Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-11-21
FARM AND HOME.


rub and rinse in cold water.
THE CARE OF PLANTs.-For the bene-
fit of those who have dropping house
plants, l will suggest that the dirt should
he shaken from the roots, and then be
placed in fresh mold, a large quantity Of
which can be procured mt any florists
for five or ten cents. The trouble in
many cases will be found to be the
ngle-worm, which feed on the small
roots.
10 CURE CHIILS AND FEVER. - One
quart boiling water, one dram quinine ;
put into a tumber of the water, stir,
and it will look like milk add fifteen
or twenty drops sulphuric acid pour
this into quart bottle two ounces
EPSON salts mixed with some of the
boiling water to be added to the first,
and two ounces essence peppermint +;
dose, two tablespoonfuls three times Il
day before eating.
PASTRY FOR MINCE PIE-One cupful
lard, two cupfuls flour, one-half cupful
ice-water, II pinch of salt use n knife
to cut the lard through the flour until
fine then add the water and mix with
the knife until no flour remains in the
bowl. Roll in a sheet and place small
bits of butter over dust well, fold up,
and repeat the process twice, using half
a cupfal of butter. Roll the crust
thin; have quick oven it will rise III
cakes.
EXTRA MINcE PlE-Two pounds of
lean beef boiled, and when cold chop
ped fine one pound Of beef suit,
chopped very fine, five pounds of APP
pies, pared, cored, and chopped one
pound of sultana raisins, washed two
pounds of raisins. seeded and chopped ;
two pounds of currants, washed in sew
eral waters three-quarters Of pound
of citron cut fine, two tablespoonfuls of
tablespoonfuls of mace, one Of ground
cloves, the same of allspice and salt,
two and one-half pounds of brown
sugar, one quart of sweet cider. one
pint of best brandy let it stand at least
twenty-four hours before making up in
pies. If the mince-meat made after
this recipe is kept in stone jars, well
covered up in a cool place, it will keep
all winter; if it becomes dried ont add
more liquor
BLACK KNOTS IN PLUM TREEs.-Noth-
ing can be done for black knots in plum
trees, says the Toronto Globe but to cut
out the diseased'parts, or the parts show
ing any kind Of disease, and burn them
If the trees are very badly affected burn
all of them. 1t will be of no use irving
to grow healthy plums if your neigh
bors have diseased trees, so YOU should
induce them also to cut out and destroy
the black knots.
CATS AND MoLEs.-During several
years we have tried the various mole
traps that have been offered, but never
yet succeeded in catching single mole
This year couple of cats have taken
up the matter, and without any instruc-
ton have proved themselves very eff
Gent mole-catchers. They patiently
watch the runs, and when the motion
of the earth shows that mole is pass.
ing, they dig it out with great rapidity
Every few days mole is brought to
the house, the cats appearing to know
that they do good service, and wish il
to be recognized. c have not seen
them attempt to eat the moles, hut they
seem to catch them for the fun of it.
ABOUT ASHES AS FERTILIZERS. - In
giving reasons for the high value OF
ashes as fertilizers, / have laid specia
stress ON several points l.)-They
contain all the food ingredients that The
plants require from the soil except one,
nitrogen. BY their chemical ac
ton they render the inert nitrogen O.
the soil available to crops. (3.)-They
also help to set free potash ana Other
mineral ingredients Of plant food thai
are locked up in insolubie combinations
in the soil a, They improve the
mechanical condition of the soil. For
instance, they make heavy soils lighter
and thus provide space for air and
moisture to circulate through them, and
prepare food for plants, enabling the
roots to make their way to the food
more easily, and counteract the i'll ef-
fects of drouth. (5.)-Thus, 10y virtue
Of what they themselves contain, and
what they enable soil to furnish, they
constitute practically a complete fertil.
izer. (6.1-Hence, like stable and yard
manure, they are fitted for all soils and
crops, They are accordingly worth
more for general use than ordinary
commercial fertilizers, such as guano
phosphates, bone, fish, potash salts, and
the like, which contain but part of the
list Of necessary elements Of plant food
and do far less to aid crops to economic
what the soil itself contains. (7.l-And
finally, they are generally applied in
large quantities, are exposed to scarcely
any waste until they are used by the
plants, and therefore their effect is as
lasting as it is valuable.
PIsH TILE PnRKERs Nc nnnntinnnd