Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-08-21
ITEMS For FARMERS.

WHOLESOME DRINK FOR FARMERs.-rhe
Germantown Telegraph furnishes the follow
ing recipe for Summer drink:
The excessive use Of cold water, during
the swelterine heat of summer, often results
in serious and alarming illness. 1t is, there
fore, advisable that some beverage should he
substituted for it, of which those opposed to
thirst should or can psrtake with safety
For this purpose, am aware Of no better or
more refreshing drink than the following -
Take the best white Jamaica ginger root, care
fully bruised, two ounces cream of tartar,
one ounce; water, six quarts to be boiled
for about FIVE minutes, then strained to the
strained liquor add one pound of the best
white sugar and again place it over the fire ;
keep it well stirred till the sugar is perfectly
dissolved, and then pour it into an earthern
vessel into which you have previously put
two drachms of tartarc acid, and the rind OF
one lemon. and let it remain till the heat is
reduced to a lukewarm temperature; then
add tablespoonful of yeast, stirring then
well together, aud tottla for use. The corks
must be well secured. The drink will be in
high perfection in four or five days. This is
a very refreshing and wholesome beverage,
and one which may be largely partaken Of
without any unpleasant results. even in the
hottest weather. Those who make use OF old
cider will find this altogether superior as a
common beverage"
Coon SUGGESTION IN REGARD TO THE
OsIER WILLOW. - The Boston Cultivator
save: "Mr. Breed, late editor of the New
Hampshire journal Of Agriculture, who is
considerably engaged in the cultivation Of the
osier willow suggests that every farmer should
have patch of willows. He has used them
for binding grain, for binding corn or corn
stalks in shock, and as withes for fence-stakes
for all Of which purposes he found them
better than anything else. The suggestion is
well worthy Of attention. A small patch of
Of willows. which may in many cases occupy
land that would not be valuable for other pur-
poses, would furnish all the bands and withes
farmer would want and with vastly less
trouble than they could otherwise be- OBJ
tanned.
We have often urged our readers, says the
Country Gentleman, the importance of cutting
rail and other timber in the Summer. Ex-
periments of our own, and frequent observa-
ton, have satisfied us that soft wood. cut
when the bark pee's from 1t freely, aud when
it will rapidly season. lasts at least twice as
long as Winter or Spring cut timber, The
latter seasons slowly aud becomes partially
sap rotten; the former dries Thoroughly and
hsrdens like horn. There may not be so
much difference in the durability of hard tim
Der when cut in Summer and in Winter.
William Gone, of Michigan, writes in the Ru-
raj New Yorker, as follows
In June, tweDty-nine years ago, having
need ofa pair of bar posts, | had TO cut tree
for that purpose. cut a white oak about
two feet through at the bat, and split out
pair. The bark peeled off easily. / set
them with the but end in the ground Now
that pair OF posts have outlasted about three
sets In other parts Of my farm, and the rails
split at that time are much better than many
that were split many years after. Now
bass wood rails split in the Summer, when
they will peal easily will outlast ordinary
oak cut in the Winter"