it thickens. 
Beet Dressing.—One cupful vinegar, 
one-half cupful sugar, butter the size of 
a walnut, salt and pepper to taste, scant 
tablespoon of cornstarch or flour. Mix 
thoroughly, boil till it thickens, pour 
over the sliced boiled beets and serve 
immediately helen c. Andrews. 
With the Procession. 
Mary had a little pig, 
Which grew and thrived quite smart. 
It brought a little fortune 
When sold out of the cart. h. s. 
Religion is like fashion; one man 
wears his doublet slashed, another 
laced, another plain; but every man has 
a doublet. So every man has his reli¬ 
gion. We differ about trimming.—John 
Selden. 
The clock strikes at intervals; the 
ticking is momentary. We hear the one, 
we do not notice the other. Yet the 
hour stroke comes not if the ticking 
fails. Life is made up of the constant 
quietly passing moments, not of the sud¬ 
den strikes.—Gerard F. B. Hallock. 
Even children drink Grain-O 
because they like it and the doc¬ 
tors say it is good for them. Why 
not ? It contains all of the nourish¬ 
ment of the pure grain and none 
of the poisons of coffee. 
TRY IT TO-DAY. 
At grocers everywhere; 15c. and 25c. per package. 
In each pound package of 
Lion Coffee 
from now until Christmas will 
be found a free game, amusing 
and instructive—50 different 
kinds. 
Get Lion Coffee and a Free Game 
at Your Grocers. 
TELEPHONES 
High-grade Telephones for farmers’ lines 
a ml exchanges. Goods shipped anywhere on 
30 DAYS’ TRIAL, lowest prices. Best 
goods. Catalogue sent free. Write to-aay. 
The Williams Electric Telephone Co., 
84 Seneca Street, Cleveland, O. 
AMERICAN 
BUFFALO 
ROBES 
are a thing of the past, 
but we have the Kazoo Buffalo 
Robe, a substitute that has every appearance and 
many advantages over the Genuine Buffalo Skin 
Robe, flrBt quality only. Made of very heavy KIDKK- 
DOWN, pliable, soft, lined with astraehan and much 
warmer than a stiff skin Robe. Interlined with rubber 
cloth, wind and water proof, Wholesale Pries *6.60, % 
the price of askin robe. Money back i f notsatisf actory. 
Catalog (1 83, tree. Cash Sappy * Jit*. Co., Kalamaioo, Mich. 
A GOOD POSITION and a 
larue salary always await an 
expert Book-Keeper. W e teach 
you book-keeping thoroughly 
by mail, and make absolutely 
noeharge for tuition until we 
place you In a paving position. 
If you wish to better yourself, 
write for our guarantee offer 
and our FREE book. 
Commercial Correspondence Schools 
2t(J WE, G. S. S. Buildings. 
ROClUiSiKH, N. Y. 
WATER CLOSET COMBINATIONS, 
Porcelain Bowl. Hardwood Seat and Tank, 
Niekel Plated ilush and supply pipes, com¬ 
plete, each ll.OO. 
Cast Iron Roll Rim Bath Tubs, 
length f> ft. Complete 
with full set of niekel 
plated ilttings, each, 
» 11 . 00 . 
They are new goods, 
ask for free catalogue 
No. 57 on plumbing 
and building material. 
Chicago House Wrecking Co., W. 35th and Iron Sts.,Chicago 
TERRIFF’S PERFECT WASHER 
CCUT RN TRIAI wit h a positive guarantee to wash the 
Wbll I UH ■ niMk collars and wristbands of>the dirtiest shirt 
perfectly clean, without the use of the washboard or hand rubbing, 
with no injury to the most delicate fabric. Will do a family wash¬ 
ing in one hour; saves time, labor and expense. 
CE3KIE We want good, reliable and industrious agents, and in 
iRloka order to secure your help will send one of our washers 
absolutely FREE. Write today for FREE catalogue and full particulars. 
PORTLAND MANUFACTURING CO., 165 Pearl St., Portland, Mich. 
Two 
Feet in 
Comfort 
It will be a guarantee of 
lasting comfort if you insist 
on getting your heavy rubbers, 
rubber boots, wool boots and 
socks with tho R.e<l Ball in the 
trado mark. There are no goodB 
made that give half the comfort or 
anything liko the durability of the 
Ball-Band 99 
Insist on getting them. There are imitations. 
The proved merit of the “Ball-Band” is the 
hardest argument for unscrupulous com¬ 
petitors to overcome. Look for the 
Ited Ball in the trade mark. 
Sold everywhere. Get them 
from your dealer. 
MISHAWAKA WOOLEN M F R. CO., Mishawaka, Ind. 
Best of all BLOOD PURIFIERS is 
JAYNE’S ALTERATIVE. It cures Scrofula. 
