Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-01-09
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FARM AND FfREsIDE.

FARM AND FIhESIUE.
THE VEGETABLE GARDEN-JANUARY.
Here this month is generally rather given
to preparation, than to the performance OF
any actual work in the garden, though our
Southern readers are doubtless beginning
to plant, it being considered safe to put
out the hardy vegetables whenever the soil
is dry enough and the temperature of the
air will not fall much below an average of
45o. In this class may be included beets,
carrots, cabbage, onions, parnips, peas,
radishes, spinach, turnips, &c.
The getting together of materials for
manure is work that is always seasonable,
and litter, leaves. muck, &C., may be adj
vantageously mixed with the stable ma
nure to increase it's bulk of all fertilizing
materials for use in the vegetable garden,
it is doubtful whether any surpasses in eff
feet that which is largely composed of such
materials as named and others of vegeta-
BILE origin. Mineral manures, guano, &C.,
will stimulate and cause early maturity of
products, but good compost, well rotted,
gives more permanent fertility. and seems
more eongenial to the crops grown in the
garden.
Hot-heds should be prepared for use. glass
mended, soil made ready, mats and shut
tiers put in order and sash painted. The
time to start them varies of course with
the locality, the rule generally adopted be-
ing to SOW the seed six of seven weeks be-
fore the usual time of setting out the
plants, though tomatoes may be given an
earlier start THAN this.
Put tools irt order before they are need
ed ; replace broken parts, sharpen hoes
and spades and. see that you have every
thing ready for work when it begins.
Examine you1 stock of seeds. Do not
trust any that are uncertain as to age or
variety. Prepare your lists of such as are
to be purchased from the scotsman, and
send for them tearly. By postponing this
until the PLANTING season is about to open
you join in the lrush, and are liable to mis-
takes at tinss when they are difficult to
be remedied. BY procuring your SUPP
early you have thl opportunity alsoo-
ing your seeds, which it is well alv
do. Stick to appikoyed varieties fol
main crop. II yous, wish to try new the
do it on a small scales first, giving the wider
breadth to kinds TO Slnd adapted to your
section and climate. sNhe difference in the
estimate of the value o& novelties is seen
in the reports of the Various tomatoes,
newly introduced as candidates. for public
favor. The Messrs. LandreSEh say they
purchased and tried two kinds CRf these,
and that on the goth August one of them
had not a ripe fruit on the vine, and thsl
other had not even set a fruit while Mr..
Wick says the Arlington" was not wor-
thy of introduction, and that the Canada
Victor, advertised last year as a very ear
ly. he had previously tried, and considered
without merit. The ''Trophy'' seems to-
maintain it's character for size and solidsty
and is popular, though coming late.
KEEPING POULTRY IN ORCHARDs.--
Some farmers make it a practice to KEEP
their poultry in their orchards from ealy
spring until cold weather sets in; and they
find that it pays them for so doing. A
picket fence should be built around the
orchard, high enough to prevent their fly
ing over, with a suitable house or shed in
one corner of the yard to shelter them at
night. Thus situated, the poultry will
thrive and prosper, keeping themselves in
good condition and the increase in eggs
will be greatly augmented, and their use
fulness and value enhanced, to their own
ers at least, on account of the thousand
myriads of insects and worms which they
naturally destroy, and which will more
than repay the cost and labor of building
the fence. By keeping them enclosed in
this manner, a large number of fowls may
be retained in an orchard and the con-
tinual scratching which is done by them
will prove advantageous both to the soil
and trees themselves.
Rot IN SHEEP.-Y ouatt says sheep be-
ginning to be affected with rot should be
sent to a salt marsh in preference to the
best pasture ON the farm. He then re-
commends bleeding, and dose of two or
three ounces of EPSON salts. To these
means is to be added change of diet
good hay and straw then two or three
grains of calomel, mixed with half the
quantity of opium; and common salt
should then be given, say two or three
drachms, morning and night. When the
lnflammatory stage is passed, add stronger
tonlcs to the salt, such as gentian and gin
ger roots, one or two drachms, each finely
powered, added to each dose. Keep the
sheep on the best and dryest pasture, with
salt always in reach.
COURT PLAsTER.-Take half announce
of benzlne, six ounces of rectifed spirits
then take one ounce of isinglass and half
a pint Of hot water, dissolve and strain
separately from the former. Mix the two
and set them aside to cool, when jelly
will be formed. Warm this and brush it
ten or twelve times over piece of black
silk stretched smooth. When dry, brush
it with a solution made from four ounces
Of Venice turpentine and six ounces of
tincture of benzine. ::
POUND CAKE.-1 fb. flour; 1 ID eggs;
l fb sugar 9fb butter glass brandy
nutmeg l teaspoonful mace.
Cream half the flour with the butter. and
add brandy and spice. Beat the yolks un-
til light, add the sugar, then the beaten
whites and the rest of the flour alternate
ly. When this is thoroughly mixed, put
all together and beat steadily for half an
hour.
If properly made and baked this 10 a