August 29.] 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
341 
room of the g /nerality of cottages. IIow devoid of all com¬ 
fort does it appear ! Illness, as we all know, is difficult to 
bear, but when with sickness comes poverty and neglect, how 
doubly painful must the dispensation of an all wise Providence 
be; and when the sufferer is not sustained hy the never failing 
love of “Jesus Christ, and Him crucified,” how pitiable must 
be his position ! It is the duty of all to whom a portion of 
this world’s goods have been given, to minister to the wants of 
others ; and there is no time when our Christian sympathy is 
more wanted than in cases of sickness. 
In order to make good Raspberry Vinegar be careful that 
the fruit is picked on a dry day, and when perfectly ripe; put 
a quart into a large basin, and over them pour one quart of 
best vinegar. Let it stand 24 hours, stir it during that time 
occasionally, strain it through a flannel bag or thick cloth, and 
boil it for ten minutes with pounded loaf sugar, in the pro¬ 
portion of one pound to every pint of liquor. Ho not squeeze 
the bag as it is running through, or it will be thick ; and when 
it is boiling take off the scum as it arises. Pour it into bottles, 
but do not cork it down until it is quite cold, and then keep it 
in a cool place. When you wish to use it put a teaspoonful 
into a wine-glass of water. 
Currant Acid. — Put 12 lbs. of currants that have been 
picked from their stems into a basin, and then melt five ounces 
of tartaric acid in two quarts of spring water ; pour this over 
the currants, and let it remain for 24 hours ; strain it, and to 
each pint of clear liquor add one pound and a half of finely 
powdered sugar ; stir it constantly till it is dissolved, and then 
bottle it. This, if kept in a cool place, will keep good for 
years. Use it in about the same proportions as the raspberry 
vinegar. Raspberry acid can also be made in the same 
manner, merely substituting the raspberries for currants. 
During the hot weather, when children require Cooi.ing 
Draughts, a very pleasant and refreshing one can be made 
thus:—“Cream of tartar, half an ounce; white sugar, four 
ounces; boiling water, three pints : mix it all together and 
put it into a bottle.” A wine-glassful drunk three or four 
times a-day will be found refreshing and wholesome. 
Syrup of Currants or Raspberries is a favourite 
beverage with many people. It is made thus —When the red 
currants are quite ripe pick them from their stems, and put 
them into a stew-pan over the fire until they burst, then press 
them through a sieve, and put the liquor into a cool place 
until it becomes quite cold; strain it through a cloth, and 
sweeten with loaf sugar according to your taste. Do not boil 
it after the currants have burst. A little of this syrup mixed 
with spring water makes a very nice draught. Raspberries and 
cherries make an equally good syrup for those who like the 
flavour of those fruits; but if the latter fruit is used the kernels 
should he taken from the fruit, and put into the bottle when 
the syrup is made.—A Friend. 
DOMESTIC MECHANISM. 
Pea Trainer.— The annexed sketch 
is a representation of an easily made 
contrivance for training peas (or other 
like plants, sweet peas, &c.,) upon. 
Take two pieces of wire, some four or 
five feet long, and bend their upper 
parts as shown in the sketch; connect 
the two together by means of thin wire. 
Insert the ends into the ground firmly, 
in such a manner as that the wires will form a kind of arch 
over the plants beneath. If the wire is made of iron, the 
parts inserted in the ground may he thrust, into pieces of 
charred wood ; this will prevent the damp from acting on the 
metal. If the wires are of zinc this will not be necessary, 
as the metal will not become oxidised like iron. 
American Cottage Gate Spring.— Gates are generally 
hung so as to fall or shut close when left open. This is a 
great desideratum, more especially in gardens—excluding 
animals from them, when otherwise they might gain access 
through the gates, left open by the carelessness of attendants, 
The following plan we saw in America; it was pointed out to 
us as an excellent and simple contrivance :—Procure a circular 
elastic hand some four or five inches diameter, and very 
strong; they can be purchased at almost every stationers; 
make two iron staples, such as is shown to the left of the 
annexed sketch. Fasten one of these 
near to the edge of the post to which 
the gate is hung, and at a height 
about the centre of the gate. In one 
of the cross bars of the gate, at the same ■ 
height as the staple just mentioned, I 
drive in the other staple. The dis¬ 
tance between the two staples should 
be equal to the inside diameter of the 
elastic band when at rest (that is, when 
neither pulled one way or other), when the gate is fully open. 
Pass the elastic band over the two staples—the hooks will 
keep it in its place. When the gate is open the elastic band 
is at its natural state of distension. When the gate is left, 
instead of shutting noisily, ns is generally the case, it falls 
gently forward, the elasticity of the band tending to pull it 
hack, or keep it open, hut the weight of the gate counter¬ 
balances it, anq it arrives at the shutting point with force 
enough to get in the latch gently. This contrivance is greatly 
used in the United States ; it is a useful one, and is cheaply 
and easily attainable. The parts of the staple on which the 
hand rests should be smooth and well rounded; if they were 
left rough and angular, the band would soon he chafed and 
worn through, a is the wall; b, the gate; the position of the 
band is shown by tho thick black line.—B. 
EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE. 
Herd-Scaring. —There is one mode of keeping birds off 
fruit which, ] believe, has not been mentioned in The Cot¬ 
tage Gardener, and yet it seems to he the most effectual 
way. I have, at this time, a kitten tied with a string three 
quarters of a yard long to a ling that slips on an iron rod 
placed horizontally; by this means the kitten can travel over 
a large space up and down, without having a long string to 
get entangled. It was thus treated as soon as it could eat 
and drink, and has not known what liberty is since ; 1 have 
hung an empty cotton reel to a tree close by, which serves 
as a plaything, and the kitten appears to bo “ as happy as 
the day is long." The old cat frequently visits it, and looks 
up at the birds which sit and scream with rage because they 
cannot come down to tiio strawberries. We have gathered 
I should think, double the quantity of fruit in consequence 
of the kitten’s presence. It is now removed to the raspber¬ 
ries, and we are likely to have a bountiful supply—thanks to 
puss ! A large flower pot, placed on its side at one end of 
the rod, serves as a shelter from heat and wet, and (he old 
cat sleeps there with her kitten. In the description of the 
“ Tirydail Shippen Vinery,” there is no mention of a muslin 
screen, which might with advantage be stretched across 
from beam to beam, preventing the dust arising from litter¬ 
ing straw, Ac., reaching the grapes.—I am thy obliged, 
Jannet D. 
Pear Moth. —The larva of this moth are very shy, hide 
themselves very ingeniously hy spinning two leaves together, 
or fixing a leaf on the young fruit lengthwise. Each grub 
occupies its own quarry, for they are not social like the “ tent 
moth” that attacks apple-trees, or the gooseberry caterpillar, 
who share a leaf together, until there is nothing left but the 
stalks or veins. But those are readily discovered, while the 
larva of tho pear moth is hid in all kinds of ways, even in 
the crowns of the young fruit, protected by a web from which 
these caterpillars suddenly drop, or spin down like the most 
of their species when disturbed. 
A writer lately stated that the cocoons of the grubs are 
laid up in the crowns of the fruit, while another denied it 
alleging that the chrysalis would perish when the fruit rotted! 
or was consumed before the following season. Neither of 
those, however, seem to he well conversant with the economy 
of this pest, for their cocoons are usually found rolled up in 
the leaves, in general about a month from the time that they 
attack the trees ; and if any happen to be in the crowns of 
the fruit they are hatched and take wing long before the 
fruit are either ripe or “ rotten.” There are doubts if the 
