The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-24
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
Hnrn prnInnEr.

and made more productive by belng
properly drained. From experience and
observation, / am satisfied that under
draining, If properly done, where il IS
practicable, is much the best, vet, lands
which are quite rolling and hilly. would
in most cases be greatly benefited by
making deep dead furrOws, every two or
three rods apart when plowing. But
when the land is only moderately roll
ing or nearly level, make good sized
open bitches, not more than eighty yards
apart, deep enough 10 go mostly belsw
the top soil IN order that the land may
be drained below the roots Of the growing
crops, then as the surplus water runs OF,
the air will enter the soil, and rising up
through 20 the surface, aerate aAd warm
the land, which helps 10 furnish good and
wholesome food for the crops, thereby in
creasing the WELD But undertaking if
properly done, is still better.
Drains should not be far apart, and
should be SO laid as 10 run from the head
20 the outlet with some descent, and be
from two 10 four feet below the surface
tuf course an outlet must be provided
This would drain the soil more evenly
and thoroughly reaching all parts Of the
land or field % be drained. BY tins
method Of draining while the surplus
water is running of, the air If running
up the drains, and rising through tho
ground, aerating and warming the soil,
making il III for cultivation fun ten days
earlier IN spring. and continuing its
warmth as much later in the fall, thereby
lengthening the growing and ripening
season. and, in musts caser, preventing
injury from early and late frosts, which,
+ in some seasons, would add more 10 the
value OF the crop than the whole cost Of
the drainage.
Where the land is favorable for
understanding. the cost need not be
more than from two dollars 30 four dol
lars per acre, s.e,o. ,.llg 10 the prices paid
for labor and materials. The 1rAlns can
be- made Of pine boards a strip SIX and
uuc-half inches wide nailed on 10 the
edge uf q strip five and one-hah inches
WIDE, aud in lieu OF bottom, nail short
strips across about four feet apart, 10
keep the sides in their places. This kind Of
dram viii last many wears. and do good
service Therefore. i would recommend
Undertaking as being the greatest
benefit 90 the soil,
But persons who cannot conveniently
under,lrain their land. should at least dig q
f few open bitches, Of good size and proper
depth, for mains, and then when plow-
ing make deep dead burrows, leading into
the ditches, which will be found highly
beneficial Isaac Esmag, va Rural
+ Nctr Yorker.
Domrstic HeiP~.
RrCH SoFr GSaKRBREAD. One cup
. full sour cream, one cupful molasses, one
egg, one teaspoouiul ginger. one tea
spoonful soda; stir rather thin.
+ FRrED CAKrs. One cupful sugar, one
cupfnl sour cream. one cupful butter
milk. one teaspounful soda, spice To
taste; mix thick enough 10 roll easily.
/ COLOGNE. One quart alcohol. one
/ quarter ounce oil Of lavender, one-quar-
/ ter ounce oil Of rosemary.
H.-One quart alcohol, one ounce oil
Of lemon, one-half ounce oil of bergamot; (;
shake well
BAKERS GRAHAM BREAp.-Make n
+ sponge as for white bread with wheat
flour, Say one square of compressed
Yeast 30 two quarts Of water; when light
make up the dough with graham -four
and one-half q teacupful molasses; let
stand to rise again, then make up the
| loaves with the hands, and when light
bake
To Cook BEEFsrEAK. Slit the out
/ side or fat part, say every four inches,
f cutting through 20 the lean, which pre-
vents contraction and increases its ten
+ derness. Have a bright fire and gridiron
/ hot before putting it on; turn over 10
prevent burning. A steak an inch and
/ half thick will be cooked IN from seven
10 ten minutes. To fry, prepare in the
same way: put little butter on pan or
/ griddle, and LET il get brown before put
ting on the meat; cook quickly, and,
whether broiled, fried, roasted, or baked
in the oven, il you want Juicy, tender
beef, never salt It before Il is cooked.
Boefsteak should be served the moment
il is cooked: otherwise It loses its flavor.
Hints About Flowers.
House plants ought TO be stimulated
gently once or twice week. Ram
water. so refreshing TO summer flowers,
always contains ammonia, which also
abounds in oil liquid manures. If you
/ take an ounce of pulverized carbonate of
ammonia, dissolved in one gallon Of
water, it will make spring water even
more stimulating 10 your plants than
rain water. II you water your plants
once in two weeks with guano water
4 lone tablespoonful to pail of water,
they will grow more thrifty. Chicken
manure dissolved in water is excellent.
Always keep the soil in your flower pots
/ loose. A common hair-pin used daily,
will stir thSearth sufficiently.