Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 December 1877 — AGRICULTURAL AND DOMESTIC. [ARTICLE]

AGRICULTURAL AND DOMESTIC.

Around the Farm. Dr. Ward detailed a case of extraordinary recovery from epilepsy, the patient being placed upon a celery diet.— Report British Vegetarian Society. Thk only safe way, if improvement is the object, is to breed from fall-blood males. Always use such, and the pure blood will rapidly gain the ascendency. Utica Republican. It pays well to keep pig-pens clean, and with a warm sleeping apartment, with plenty of straw. Hogs will fatten much faster in a comfortable pen than in one that affords but little protection against cold winds and storms.—Exchange. To a farm like mine, not favored with any living brook or spring, I consider a good wind Mil a most important and valuable piece of machinery. Mine not only saves the labor of primping, but furnishes an abnndant supply of water at all times for house use as well as for all stock on the farm.— Detroit Tribune. At one of the county fairs, two farmers, one of whom was the exMbitor of a simple half-bushel of wheat, held this little dialogue: ExMbitor—“l raised ninety-two bushels of wheat like that on four and one-half acres of land.” His neighbor—“ Well, if I had read that in a paper I wouldn’t have believed it, but, if yon say it is so, it is so, of course, ana Fm an infernal fool to be buying my flour, as I have done for ten years and must do this winter, for my land is just as good for wheat as yours.” There is a whole agricultural sermon in that little dialogue, and it is one which has been preached a hundred times and made hundreds of converts tMs fall. Scores of farmers, who last spring couldn’t be made to believe that wheat could be profitably raised in New Hampshire, believe it now.— Mirror and Farmer. Forest leaves are excellent to mix with hot-bed material, and, where practicable, should be saved for this purpose. They do not heat so rap : dly as stable manure, and in tMs have an advantage as tempering its violence, making it last longer, and maintaming a more regular heat. They are excellent material to put round cold frames to protect half-hardy plants. A board is put up the height of the frame-boards, and about a foot or more from them, and the leaves filled in between. If the plants are somewhat tender, the bottom of the frames may be filled in a few feet with the leaves. Much heat is thrown off during the decomposition of the leaves, which, though not enough to keep out a severe frost, yet modifies somewhat the temperature. These leaves, after they have been two or three years decaying, make admirable stuff for potting and for flowers in general.— Gardener's Monthly.

Care of stock, so far as their proper bedding, feeding and ventilation are concerned, is too important a matter for the thrifty farmer to neglect attending to himself. However trustworthy his assistants, judging by our own experience, ii; will pay him well at the close of the season to see, each evening, that his cattle, horses, sheep and hogs are well bedded, fed and watered. Scarcely less important is the proper ventilation of the buildings in which his stock are wintered. Wliile the entrance of draughts aud cold is to be carefully prevented, it should be borne in mind that domesticated animals, like man himself, need fresh, wholesome air, and, if compelled by ignorance or carelessness to breathe a foul, tainted atmosphere, it is at a serious risk of health and consequent profit. A visit to the bam, stable and pig pen early in the morning will at once warn the observant farmer of defective ventilation.— Moore's Rural.

It is surprising to see the quantity of potatoes that can be grown from one pound of seed. Last season parties that did their “level best,” in competition for some tempting prizes, succeeded in producing from one pound of the Alpha potato, from 1,280 to 1,982 pounds! In these experiments each eye was cut from the seed, and planted in separate hills ; and the land was covered with an immense coat of stable-dung, and plowed or forked in. Then ashes, bone-dust, lime and other fertilizers were applied without stint, at the rate of SSOO worth to the acre ; and, when the clouds failed to supply sufficient moisture, water was supplied from other sources. This is “ high farming ” in reality—no half-way work ; and it was shown that one can not easily apply too much manure to potato land. Potatoes require a good deal of potash, and farmers can not make a mistake in applying to the land on which they are grown either ashes or commercial fertilizers that contain a large percentage of potash. It comes cheapest in muriate of potash, being fifty per cent, of actual potash, and selling at $2.50 per 100 lbs. — Rural New Yorker. About the House. Eat Graham pudding and milk for breakfast. Mend coal-scuttles with flour paste arid Canton-flannel. A cement of ashes and salt will stop cracks in a stove. Wicks must be changed frequently to insure a good light. Acidity op the Stomach. —This can be corrected by using alkalies. Borax is good, if used properly; take a small pinch several times a day; too much might cause nausea. Bread-Making. —We use a2-cent cake of yeast dissolved in three pints of luke-warm water. This makes three loaves of bread and one pan of rolls. Our bread is excellent. Fob Dyspepsia. —Bum alum until the moisture in it is evaporated ; then take as much as you can put on a dime, about half an hour before eating. Three or four days probably will answer; but take it until cured. Dark Steamed Pudding. —To be steamed two and a half or three hours. One cupful molasses, one cupful of sweet milk, two cupfuls of butter, four cupfuls of flour, one teaspoonful soda, three-quarters cupful of fruit; spice to suit the taste; to be eaten with sour sauce. Boston Tea Cakes. —One well-beaten egg, two table-spoonfuls of sugar, one cupful sweet milk, one teaspoonful soda dissolved in the milk, two teaspoonfuls of cream of tartar sifted in the dry flour, two heaping cupfuls of sifted flour, one table-spoonful of butter, melted; bake in small tins. Celery. —Celery can be kept for a week or longer by first rolling it up in brown paper, then pin it up in a towel and keep it in a dark place, and keep as cool as possible. Before preparing it for the table place it in a pan of cold water, and let it remain for an hour. It will make it crisp and cold. Corning Beef. —For 100 pounds of beef take seven pounds salt, two pounds sugar, two ounces saltpetre, two ounces pepper, two ounces soda; dissolve in two and a half gallons of water ; boil, skim, and let cool; when a scum rises after a few weeks scald the brine over, and by so doing and keeping meat entirely covered with brine, it will keep a year and more. Jelly Cake Rolls. —Four eggs, beat whites and yelks separately; one teacupful white sugar, one teacupful sifted flour, one teaspoonful cream-tartar, one-half teaspoonful soda dissolved in a very little hot water; flavor with the juice of on© lemon; beat all well together; spread quarter of m i»oh thieh

in a square tin; bake quickly; then torn bottom side up, spread with jelly, and roll up while hot;* this recipe makes three rolls.