Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-10-11
Farm, Garden and Household.


PIcKL1NG RIPE TOMATOES. To one
gallon of ripe tomatoes, peeled, add two
tablespoonfuls of mustard, two of black
pepper, two OF allspice, one of salt, one
of cloves all the seasoning must be
ground, cover them with vinegar, and
let them scold but not boil, three OF
four hours.
CEMENT. To make a good cement for
croclicry, take one pound of white shell
lac pulverized two ounces of clean gum
mastic put these into a bottle, and then
add one-half pound pure sulphuric ether.
Let it stand half an hour, and then add
half gallon ninety per cent. alcohol,
shake occasionally until it is dissolved.
Heat the edges of the article to be mend
ed and apply the cement with a pencil
brush; hold The article firmly together
till the cement cools.
A Brown COFFEE. To eight ounces of
butter add one pound and quarter of
moist sugar, and quarter of pound of
molasscs boil these ingredients together
until they are sufficiently cooked. This
may be tested by dropping little of the
liquid into cold water; if it harden
quickly, the coffee is made. Butter some
plates, pour the liquid into them and
before it cools, drop in n few drops of
essence Of lemon Or any other havoring
that may be approved of.
PEAR MAEMAIADE.-To six pounds of
small pears take four pounds of sugar !;
put the pears into saucepan, with a
little cold water; cover it and set it over
the fire ,ntil the fruit is soft, then put
them into cold water; pare, quarter and
core them; put to them three teacups of
water set them over the fire ; roll the
sugar fine mash the fruit fine, and
smooth put the sugar to it, stir it well
together until it is thick like Jelly, then
put it in tumblors or i1rs, and when cold
secure it as jelly,
BAKED BEANs-NoRwIcH.- Take small
white beans, put to soak at six p. NJ, in
Il deep vessel change the water late in
the evening, and again next morning,
and parhoil for two hours, changing the
water at the end of second hour Then
pour off nearly all the water; take raw
pork scored on top put the beans in a
deep dish, the pork in the middle, sink
ing it so as to have it just level with the
surface. Add a very little molasses, and
bake at least six hours, raising the pork
towards the Last so that it may crisp on
top,
CLEANING STRAW MATING AND On
CLoTH,-lt is said that straw mating
may be kept new-looking and bright
by washing 1t twice during the sum
mcr with warm solution made by dis
solving pint of salt in half a pailful of
soft water, the object of the salt being
to prevent it from turning yellow. AZ
ter washing, the mating should be
quickly dried witha soft cloth. 1t is
also said that by wiping oiI-cloth all
over, after being scrubbed and dried,
with a cloth dipped in milk, the colors
will come out clear and bright, and re-
main distinct throughout the year.
This does not "track off, like oil used
tor the same purpose.
IMPROPER MULCHING.-W lately saw
some trees that had been killed, we have
no doubt, by excessive mulching. They
had been planted in a lawn, and the
cut grass had been gathered up and
heaped around them. Grass newly cut
will heat when gathered into heaps, and
this heating will cause much evaporation
from the soil, besides seriously affecting
the roots which are near the surface.
Thus, an exactly opposite effect to that
produced by proper mulching is caused,
and instead of an accession of moist
IRE to the soil, the soil is rapidly de-
prived of what it already hal by the
heat. Mulching should not be 50 exten,
sive Us to cause heating, but only sutii,
cient to prevent evaporation from the
soil and to retain moisture.-HemM noC
Home.
Spelling Houses FEET 1T is almost
impossible to get horse shod without
having the frog cut away. All veterinary
surgeons, all horsemen, all leading black
smiths agree that the frog should not be
pared-not aparticle-not even trimmed
No matter how pliable and soft the frog
is, cut it away smooth on all sides, anC
in two days it will be dry and hard as
chip. You might as well cut off all the
leaves of trees and expect them to flour
ish as 10 pare away the frog and have {
healthy foot. The rough spongy part o
the frog is to the foot what leaves are t.
the tree-the lungs. Never have a red
hot shoe put upon the foot to burn i
level. If you can find blacksmith tina
is mechanic enough to level the foo
without red-hot iron employ him. Th'
burning process deadens the hoof ant
tends to contract it. If you do not thinl
so, try the red-hot poker on your finger
nail, and see how it will affect the growtl
Of that. There are many other impor
tant points in shocing horses, but thes,
two are Of more importance than all tn,
rest, level TO the apprehension of mel
not skilled in horses, and the two mos
disreearded.
WHEAT IN ENGLAND. Mr.. James San
dcrson's report is not hopeful as t,
wheat. He estimates the wheat yield a