National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-11-24
Farm, Garden and Household.

IIpP1NG 'lF OlAIo ipLpNNphS. -,
Maine farmer has discovered that clip
ping off blossoms makes his potatoes lar
ger and more numerous. Doubtful, we
think. Has any one else tried it.
MANURE may be drawn out and spread
on grass or other land whenever conve-
nient. Except on steep hill sides and
on very sandy land, there is little fear
of the manure teaching away. The
ground will absorb it,
No BETTER PLAN has been devised to
keep butter sweet than to put il IN clean
jars and cover it with strong brine. No
kind of vessel, cask or tub will answer
SO well ms n jar. In this way il can be
kept fresh and sweet for twelve months
MoLAssEs FRuIT-CAKE. One cup of
butter, two of sugar, one of molasses,
one of boiling cider, or sour milk, one
pint of -four, one pound of raisins, one
grated nutmeg, half teaspoonful each
of cloves and cinnamon. one-half tea
spoonful of soda beat them into the
molasses, and put in the last thing.
SHEEP. An open shed is better than
close, ill-ventilatcl barn. The mo
ment the rain is over, if the sheep are
still wet they will do better and dry
quicker out of doors in the wind than
in "A close barn. the atmosphere of which
is saturated by the moisture ovaporating
from the damp wool Dry cold seldom
or never hurts sheep. Damp quarters
and wet land are exceedingly injurious.
SURFACE DRAINAGE is very import
ant matter, not only on winter wheat,
but on all the land intended for spring
crops. Those who have paid little atten-
ton to this matter will be surprised how
much water can be let off their land by
means of burrows made with plow and
the occasional use of spade and hoe.
We would urge attention to this matter
at once, or at least after the first heavy
rain.
CARRIAGES are easily kept by placing
them tight together in furrow, with
the roots sticking up, and then covering
them with four or five inches of earth
Select dry, light soil. This operation
is best performed Immediately before
winter sets in. If done too early, and
during warm weather, they may com
mence to decay, and when decomposl-
ton has once commenced, in this, as in
all other vegetable matter, it is very
difficult to stop it,.
Rock BISCUIT. Six eggs, one pound
sifted sugar, half a pound of -four few
currants Break the eggs into basin,
heat them well until very light, add the
pounded sugar, and when this is well
mixed with the eggs dredge in the -four
gradually, and add the currants Mix
all well together, and put the dough,
with fork, on the tins, making it look
rs rough rs possible. Bake the cakes in
moderate oven from twenty minutes
to half an hour when they are done,
allow them to get cool, and store them
away in tin canister. in "A dry place
How TO CLEAN RIBBONS. Wet the
ribbon in alcohol, and fasten one end of
it to something firm hold tie other in
your hand, keeping the ribbon out
straight and smooth rub it with piece
of CASTLE soap until it looks decidedly
soapy, then rub hard with "A sponge, or,
if very much soiled, with the back of a
knife, keeping the ribbon dripping wet
with alcohol When you have exhausted
your patience, and think it must be
clean, rinse thoroughly in alcohol, fold
between cloths and iron with hot iron.
Don't wiring the ribbon; if you do you
will get creases in il that you cannot
smooth ont.