Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1869 — Farm and Household. [ARTICLE]

Farm and Household.

USEFUL ttWlr-ES, ETC. To Remove Old Putty. —Dip asmal brush in nitric or muriatic acid and with it anoint or paint over the dry putty that adheres to the broken glass and frames of your windows; after an hour’s interval, the putty will have become so soft as to be easily removable. —/Scientific American. Johnny Cake.—' The following is said to be a recipe for a No. 1 cake: One egg, well beaten; two and a half or three cups of sour milk; saleratus sufficient to sweeten; Indian meal, two parts, and flour one part euougn to make a thin batter. Bake in a quick oven about fortyfive minutes; longer if necessary. A correspondent of the Canada Farmer , who sold ihe milk from twentysix cows to a cheese factory last year, commenced feeding corn on the last of July from an acre planted in drills. In September he omitted tfife corn for four days, aud the result was a diminution of tittytwo pounds of milk a day. The corn feed 9)g whs again resumed, and in four days the cows gave their customary quantity of milk. Tuk asparagus-growers at Oyster Bay, L. 1., find that, by dusting the plants attacked by the larva) of the asparagus beet le with lime, they caneffectually destroy it. lu docs not affect the beetle itself, which is qllffe lively and readily jumps away if annoyed by anything, but the lan® being very thin skii.ned, it appears to burn them or dry them up as soon as it touches them. By frequently going'over tbe beds, i:s ravages may be completely arrested. How to preserve ice for a considerable length of domestic purposes, aEd especially the sick-room, is told by an exchange thus; “Make two bags of stout woolen fabric; the inner one should be .fourteen inches wide by fourteen inches deep; the outer bay should be at least two Inches- wider- each way. After placing one inside the other, stuff feathers between tiie two, and sew the bags together at the top.” The Journal of Horticulture says that in summer pruning grape vines, if the laterals are wholly cut out, it will be aptffo cause tho buds on whicn the next season’s crop depends to push this summer to the great injury, if pot the total loss of the crop. The laterals should have at lea'st one joint left; and perhaps it would be better not to> stop them at all, as they are intimately connected with the organization of the buds at their base. American vines will not bear the close summer pruu ing that is given in Europe.

The following method of packing corn for market is recommended by several market-gardeners who supply large cinniug establishments: The ears of corn are thrown indiscriminately in a barrel, the number of ears, however, being carefully kept, until it is filled within six or eight inches of the top, when the whole is finished 611 with a number of good large ears placed upright,—the point of the ear downward. After these last ears are fitted iu nicely,-the butts are driven down with the flat side of a piece of board two feet long by eight inches wide. This method keeps the corn in its place in the barrel, and prevents it from being injured while iu transit. When corn is intended for open market, it cm be packed in truckbaskets holding from four to six dozen ears, the wlmlmfinished off in the manner described above.— Hearth and Home. Procure four glass tumblers or common glazed teacups; aud having wiped them dry as possible, hold them over the fire to evaporate any moisture which may still adhere to their surface ; for if there is the least moisture it makes a connection and spoils the experiment. Place them upon the floor in a square, about one foot apart'; place a piece of board upon the tumblers, and have a person standing upon the board. This person Is now completely insulated, the glass being a non-conductor of electricity. Now take a common rubber comb, and having wound a piece of silk around one end of it, rub it briskly through your hair, and draw the teeth parallel to the insulated person’s knuckles; leaving a little space between the comb and the person’s hand. The result, will be a sharp, cracking noise, and if dark, there will be seen a succession of sparks. Repeat the process until the phenomena cease. The person is now “charged” with electricity, the same as a Leyden jar. To draw off the electricity, approach your knuckles to the person’s hands or his nose (being careful not to allow any portion of your body to come in contact with his), and there will te a loud snap and the sparks will frs very briili&nt. If*a cat be held so the charged person can place hie knuckles la

proximity with the animal’* nose, it will suddenly appear *» » it were in contact with an electric buttery. A glass bottle may be u-ed in lieu of' the comb, but it is not so well adapted £or the purpose. Much amusement may be derivet! from this extremely simple experiment, and some of our numerous young readers will hasten to try it for themselves Ks,change.