The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-12-11
storing Roots for winter,


Thousands of bushels of potatoes
and other roots are lost annually
through insufficient protection from the
cold. 1t is not necessary to store roots
in cellar. A well covered pit out of
doors will keep them fresher and with
equal safety. Only the small quantity
of potatoes and other roots which a
family needs during extreme cold
weather should be kept in cellars under
dwelling houses. There is some de-
gree of fermentation and decay in large
bodies of any kind of vegetables, even
in cold weather, and the eff1uvia from
these is cause of fevers and other dis
eases often prevalent in some houses
every winter and spring. But to keep
potatoes in pits requires some Judgment
and understanding of the business.
Last winter ground exposed to the
weather froze in some places four feet
deep, and this extreme cold was q source
of great loss. Of course no farmer
would think of burying potatoes four
feet deep, and even if he did they
might be frozen, as the heap would
necessarily be a mound on the surface
of the ground completely exposed to
the weather The great secret of sue.
cess is to have the earth piled in layers
with some substance between which will
lay loosely, and thus hold a quantity
of dead air, one of the best non-con-
ductors of heat. Anything which will
keep quantity of air undisturbed be-
tween the roots and the blast of winter
will answer the purpose. The best way
to do this is to have not less than two.
and better still if three, coverings of
coarse, dry straw, lying as loosely as
possible, and each well covered with q
good coating of earth. If potatoes are
dug early they may be covered at first
only with straw and potato vines. AS
danger of frost approaches cover with
six to seven inches of earth. Then
give another liberal coating of coarse
straw-the coarser the better-and
cover this at least ten inches deep with
earth. If more covering be needed,
another layer of straw, lightly covered
with earth, will afford ample protection
in the severest weather. 1t is not the
depth of soil so much as the imprisoned
air confined with and under the straw
which insures success.
Domestic Receipts.
TAPIoCA PCDDING.-One cup of tapi-
oca one quart of sweet milk three
tablespoonfuls of sugar little salt /:
flavor rs you like.
FRITTERs. Take two or three eggs {:
a little sweet milk stir in little flour,
and beat it well drop with spoon in
hot pork fat ; turn in a second or so, as
they cook very quickly. These are ex-
cellent and very hearty.
REMEDY FOR CRoUP.-A lady cores
pondent of the Maine Farmer saws the
following is an effective remedy for
Group: Half teaspoonful of pulverized
alum in a little molasses. 1t is a simple
remedy, one almost always at hand,
and one dose seldom fails to give relief.
If it should, repeat it after one hour.
SAUSAGE MEAT.-If you want it extra
nice, take two nice fresh hams and one
shoulder; take off the skin, and have
it chopped nicely season it with salt,
pepper, sage, and very little sugar.
If you like spiced meats, use with that
few cloves, some mace and nutmeg.
Keep it in dry, cool place, and fry it
in balls, or stuff the skins when Won
first make it for dry sausages.
SIMPLE CURE FOR RHEUN1AT1sM.-Boi
small potful of potatoes, and battle
the part affected with the water in
which the potatoes were boiled, as hot
as can be applied, Immediately before
going to bed. The pain will be re-
moved, or, at least, alleviated by the
next morning. Some of the most
obstinate rheumatic pains have lately
been cured by one application of this
novel and simple remedy. So SAYS an
exchange.
The Foot of Horse.
The human hand has often been
taken to illustrate Divine wisdom-and
very well. But have you ever examined
your horses hoof? 1t is hardly less
curious in its way. Its parts are some.
what less complicated, yet their design
is simple and obvious. The hoof is
not, as it appears to the careless eve, 9
mere lump of insensible bone, fastened
to the leg by Joint. 1t is made up Of
a series of thin layers, or leaves, Of
horn, about 500 in number, and nicely
fitted to each other, and forming {
filling to the foot itself. Then there
are as many more layers, belonging tc
what is called the "coffin- bone" and
fitted into this. These are elastic
Take a quire of paper and insert the
leaves one by one into those of another
quire, and you will get some idea o.
the arrangement of the several layers
Now, the weight of the horse rests Oh
as many elastic springs as there are lay
ers in his four feet--about 4 ZOO and
all this is contrived, not only for the
conveyance of his own body, but fol
whatever burdens may be laid on him
-Rural Home.