Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 May 1873 — FARM AND HOUSEHOLD. [ARTICLE]

FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.

—Cream Pie.—Whites of two eggs, one jablespoon of flour, one tablespoon heaping full of sugar, ope teaspoon of lemon; cream suffleientto fill the dish. This is only enough for one pie. —To Remove Grease.—Take one-quarter pound castile soap, one-quarter pound ammonia, very strongest, one ounce sulphuric ether, one ounce spirits of wine, one ounce glycerine. To mix this cut the soap fine ana dissolve in one quart of soft water, then add four more quarts of witter and ail ingredients. —The Practical Farmer mentions a, cranberry field in Burlington Co., N. J.) containing one hundred acres, which last season employed three hundred hands, who picked by the bushel, clean as they go, making good wages. Fifty acres picked over, yielded 7,000 bushels, four acres of which produced, which seemed to them enormous, 1,000 bushels. Twenty- acres more gave only 3,000 bushels, and the remainder made up. the quantity to over 7,000 bushels, yet tire owners complain of the shortness of the crop. —Milk for butter making should be handled gently and put at rest as soon as possible. A reduction of temperature is desirable as soon as the milk is drawn, but this should be effected with the least possible amount of stirring. The more it is stirred, the less will be the yield of cream. When set, it should be protected from even the “least Jar. Churning in a milk room, or any work that jars the building, will retard the rising of the cream. Milk, to get the best yield of cream, requires absolute and undisturbed rest. —To clean sweetment jars or bottles, pour in the jars hot water and a teaspoonful or two of pearlash. The contents which remain sticking to the sides aud bottom of the jar will be disengaged _ by the pearlash and float loose in the water. Wash ■bottles the same way, or kettles or any other vessels which you wish to purify or clear from grease. Strong lye poured off clear from good hickory ashes will answer nearly as well for the same purpose, and for kegs, buckets and other large cooking utensils, lye from good ashes may always be used.

—The tide of favorable opinion for heading fruit trees low for orchard culture, is now experiencing a revulsion. Orchardists who cultivate their orchards, and are in the habit of ploughing "or stirring the soil periodically, say low-headed trees will not answer. It is impossible to Approach near enoigli with the horse and implement, and hence the high standard method of training will answer for garden culture, and for orchards where there is a good deal of land labor. Apple and peach trees must be trained high, but pears, we believe, are best grown on the pyramidal system, and this must. be low to attain succes a— _• ■) , '„ —A milk cellar will be coolest when well sunk into the earth, and not much above its surface. Eight feet would be a good depth. The windows near the top of should be protected from the sun either by trees or shrubs, or with blinds or shades; and wire screens inside should be made to exclude all insects. Covering the bottom with hydraulic cement will give it neatness, hut as cement is not a good conductor of heat, it will render the cellar warmer in summer and cooler in winter, by preventing access to the earth. Good stone flagging would be better in this respect, and hard burnedbrick would be better than common brick. There should be a ventilating flue run up from the upper part of the apartment, inwkicli the current of air may be regulated by means of a "register. —Country Gentleman.