Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-10-03
Farmhouse Notes.

Farmhouse Notes.
GATHERING FRUIT.-Fruit should neve
be gathered during damp weather, no
when heavy dew is upon it In the earl.
morning. It is poor policy to shake frul
from the tree it will almost surely deca.
from the effect of bruising. Even th'
slightest abrasion of the skin is the sure
forerunner of a dark spot, which will
eventually change into some kind of rot
If possible, each specimen should bt
taken singly from the tree and handled
with the utmost care. Grapes should
always be severed from the vine with
strong scissors, and never twisted OF
broken off. If peaches are gathered be-
fore attaining full size, they will moi
have a fine favor, but it is not necessary
to delay picking them until they are
very mellow. Scarcely any variety o.
the larger fruits color or ripen as we'll il
left to perfect themselves on the tree,
and this is especially true of pears.
Foop FOR DAIRY Cows.-Prof. Cook
stated before a Pennsylvania Farmers
Club, that in Scotland he saw in their
native locality the celebrated Ayrshire
COWS. He described these as of small
size, varying from 600 to 800 lbs, live
weight, and milking, on an average,
twenty quarts per day. They are fed
largely on cabbage, which is considered
there the best food for producing milk.
Our dairy farmers here would no doubt
find equal benefit from feeding cows on
cabbages. As with turnips, there will
be no taste in the butter from the cab
baee, if the COWS are MIXED before feed
ing. Another fact stated by Professor
Cook was, that in the best dairies in
England and Scotland it was considered
most profitable to give the COWS all they
could. The so'ling system is of course
practiced-and he had seen hundreds
of cows tied up in stalls, where they are
kept from year to year, no disease OF
other drawback resulting from contine-
ment. They were not only healthy, but
thrifty-and never leave the stalls till
they 60 to the butcher.
CocoANUT CAKE Break eight eggs,
of which set aside four whites. Beat
separately the remaining four whites and
eight yolks till very light. One pound
and quarterof -four, sifted one pound OF
sugar, pulverised; half a pound of butter.
creamed one cup of sour cream or butter
milk, and teaspoonful of bicarbonate OF
soda-the two latter ingredients to be
added the last thing, just before you are
ready to bake. Bake in large fiat tin
plates, so as to form many thin cakes,
Crate two fresh sweet cocoanuts, and add
to them one pound of sifted white sugar,
with the lightly beaten whites of the four
eggs laid aside for the purpose; two tea
spoontulS OF corn starch. Stir all well to-
get5er, including the cocoanut milk drained
from both nuts. When the cakes are quite
cold, place one in the bottom of large
china plate, cover it well with the prepared
cocoanut, and continue thus to heap ur
cake and cOcoanut in alternate layers, until
all Of each material is consumed. If fol
other than everyday use, cover the whole
with icing. This quantity makes very
large cake. If only small one is needed
one cOcoanut Will answer, with half Of
every thing else. THIS recipe supplies &
cake of delicate yet luscious flavor. anC
not otherwise than economical in its proper
ions.
DRIVE WELLs.-A few years ago ar
Eastern man invented plan by which 6
well could be obtained by simply driving
atube down into the soil. The process Ii
thus described Upon one end of al
iron tube about two inches in diameter
there is attached an iron point, of which
the portion next to the tube is some
what larger than the tube, so that wheI
driven into the ground it makes hole
through which the tube easily follows
In the sides of the tube numerous holes
are punched for about two feet above
the point, and around the tube, and
covering the holes, is wrapped anC
soldered in place piece of wire gauze
or strainer. To the other end of this
wire is attached a double nut, so that
another piece of pipe may be screwed
into it. The tubes without the joint
and strainer are various lengths, so that
as many feet may be attached to the
joint as desired. A common pump
either iron or wooden, is then provided
and you are ready to drive a tube
we'll" If you want the pump in the
house you bore a hole of suitable size
and thrust ''the point" through into the
ground. Placing board over the upper
end of the pipe, you then drive into the
earth with sledge or axe, and wher
down nearly to the floor you attach othel
pieces until you have driven deeI
enough. In sinking we'll out of door:
it is customary to dig small pit fol
greater convenience in driving.