Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 May 1877 — USEFUL AND SUGGESTIVE. [ARTICLE]

USEFUL AND SUGGESTIVE.

An English exchange says paraffine oil Will destroy “crops of insects” when two ounces of oil are mixed with six gallons of water and poured-sprinkled—over them. It is effectual, too, when sprinkled over the seed before sown, and the subsequent growth is said to be wonderful. It might be well to experiment with thte in ridding crops of insect enemies where the use of Paris green would lie objectionable. —Prairie Farmer. A good soil rarely fails, even in a poor season, of returning a paying income for the labor expended upon it in the cultivation of any crop adapted to it. The idea that the number of acres in crops indicate the farmers’ income must be abandoned, and the number of bushels per acre must be looked for instead. There is certainly less profit in plowing fifty acres to raise 1,000 bushels of grain than in plowing but twenty-five to grow the same amount, and trusting to good seasons for fair crops will usually make fair returns in what we call bad or unfavorable seasons.— Valley Farmer. A Novel Way of Making Jelly Cake. —Take the whites of six eggs, one cup of while sugar, same of flour, one teaspoonful of butter, two tablespoonfuls of sweet milk, two teaspoonfuls cream of tartar, and one of sodp. Bake in a large oblong dripping pan, so the cake will be very thin; meanwhile stir another batch, making just the same, with the exception of using the yelks instead of the whiles; when both are done, spread when warm with jelly, or preserves of any kind; pul together, bring the largest side of the cake toward you, and roll immediately; or cut in four or eight parts, put together alternately, putting jelly between each layer, and frost lightly over the top. Another method is to make three pans, making the third layer of one-third red sand sugar, proceeding the same as for the other layers ; in putting together let the first layer be the yellow, made of the yelks, then the red' and lastly ths whites. Nicely frost the top, and you have a beautiful as well as a delicious party cake. They are very pretty made into rolls.— Chicago In. ter-Oiean.

Steawbebby Shortcake.—One quart of sifted flour, one-quarter of a pound of butter, or butter and suet together, chopped fine in the flour, two heaping spoonfuls of white sugar, two spoonfuls of baking powder, all wet with cold milk or water to the right thickness to roll thin as for jelly-cake. Bake in sheets in a quick oven till just done, without browning, then spread fruit of any kind between, twice the thickness of the layers, alternating cake and fruit till the whole is as thick as desired. Strawberries should be mashed an hour before, and sprinkled with sugar, to be in the best state for cake, then the juice flows freely and flavors the whole. Return to the oven, with the fruit, and brown the top and sides, then serve with cream. This same shortcake can be made at the seasons when strawberries are out ot fashion, by substituting apple-jam or sauce, canned peaches, mashed with sugar, rich rhubarb sauce, or, best of all, the lemon paste, .made as follows: To the Juice of six lemons add three eggs, three-quarters of a pound of white coffee sugar, the grated rind of three lemons, and a quarter of a pound of good butter; Put the pan holding these into boiling water, and stir till it thickens like honey, without letting it boil. Bpread thickly between layers of shortcake, and serve hot from the oven, without cream.