Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-01-16
FARM AND FIRESIDE.

GERANIUNIs IN WINTER.-A most beau
tiful and easily attained show of ever
greens in winter may be had by very
simple plan, which has been found to an
swer remarkably well on small scale. If
! geran1um leaves are taken from healthy
and luxuriant trees, just before the winter
sets in, cut as for slips, and immersed in
soap and water, they will after dropping
for few days, shed their leaves, put forth
| fresh ones, and continue in the finest vigor
| all the winter. By placing number of
| bottles thus filled 1.-THE ones tried have been
pint Ones and putting them in the flower
| baskets with moss to conceal the bottles, a
show of evergreens is easily insured for
whole season. They require no fresh water
like other plants, and in the spring may be
i, placed out to adorn the flower borders The
coarse large sorts, such as the oak leaf and
| scarlet, answer best.
''PERsIMMoN BEER.-The following re-
ceipt for a very pleasant beverage, is Mr..
| Jefferson's:
"Gather the persimmons perfectly ripe
| into large loaves, with bran enough to
| make them consistent, bake them so thor
oughly that the cake may be brown and
dry throughout, but not burnt they are
then fit for use; but if you keep them any
time, it will be necessary to dry them fire.
| quertly in an oven moderately warm. Of
these loaves, broken into coarse powder,
take eight bushels, pour over them 40 gall
Ions of cold water, and after two or three
days draw it off boil it as other beer, hop
it; this makes a very strong beer. By
putting 80 gallons of water in the same
powder, and letting it stand two or three
days longer, you may have very fine small
beer.''
DANGER. FROM WET CLoTHEs.-Few
persons understand fully the reason why
wet clothes exert such a chilling influence.
1t is simply this:-Water when it evapo-
rates carries off an immense amount of
heat, in what is called the latent FORM
One pound of water in vapor contains as
much heat as nine OF ten pounds of liquid
water, and all this must, of course, be ia
ken from the body. If our clothes
are moistened with three pounds of water,
that is, if by wetting they are three pounds
heavier, the three pounds will, in drying,
carry off as much heat as would raise three
gallons of ice-cold water to the boiling
point. No wonder that damp clothes chill
us.
How TO Cook HoMINY Wash slightly
in cold water, then boil slowly from three
to six hours in same water. with plenty
more added from time to time, with great
care to prevent burning. Don't salt while
cooking, as that or hard water will harden
the corn. When done, add butter and
salt; or d better way is to let each one sea-
son to suit the taste. Itmay be eaten with
meat in lieu Of vegetables, OF with sugar OF
syrup. Hominy is always good, hot or
cold, and is very wholesome.
PROFIT IN GRAPE GRowINe.-A cor
respondent of the Agricultural Depart
ment planted 200 vines, about three miles
from Washington, in the spring of 1866
one-half Concords, the others of various
trained the vines, and allowed some to bear
fifteen pounds each. All the fruit was
sold that fall at fifteen cents per pound on
the vine. The crop of last season which
was the fifth, although the average price
was only about half that of the first one,
Melted him $500 per acre.
POTATO SoUP.-Take large mealy pota-
toes, peel and cut in small slices, with an
onion; boil in three pints of water till ten
der, and pulp through a colander. Add
small cup of butter, a little cayenne pep
per and salt, and just before the soup is
served two spoonfuls of cream. Do not let
it boil after the cream is added.
CoCOANUT CAKE.-One cup of butter,
two cups of sugar, four eggs, one teaspoon
full of soda, dissolved in cup of milk, two
teaspoonfuls ofcream of tartar, one grated
cocoanut, which should be mixed with
flour. Beat the whites of the eggs to a
froth. Add -four enough to make it about
as stiff as pound cake.
BLACK CAKE.-One pound each of flour,
sugar, and butter /; ten eggs, three pounds
currants, two pounds raisins, one table
spoon each of ginger, cloves, mace and
nutmeg, one pound of citron, one of blanch-
ed almonds, a glass of brandy and one of
wine. This quantity requires four hours
to bake.
CREAM PIE.-Boil one pint of milk, then
beat together one egg, one cup of sugar,
two tablespoonful of flour, little salt;
add this mixture to the milk and thicken
over the fire. When cold flavor with lemon.
Bake two crusts and put the cream be-
tween them, you will have a good pie.
RICE CAKEs.-Boil half pound of rice
dry; when nearly cold sift into it about one
quart of flour, and add afull tablespoonful
OF shortening. Then stir in one quart of
milk; beat up five eggs light, and stir in
the batter, Add little salt and small
cup Of yeast.
SAUSAGE MEAT.-To ten and a half
pounds of sausage meat put six tablespoon
fuls of sage, five tablespoonful of salt and
three of pepper. You may also add four
tablespoonfuls of sweet marioram and two
of thyme.
BEEF PATTIEs. Chop fine srare roast
beef, season with pepper, salt, and little
onion. Make plain paste, cut into shane
like an apple puff, fill with the mince and
bake quickly.