Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 April 1878 — HOME, FARM AND GARDEN. [ARTICLE]

HOME, FARM AND GARDEN.

—Few farmers know or appreciate the value of ashes as a manure. Applied to young crops they are worth one shilling per bushel, and if scattered around the fruit trees will certainly kill the worms.— Prairie Farmer. —Ginger Nuts.—Ono qup of brown sugar, one of molasses, one of boiling water, in which a heaping teaspoonful of soda has been dissolved, the bulk of an egg in beef drippings, or butter, a tablespoopful of good ginger, a nutmeg, yelks of two eggs, and flour to make a stiff batter, which may be dropped with a spoon on to a tin. Caraways are better than nutmeg for those who like them—A plan for improving the aroma of butter, in use in many parts of Switzerland noted for good milk and fine butter, is as follows: The milk, as soon as it is drawn, and while yet warm, is filtered through a sprig of washed fir tips, the stem of which is inserted loosely and upright in the hole of the funnel. The milk deposits hairs, skins, clots or gelatinous sliminess on the leaves. It has imparted to it a most agreeable odor, and does not readily turn sour. A fresh sprig should be used each time. —Somebody who seems to have tried it, says: 44 The last method we have heard of for curing cases of pure sleeplessness, when unaccompanied by pain or disease, is the following: Get out of bed and take a linen bandage, although a handkerchief neatly folded longwise will do as well, perhaps better. Dip one-half of the handkerchief into water; pass the wet portion around the wrist; over this lay the dry half and tuck in the ends so as to make all secure. Lie down again. The wet bandage will be found to exercise a most soothing influence on the pulse; this will soon extend all over the nervous system, and calm, refreshing sleep will be the result.”