Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-08-13
FARM AND FIRESIDE.


practical fruit cultivator; gives in the Rural
World his plan for drying fruit as follows:
My plan is to take hot-bed sash and lay
them on frame similar to that Of the hot
bed-in fact, if the hot bed has not been re-
moved, the dry house is already built. and
it is only necessary to lay floor inside on
which to lay the fruit. When the fruit has
been placed inside, put on the sash, but raise
both ends about two inches from the frame,
SO the air can circulate. The suns rays will
penetrate through the glass freely, and give
out their heat below the glass; and being
confined, will cause the heat to be much
greater than it is in the open air. The hot
ter the atmosphere. the greater is its eapaei,
ty for holding moisture hence this hot air
absorbs the moisture from the fruit, and the
sash being raised little, the hot air escapes
at the higher end of the sash. and fresh air
supplies its place at the lower end. and thus
there is a constant current of hot, dry air
passing over the fruit, and it dries with as
tonishing rapidity. Two years ago. wish
ing to dry some green sugar corn, (Which is
about the hardest thing to dry Of which I
have any kpowledge,) I fixed up my hot
bed as described, and the eoFH was gathered
from the field, husked, parboiled, cut from
the cob, placed ip the hot-bed, and by eve
ming we had the corn as dry as bone, aud
as good dried corn ! never saw before; our
supply lasted two years, and the last was es
good az the first.
By this plan you do not have to be on the
watch for every little shower, and remove
your fruit to keep it from being wet and
spoiled, being covered with glass. the water
is run off, and as soon as the sun comes ont
the drying process is resumed neither will
it be influenced by dew if left over night
Another advantage gained by this method
is that the heat is SO intense that flies and
other insects will not modest the fruit while
drying, and when dried, it comes out clean
and sweet.
Let all who wish to dry fruit or vegeta-
bles try this plan; am confident it will
meet your satisfaction. GawiQn-Be sure to
raise the sash as recommended, else the fruit
will burn the same as it would in an oven.
INTERESTING TO FARMERS Samuel Dix.
on, of Chester county, cut field of oats on
Wednesday, the 14th inst. This is at least
week Or ten days in advance of the COM
mon oats crop. The cause of its earliness in
ripening is owing to its being mixed with
barley, the product Of seed SO grown for
several years. Barley ripens earlier than
oats when grown separate, but it is singu-
lar fact daat when mixed they both ripen at
the same TIME. the oats coming to maturity
at the same time. rs its earlier neighbour
The cause Of this We are unable to explain
Mr. Dixon obtained the seed of a farmer
near West Chester, who, at the time of mix
ing the seeds, used equal quantities of each,
but now, after several years sowing, the bar
ley constitutes only about one. twentieth of
the grain. Mr.. D. thinks the mixed seed
has lot only tendency to ripen earlier, but
the oats are improved in weight and is
much be tier crop. This is an experiment
worth know wing to farmers. franklin OAR
lngton, of East Nottingham, who has the
same kind OF oats, cut about the same time.
Press.
USEFUL H1NTs.--A bit Of glue dissolved
in skim milk will restore Grape
Ribbons of every kind should be washed
in cold suds and not rinsed.
If your fiat irons are rough rub them with
fine salt and it will make them perfectly
smooth.
If you are buying carpet for durability
choose small figures.
A bit of soap rubbed on the hinges of =
door will prevent its creaking.
Scotch snuff put in holes where crickets
come out will destroy them.
Wood ashes and common salt wet with
water will prevent the cracking of a stove.
Strong lye put in water will make it soft
as rain water.
Half cranberry, it is said, bound on
corn will soon kill it.
How TURN1ps CAN BE RAISED CHEApLY.
by sowing the Purple Top turnip seed at
the last dressing of the corn and covering
with light harrow, couple of hundred
bushels of the best turnips can be raised with
very little trouble. The early sowing will
be compensated for by the shade afforded by
the growing corn. This crop will take the
place Of the weeds and will not be in the way
Of harvesting the corn, as it will do the tur-
nlps little harm to treat them as though you
lid not know the crop was there. There will
be enough left uninjured to pay all the ex-
Dense dozen times over.
PICKLED CAULIFLowER. large, ripe,
ull- blown cauliAowers, divide the pieces in
% equal size, throw them into a kettle of
polling water, and boil them we'll take them
'ut with skinner, and lay them on sieve
% drain. Put them into stone jars three
parts full put little mace into cider vine
gar, and simmer it for quarter of an hour;
oour it hot over the cauliAower, filling the
ar up to the top. Spices tied in bag, and
boiled with the vinegar, improve the receipt.
How TO DRAW TEA-When you pour
polling water upon the tea, it causes most of
he aroma to escape with the steam. First
'our tepld or cold water enough on the tea
o cover it, place it on the stove hearth, top
IT tea-kettle, or any place where it will be 81.
warm, but not enough so as to cause the
roma to escape in steam. Let it remain
bout half an hour, then pour on boiling
water and bring to the table. .........'-,r
TRANSPARENT SoAp.-Shave in thin slices
nc pound OF brown bar soap. and put it in
junk bottle with half pint of alcohol
Without corking the bottle, place it in ba-
IN containing water, put the basin on the
tove and boil ten minutes then remove the
ottle from the water, and turn out the lid
id to cool. Before cold, add a few drops
oil of bergamot or lemon to scent.
CREAM CANDY.-Take about three pounds