320 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Sept, 
It is designed for the use of schools and academies more 
particularly, though most of the words in common use 
will be found in it. -- 
Domeey and Son By Chas. Dickens, in 2 vols. Harper & Broth¬ 
ers. 
This well known and popular story has been brought 
out in a new dress, hut Mr. Dombey wears his new clothes 
with as much dignity and propriety as he did the old. 
His old friends will not fail to recognise him, and show 
him such attention as will be gratifying to himself and 
those who procured this gala suit. 
Pierre ; or the Ameiguities. By Herman Melville. Harper & 
Brothers. 
One of Melville’s rich and entertaining stories. He 
possesses rare facility in the use of language, and a deep 
insight into the workings of the mind, when roused hj 
passion, or laboring under extreme excitement. Mel¬ 
ville is one of the few American writers, who have es¬ 
tablished a reputation abroad. 
Harper’s New Monthly Magazine. Harper & Brothers. 
The August number commences a series of finely il¬ 
lustrated articles on the Holy Land, by John Abbott. 
Its monthly issue has reached one hundred thousand 
copies, and the periodical is conducted with increasing 
spirit and ability. —- 
The New Englander. Published at New Haven, Ct. 
This is a sterling work of the Puritan stamp. The 
August number contains several valuable articles, among 
which we notice one on Lord Bacon, and a finely written 
essay on the ethics of editorship. 
Graham’s Magazine. G. B. Graham: Philadelphia. 
The September number is before us, beautiful and in¬ 
teresting as ever. 
Gypsum for Painting.—Inquiry. 
Mr. Tucker— As many of my neighbors are making 
use of gypsum, or common plaster, mixed with linseed 
oil, for painting the roofs of buildings, it was suggested 
to me that Nova Scotia plaster, which is white, might be 
used to good advantage, as it could be colored to suit 
the fancy. I made known my purpose of trying some 
plaster and oil, to a friend who is more scientific than 
myself, and who says that “ it will answer a poor pur¬ 
pose.” Why? “ Because plaster, having such an affinity 
for water, will readily leave the oil, and escape with it 
during the falling of heavy rains.” 
When plaster, or any other substance in the form of 
paint, is mixed with linseed oil, and spread out on a 
smooth surface, the oil dries, and becomes like a thin 
film, spread out and firmly adhering to the surface of 
whatever body it may be applied, holding the paint or 
plaster mechanically , securely in this thin skin. This co¬ 
vering is impermeable by water , or any other fluid which 
will not first destroy its solidity. Water, we all know, 
is a solvent of plaster—but while it is thus united with 
the oil in a solid state, and there being between oil and 
water, little affinity, is it at all probable that any of the 
plaster will leave the oil in its dry state, and pass off with 
the water? Who, that has had experience in this mat¬ 
ter, will answer. Inquirer. Lakeville, N. Y. 
[for the cultivator. 
Forest Musings. 
How firmly stand the forest trees! 
Earth’s giant sons are they; 
Aronnd iheir tops the fanning breeze 
And skimmering sunbeams play. 
Thus firmly stand those of our race 
Who act the upright part; 
The light of truth is on their face, 
Its home is in their heart. 
How cool the shade the greenwood throws, 
How soft the shadows lie! 
They ask the weary to repose, 
And every passer by. 
Thus Love to all the sons of want 
Its mission would fulfill, 
And if its portion be but scant 
It gives it with good will. 
How musical the streamlet flows! 
And winds its way along; 
The storm beats down, the tempests blow 
But nothing stops its song. 
Thus he who has a cheerful heart, 
Though sorrow broods around, 
Will bid the murky clouds depart 
And give a pleasant sound. 
Hcnv beautiful the wood flowers wild 
O’er all the forest spread! 
They smile as sweet as waking child 
Upon its cradle bed. 
What glorious lessons do ye teach, 
Ye monarchs of the sod! 
Like man ye have a voice to preach, 
Like man ye came from God. C. F. L. F. 
MilwauJcie , Wisconsin. 
How to Fickle Tomatoes. 
Eds. Cultivator —Tomatoes, although rejected by 
many of our country people, are susceptible of being 
prepared for the table in various ways. A nice w r ay is 
by pickeling. I take one peck of tomatoes gathered 
green, and one quart of green peppers; soak them in 
cold water for 24 hours; after which I put them in a 
stone jar with cold sharp vinegar, enough to cover, to¬ 
gether with one ounce of bruised cloves. Keep them in 
a cool place without freezing. Tomatoes pickled in this 
way will keep one year. Elizabeth Dieiil. Bristol, 
Ohio, July 21, 1852. 
"We add to the above the following receipes, the first 
of which we have used with entire satisfaction for a num¬ 
ber of years: 
Tomato Pickles —Take tomatoes two-thirds ripe, 
(when they begin to turn a little red,) prick them with a 
fork, put them in a strong brine, and let them remain 
eight days; then put them in weak vinegar to remain 24 
hours; remove them from this, put them in stone jars; 
and to a peck of tomatoes add a bottle of mustard, an 
ounce of cloves, and an ounce of black pepper ground, 
laying alternately a layer of tomatoes and spices. Then 
pour on strong vinegar cold, and they will be found to be 
delicious. The brine should be prepared by boiling and 
putting in as much salt as will dissolve, then suffered to 
cool. For any kind of pickles it is best when prepared 
in this way. 
Another. —Take the small round tomatoes, let them 
lay in weak vinegar two or three days; then prepare the 
best of vinegar by putting in cloves, allspice, pepper, 
cinnamon, and such spices as one may fancy, and then 
scalding it well. When entirely cold, put in the toma¬ 
toes, and if there is sufficient body to the vinegar, your 
pickles will never require any farther trouble, provided 
they are kept from the air. An ounce of alum to a 
gallon of vinegar is a great improvement to cucumber 
pickles, but the writer has never tried it for tomatoes 
