Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-12-24

1.-THE hams being neatly trimmed, insert
a string through the upper or broad end ;
then rub the outside aud edges well with
fine salt. Two heaped Irresponsible Of a
mixture Of finely powdered sallpeire and
pure red pepper should be spread over each
ham, on the inner or fleshy side, and pressed
well in with broad table or butchers knife.
Let them lie 3 or hours. to imbibe the
mixture then spread on each ham six oun-
ces Of coarse brown sugar. and finally COW
er them with salt. Pack them closely in
boxes or tubs that will permit the drppings
10 pass of freely. Take care 10 cover ey-
cry bare spot with salt Let them lie 90 or
81 days; If verS large, ls,llc more sugar
and saltpeire mixture may be added. aud
they may remain or days longer in salt.
General Remarks.-The hogs when kilt
ed should be hung up TO col, but on no ac-
count be permitted to freeze. When fro.
zen, lei them be perfectly thawed before
the salt is applied When hung up in the
smoke.house, let no open fire Be kindied in
moist or rainy heather. ! use small sheet.
iron stove, in which little FIRE may be put
every day-sufficient to keep dry atmos.
phere, aud prevent mould on the meat. In
dry, clear weather, small hickory FIRE may
be made once IN 5 or @ days. In fine, mod
crate weather, lei a free current Of air pass
through the house When sufficiently cur
ed, before the insects appear, put then IN
paper bags aud hang them up.
N. B.--I would recommend The salt 10 be
rolled or pounded fine"
To the above we will now append the OBJ
servatious with which we were favored for
the American Farmer, more than twenty
eight years ago. before any other agriculiu-
raj paper came into existence, By the late
DR. wilkins, Of Balimore---a man as re-
narkahlc for closeness OF observation as for
the soundness both Of his judgment and his
b1enH--on the use Of sugar aud saltpetre:
at will be perceived that
have not mentioned the article sugar, so
much esteemed by many. Ten years ex-
perience have fully corrected my Judgment
ON this article II any person will Try two
parcels, one with and the other without su-
gar, he will fnd the following result: That
bis bacon cured with sugar will be deprived
Of the fine red color two months longer for
that addition therefore il is certain that il
interferes with the saIipeire, aud. il the
salipe,re is Of any service. the sugar pre-
vents that, and presume II adds nothing
to compensate
1.-The flesh, mawksh taste Of the satpe-
ire is admirably adapted to temper the ex-
cessse snpid flavor Of common salt, while
the beautiful red color is highly pleasing to
the eye. Ii likewise inierferes with the salt |
and prevents loo large quantity from be-
ing absorbed, aud thus preserves the meat
from that hardness which bacon acquires |
when this article is left out Hickory ash. |
es am told, answer nearly all the good
purposes Of salipetre."
"A small chimney in brick houses, on
corner of the wall, may be useful to lei on
the smoke, but no holes in the wall TO adj.
nit ray Of light Some chips aud few
billeis OF hickory make the best smoke
these will also keep tie house porm, which |
is very important; for If the smoke-house
is cold, as will be the case when the smoke |
is carried by lue from lower story or
another house, oil our former care viii be
lost-a damp will settle on the bacon, and
1t will have bitter flavor.
"Mr A., of Baltimore, taught me
never 10 make SMOKE in damp weather.
d practice so much followed for, as he OBJ
served his meat gained no color, but got
bad taste. ! am satisfied he was correct
and he had large experience, as he followed
smoking for gain. One good fire per diem
will smoke the pieces exactly IA the same
times they were sailed, viz. : hams weeks,
shoulders weeks, other pieces . weeks
When the bacon is smoked and all returned
10 the smoke-house. a floor. il not laid be-
: fore, should now be laid on the ioisi; by
this means rats will be prevented from de-
scending on the bacon, aud the heat of the
sun will be moderated, so that the bacon
will not drip in summer heats. Darkness
and GOODNESS are necessary to preserve the
bacon from flies; il may there hang in per.
feet safety till wanted But a prudent
housekeeper will inspect his meat IN May
and June, and then he will see the quality
Of his meat; that which is not corn.fed will
crack and offer places OF deposit for skip
pers, which should be filed up with ashes /;
and, il any are already deposited, let the
ashes be taken oul'of the hearth, az hot as
FIRE, and put in. The meat that is corn.ied
will be close all around the cut. ham of
the first kind will shrink in boiling, and cut
but poor figure on the table, while the lat
Ter viii swell 10 roundness, aud overlook
the dish-will look as proud, IL not as war
like, as Juvenals lobster When The sharp
carver enters tie cover, the essence will
flow ia a stream and Gil the whole dish--a
most delightful sauccl Such dish, with
boiled poultry and savoys. though often re-
peaied, never loses its relish with the labori.
Gus husbandman, and he seldom thinks OF
any other 10 SET before bis guest"
Thus, then, reader, we have told you
what is necessary, as far as depends on
yourself, 10 have hams such as we will ven.
turo 10 say The Queen Of England never
saw, Of her own curing. The next thing
to be attended 10 is. how TO preserve them
from flies and shippers; aud finally, kOo 10
eook them. But we are pressed for room,
aud il is lime enough for that before your
meat is smoked. Il shall not be forgotten.
In the mean time. however, few more las,
| words in
ViNDicNrIoH or TIE RiGmTs OF THE
llousEwIrEl j. On this head we may repeat
that, while we shall ever claim from the la
dies the performance Of duties properly
within their province. we shall as siudious-
ly resist the imposition of burdens, which
arc alike Incompatible with their position