The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-03-04

AGRICULTURAL SocIErIEs.-We observe
in the Springfield (Mass.) Republican an
outline Of the proceedings of the Harvest
Club, an institution Of that vicinity,
which meets at stated intervals for the
discussion Of agricultural matters. We
presume it might be called Granger
Club instead OF Harvest Club, and il
occurs to us that ii the grangers OF this
region discuss matters pertaining to the
farm and household with as much intel
lisence as the members Of this club seem
to do, they must be very useful institu'
tions to all those connected with them
observe that one member Of the Hnr'
vest Club read a paper on the COMPARE
tive value of animal and vegetable
manures as fertilizers. To ascertain their
value FIVE equal portions Of certain
field had been taken. The first was
MANFRED with dry staw; the second with
an equal quantity, Of straw soaked FIVE
hours in liquid manure; the third with
the same amount Of straw soaked fifteen
hours; the fourth with the same amount
Of straw soaked three days; the fifth re-
ceiyed nothing. The whole was sown
with grain and titled alike. In the
weight OF grain and straw, the product Of
the several portions was, III the order
named, 100, 100, $50, S4S and 0, showing
conclusiyely that it pays to mix the
fertilizers.
A feature Of the deliberations Of the
Club was the part taken in them by some
Of the ladies present. One Of these ladies
was called on for her views touching GER
tain household matters, among them as
to her experience in the matter of pre-
pairing certain dishes, and their health
fulnesS, economy, nutrivcness, &c. The
question was raised which was the more
nutritious, beef or beans. The answer
was that beans contained 81 per cent Of
nutrimsnt, gave tho most endurance OF
any other food, and were healthful to
those who could digest them. Raw eggs
were said 10 be strengthening, but boiled
eggs Sere best when cooked from FIVE to
twenty minutes. Bread and milk was
commended, and Ayrshire milk in partic-
ular, for children, as being more cheesey
than the jersey. DR.. ormiston, of New
York, was cited as saying that Oat.mcal
porridge was the standing dish for Scot
fish children, and analysis proves it to
be more nutritious than wheat.
The use Of pork as an article Of diet
was touched upon. 1t was stated that
everybody who has tried it, knows how
palatable boiled salt pork is, and several
cases we're mentioned where physicians
recommended it as cure for cOnsump.
ten. An eminent army surgeon has
stated that soldiers fed on pork were
harder and healthier than those fed ex.
clusiyely on feet.
In regard to the use aud proper care Of
beef and mutton, a gentleman Of large ex.
perience in hotel management stated that
both beef and mutton needed ripening af-
ter they were killed. They are in their
poorest stage when eaten fresh. A good
way is to hang up beef with the legs down,
till it begins to drip, in winter, when it Is
ripe. Mutton should be ripcned longer
than beef, and poultry less. Freezing in
jures any meat and particularly poultry.
The quantity otbeefdepends largely Onits
maturity, the full.Grown being best,
venison is dricr and tougher than beef,
and, consequently, needs keeping longer
to ripen. Florida and California beef
is less oily than ours, and keeps more like
yenison. How to make tough beeften-
der by cooking, and how to make pota-
toes cook dry and mealy, were questions
laid over till future meeting.