The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-11-16
Home and Farm.

CoUGH SYRUP.-Take small handful of
hops and some old field balsam and some
hoarhound, and make a strong tea; strain
and put as much molasses as tea; boil down
to about one half. To be taken before eat
ing and before going to bed.
TOMATO CATsUP.-Take one peck of to-
matoes, quarter pound pepper, quarter
pound allspice, quarter pound white mus
tard seed, two ounces cloves, six table
spoonfuls salt, half gallon vinegar. Boil
slowly six hours. Cool and then bottle.
HINTS FOR THE SEAsoN.-Sow spinach
seed now for early use in spring.
1t is not too late to sow lettuce seed in
protected place, for early spring use.
If you have luxuriant-growing trees that
do not fruit, try prunipg off roots now.
II you wish to plant out hedge next
spring, plow the strip where it is to be
planted, this month, and then again in the
spring.
Make up the compost heaps of sods,
muck, manure, sawdust and tanbark, now,
and throw over two or three times before
spring.
If you want tender asparagus aud pie
plant next spring, put on plenty of manure
this fall-in fact, o bushel of mar ure
thrown over each root of pie plant will
| give SplSnulu StdlkS next Sprlng.
To have early strawberries next spring
take up few sods of plants when the soil
is saturated with rain, and plant them
thick together in sheltered spot, building
around them a Frame like an ordinary hot
bed frame, and through the winter keep
straw over the plants, and early in the
spring put glass sash over them.
Boston Brown BREAD.-One teacupful
of graham flour, one teacupful of white In-
dian meal, three-fourths teacupful of rye
flour, one-half teacupful of molasses, one
pint of thick milk, one teaspoonful of sal
eratus, one teaspoonful of salt. Mix we'll
| together with a spoon for five minutes.
Bake In creased covered pail for three
| hours, in moderate oven. Let il remain
in the pail with the cover on for ten OF tif-
teen minutes after taking 1t from the oven.
Another receipt is as follows: Take two
| quarts of Indian meal, salted little; pour
boiling water over it; stir it, then let it
get cold. Add one quart of sifted rye
meal, mixing it thoroughly. Add one and
one-half cups of molasses, and one-half
cup of yeast; mix well, and If not quite
soft enough, add little water. 1t must
he very soft. Bake in pans for four hours.
The pans must be creased and filed
Cover them with other pans while baking.
WHY ORCHARDS DEcAY.-A correspond
ent of the Valiey Farmer says orchards
have died or become poor from. these
1. The exhaustion of the soil from the
constant crop of apples; from the blowing
away by the wind of the leaves of the
trees which nature designed to feed the
soil on which the tree stands; by the crops
of grass, grain, or roots constantly taken
from the same ground and little return of
substance to it.
2. Another means of their destruction
has been In whipping the trees with poles
to remove the apples. And still another
cause was the pasturage among them.
3. To restore them. II any were left
worth restoring, man must cease to crop
the ground under them, and must manure
them with vegetable mold, decaying leaves,
lime, wood ashes and salt A compost
formed of these substances would be ex-
cellent; or one formed in part by soapsuds
and refuse slops, chip dirt, turf, ETC., well
rotted.
Then trim off all dead limbs, and those
that cross and gall each other, and OF all
suckers that feed upon trunk or limbs, not
necessary for crop.
GRAPES AS FooD. We have on former
occasions referred to the value of fruits as
articles of diet, both in health and in sick
ness. Grapes may deservedlY claim high
rank among the fruits in this respect. They
contain a considerable amount of hydro.
carbonaceous matter, together with potas-
sium salts-a combination which does moi
tend to irritate, but, on the contrary, to
soothe the stomach, and which is conse-
quently used to advantage even in dyspep-
STA. According to DR.. Hsrtsen, Of Cannes,
, in France, who has recently contributed an
article oD the subject to- foreign medical
journal, the organic acids in the grape, es
pecialy tartaric acid, deserves more con-
sideration than they have received. Their
nutriuve value has, he thinks, been much
underrared. 1t is known that they are
changed to carbonic acid in the blood, and
possibly careful research may show thai
they are convertible into fats. DR.. Hart
sen thinks that they should be ranked with
the carbohydrates as food. They have
been found a valuable diet in fever, and
the success of the ''grape cures" in th,
r Tyrol and other parts Of Europe appear
to show that they are positively beneficial
in other diseases. No doubt the good re
suits of a residence at these establishments
are in a measure to be ascribed to the eli
mate and the general hygienic disciplin.
= adopted. The advantage does not wholly
: consist in the fact that 80 many pounds o
grapes are eaten daily, but partly in the fac
that other less healthful things are MOI
eaten; and pure air and exercise are aisC
important elements In the curative treat
ment. But after giving ali due weight Il
, these allied influences we must allow NJ
small fraction of the beneficial results x
: the grapes.
Sow WHEAT ASD OTHER SMALL GRAS.-
In October and November is the time in tn
cotton States to SOW wheat and other small
grain. A spring crop Of oats may also b
5 sowed in the last OF January and FEBRUARY
. The fearful war in Europe that Is now al
most certain to be inaugurated, involving
the long postponed settlement Of the East
ern or Turkish question, will, without
shadow of doubt, eventuate in a bloody col
lision between Russia, Great Britain, Tur
key and. perhaps, Prussia, Austria en-
Italy. Never mind what happens, the sup
ply Of breadstuffs heretofore annually draw
by Great Britain from India, Russia, Egyp
and the Mediterranean sources will not onl,
not be forthcoming for the next year or two
: but that. and much more, will be required
s 70 feed the belligerent armies in the field
The past year Great Britain imported 70
her own consumption At home more thai
thirty-one and q half million huadreS
weights, equal 10 dfty-three million bushels
and will require, at least, this much durinl
1 the present year, the present crop benz
e quite short, though Of superior quality
, without taking into account any dehcienc
she may have 10 supply for the interruption
Of her usual supply ria the Mediterranear
, This waFlike condition Of European affair
will assurediy react upon all regular trade
and will tend 70 depress cotton and othe
; manufacturing industries other than arm
supplies, and AZ the same time viii Great