The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-10-24
FARM. GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD
Take Care of the Orchard.

FARM. GARDEN AND HOUSEHOliD
Take Care of the Orchard.
Whatever on the farm does not rise to
a certain dignity in the estimation of
the farmer, is usually sadly neglected,
If not otherwise abused. While every
farm has its orchard, on great many it
is considered of very little account,
being used only for supplying home
wants. We have heard farmers go so
far as to say that it was cheaper to buy
fruit than to raise it. This opinion,
however, does not find general favor, We
are happy to say but while it is usual
ly thought desirable to have an orchard,
1t is frequently the last thing cared for,
If it is ever cared for. We have seen
trees in cultivated orchards shamefully
abused, and that it was permitted by the
owner could not be accounted for, for
If a tree was worth planting, it would
seem that the owner would realize that
it was worth preserving. Not only does
the owner himself sometimes show an
astonishing disregard of the interests of
the apple trees by plowing through
the roots, and breaking the trees with
the whif1etrees, but he looks compla-
Gently on while the hired man does the
same thing. Sometimes man will be
careless of his own, 30 far as his own
conduct is concerned, but when another
does what he does, he is aroused to see
the nature of his own misdemeanor, as
well as one who is doing likewise, and
remonstrate. But some farmers appear
to be utterly Indifferent as to who
abuses the trees of the orchard, or how
it is done. They will suffer the prun-
ing to be done not alone in a slovenly
way, but in an injurious way. The man
is sent into the tree with rough, heavy
boots, and he rubs off the bark at every
step, and does more damage than any
respectable pruning would compen-
safe for but the pruning is often not
respectable. 1t is simply butchering.
If the limbs get of, however, the owner
seems satisfied.
Then, perhaps, some beautiful look
ing apple attracts his eye, or the eye of
some one else, and he hurls club
among the branches or suffers some one
else to do it. One would be led to sup
pose that he thought the tree the rock
of Gibraltar. It is no wonder that a
tree treated in any such manner fails to
give its owner satisfaction.
A tree is endowed with life, and the
machinery of life. 1t has circulation,
lungs and skin, and these are suscepti-
BILE of injury, and when injured must
decrease the vitality of the tree, as the
ltality of the human body is decreased
by disease. While the farmer in many
instances no doubt thinks that our
pomologists are extravagant in their
ideas of the needs of the orchard in the
time they devote to it, it is not true, and
very much benefit might be derived by
all of us if we would strive to initiate
them. There are difficulties in growing
an orchard which are often discourag-
ing. The varieties selected are often
unfit for the locality, and other things
come up to dishearten, but it will pay
to deal with them all, and by pa
tience and perseverance to have good
orchard on the farm, and to take good
care of it when it is grown as we'll as
while itis growing. g.-Eschange.
Recipes.
Quick PUDDING.-One pint milk, one
pint -four, three eggs and little salt
BUoKwHEAT CAKES Mix one gill of
wheat -four with one quart of buckwbeat
-four, add one large teaspoonful of salt,
then add gradually scant quart of
warm water mixed with one gill OF yeast.
Let it rise all night, and in the morning
add a quarter teaspoon of carbonate of
soda, and bake Immediately.
MINoE PIE.-One cupful lard, two
cupfuls -four, one-half cupful ice-water,
pinch of salt; use a knife 70 cut the
lard through the -four until fine; then
add the water and mix with the knife
until no flour remains in the bowl.
Roll in sheet and place small bits of
buttes over; dust well, fold up, and re.
peat the process twice, using half cup
full of butter. Roll the crust thin; have
quick oven; it will rise in flakes.
LAMB.-When loin or any other Joint
of lamb las been under dressed, it is a
good plan to divide it into outlets of a
neat shape, and fully three-quarters OF
an inch in thickness, to dip these in
beaten eggs, strew over nicely favored
breadcrnmbs, and fry or broil them un-
til lightly Drowned on both sides. As
there is danger that the meat will dry
when it is dressed the second time, care
should be taken not only to cook the
cutle cts over good fire, but also to dip
them in clarified butter before serving
them.
APPLE DUMPLINas.-Ta one cup OF
sour cream to two cups of buttermilk,
half teaspoonful of soda, pinch o1
salt, make with these nice light dough,
roll and cut it as for large-sized biscuit,
then roll the biscuit as for pie-crust
have your apples quartered and steamed
until tender, place them on the dough,
sugar and spice, then gather the edge
together and press and tuck in firmly
roll in the hand to shape them little
long, lay them smooth side up on bake
pan, moisten over the top with sweet
cream or melted butter, bake to a nice
brown and eat with cream and sugar
favored with lemon.
Keeping Gratis Through Winter.
Nurserymen who cut large quantities
OF gratis late in autumn, keep them il
cellars packed in damp moss; but farm
ers and others who wish to preserve {
few for spring grating, may not hav'
these appliances at hand. For such, ,
simple and perfect mode is to bury then
in dry place out of doors, in an in
verted open box. Fill the box partl,
full with them, nail two or three strip
across to keep them in place, and thel
place the box in hole dug for the pur
pose, with the open side down, and bur,
them half foot or 80 in depth. The,
do not come in contact with the earth
and remain perfectly clean, and tn