The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-08-28
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.

One hundred parts of pure water
to one pint of pure carbolic acid, is
said to be an excellent wash to rid
fowls and poultry houses of lice and
other vermin that infest them.
Here is a recipe for ginger cakes,
a kind that will keep long while.
Take two cups of molasses, one and
half cups of lard, two cups of sour
milk, or water, one teaspoonful of
soda, one teaspoonful of ginger, mix,
roll thin, and lay on buttered pans,
and bake buickly.
The Gardner's Monthly says no
one who has not tried it can have
any idea of the luxurious growth of a
cucumber when trained on a stake
which has set of stubby side
branches left along its length and
the crop on some so trained was enor-
ormous. By this plan the vines oc-
cupy less ground, and it is the natur-
al habit of the cucumber to climb, in
stead of trailing on the ground be-
sides one can pass among the vines
without treading on them.
Sweetmeat jars or bottles can be
cleaned without scraping them, by
pouring in the jars hot water and
teaspoonful of pearl ash. The con-
tents which remain sticking to the
side and bottom of the jar will be
disengaged by the pearl ash and
float loose in the water. Wash bot
ties in the same way, or kettles, or
any vessels which you wish to puri-
fly or cleanse from grease. Strong
lye poured off from good hickory
ashes will answer nearly as we'll for
the same purpose and for kegs,
buckets, and other large cooking
utensils, lye from good ashes may al.
ways be used.
A writer in the american Bee
Journal for several years has follow
ed this method of preserving old
combs from the depredations Of the
moth when it is not convenient to
melt them up al once, Lay them in
the sun until they become softened,
then roll them up and press them
with the hand into hard, round balls.
In this condition they may be kept
without loss or danger for years. A
wholesale honey dealer says honey
will not candy if a teaspoonful of
cream of tartar dissolved in water be
mixed with a gallon of honey when
scalding hot. Care must be taken
not to scorch the honey.
During a late conversation one
of our dealers, he advanced the the
ory that eggs spoilt because the vel.
low or yolk came in contact with the
membrane between the white or
shell, and if eggs were turned occa-
sionally they would keep for an in
definite time. He further stated that
if q setting hen did not turn her eggs
every few days they would invaria-
! bly, spoil and fail to hatch. His the
ory was, SO long as portion of the
white or albumen was between the
yellow and she'll, the egg was practi-
cally alright, but when the yellow
came in contact with the shell it ad-
heared to it, and allowed the access
of air.-JOatrnal Of the Farm.
For picked cauliflowers, take
good white heads, break them into
small pieces, and boil for ten
minutes in strong salt water. Skim
out the pieces which should be SO
tender that splint of broom corn
can be run through the stems. Lay
them on towel to drain off the wa
ter. and when thoroughly cold put
them into pickle jar, with a few
whole cloves, allspice, pepper, and
sticks of cinnamon tied up in cloth
Boil and skim thoroughly then
pour direct over the caulifowers. If
a few beets are sliced up in vinegar
while boiling, they will color the
caulifower stalks bright coral red,
and make them more attractive to
the eye.-Coantry Gentleman.