Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-01-25
FARM AND FIRRsIDE.

TABLE DECoRATIoN.-A few words on
the decoration of the dinner table. Just now
the fashion of placing little receptacies for
flowers about the table, between the dish
es of cakes and fruit, is much affected.
Small white or blue china buckets, con-
tanning plants and FERNS look very well.
Moss should hide the stalks of the fern or
plant. If flowers be preferred, put in the
moss first, and then flowers last, with wa
| ter in the bucket, of course; in this way
a very few flowers will suffice, which is an
advantage at this time of year, when they
are so scarce. For those people who have
hothouses, a very elegant way or ornamen-
ting table is to lay maidenhair in delicate
sprays along The table, just beyond the
| line of plates, wine glasses. etc. The sprays
| should just touch each other, and every
now and then a geranium flower, a small
| chrysanthemum, OF other flower be laid
on, looking very pretty. If lnaidenhair be
| not forthcoming, the common outdoor
| ferns, especially the lastrea, look well, if
| the little branches-if | may SO explain it
| be taken from the parent stalk and lightly
| laid on the table, one on the other. Holly
| leaves, for Christmas decoration, may be
utilized IN the same way. If pots of flow
ers or low round glasses be arranged down
a table at intervals, rings of the fern or
leaves can be laid round, and form pretty
finish. Sometimes buttonholes are handed
round to the assembled guests, just before
the dinner is announced. They are ar
ranged in pretty basket, and often dis
trlbuted by daughter Of the house. A
tiny satin pincushion is in the basket, in
case OF pins being required. An example
of this fashion may be cited. The small
bouquets were all laid on large open fan,
and little girl carried this round in sue
cession to each person, causing little eX-
element during the last quarter hour be-
fore dinner.
To CURE BEEF.-For one hundred and
fifty pounds of meat well packed in cask,
without salt, allow from one to two pals
full of water, as is needed, with common
salt added to make brine strong enough
to bear up a goodsized potato. Boil the
brine and add two ounces Of saltpeter and
one pint of molasses; pour over the beef
while scalding hot, covering with cloth
until cold. This will keep until March,
when, if any remain, take out and rinse in
cold water; boil and skim the brine, add
ing salt sufficient to bear to the potato
test again and pour cold over the meat.
The beef may be taken from the brine aud
cooked the same as fresh beef if cured dur
ing cold weather, and it retains its juices
and flavor better than by any other meth
od.-Rural Neeo Yorker.
Col. R. II. HANCoCK's RECIPE FOR
CURING EAMs.-I prefer pure Berkshire
hogs from fifteen to eighteen months old,
and believe the breed has much to do with
the ham. feed in barn lot, about two
acres, with plenty of running water, what
corn the hogs will eat clean in from four to
six weeks Kill the usual way, and use
about one bushel of salt to thousand
pounds of pork. Trim the hams close, and
let them lie in salt from four to six weeks;
then spread them in the meat house day
or two to dry. Make mixture of black
pepper (ground) and common molasses
made into thick paste, and spread
thoroughly over the hook and flesh part of
the ham. Hang them up and smoke with
hickory chips till dry. Let them remain
hanging till wanted for use.
A SEASONABLE REMEDY-NoW that
the chilly night air and raw atmosphere
prevails to a considerable extent, render
ing little folks liable to take severe colds
add frequently to sudden attacks Of the
much dreaded Group, the following remedy
may be of lncalculable service: "Croup
can be cured in one minute, and thetremedy
is simply alum and sugar. The way to
accomplish the deed is to take knife or
crater and shave off in small particles
about teaspoonful of alum; then mix
it with twice it's quantity of sugar, to make
it palatable, and administer it as quickly
as possible. Almost instantaneous relief
will follow" So asserts an exchange.
BUCKWHEAT CAKES.--BuckWheat cakes
are favori5e winter breakfast dish with
us, and [ have found nothing better than
the old-fashioned emptyings for raising
them. | make them as follows: To a
quart of buckwheat add two level spoons
full each of Indian meal and wheat flour.
MIX with warm water, add cup of sweet
yeast and a teaspoonful of salt. In the
morning, before baking, pour off cup of
the batter and set in a cool place for the
next morning, then beat the remainder
briskly for few minutes, add scant tea
spoonful of soda and bake at once.
BEANS AND OYsTERs.---Boil beans I'M
til ready for baking, season plentifully
with butter, pepper, salt and little bits of
pork if liked; put layer of the beans into
quite deep baking dish, then layer of
raw oysters, and so on until the dish is
nearly full; pour over teacupful of the
oyster liquor and bake one hour.
SAUER-KRAUT'-Ag gentleman who has
been engaged of late in putting up sauer-
kraut with sugar instead of salt, says that
the dish thus prepared is superior to that
made in the old fashioned way; and, furth-
ermore, whilst keeping just as long, has
none OF the smell the kraut has when pre-
pared in the usual way.
CURE FOR HOARsENESS.--Spik
root, sliced and bruised. and then STEPPED
in teapot containing equal parts of spir-
it's and water, and the vapor inhaled, when
efficiently cooled, will relieve the soreness
and hoarseness OF the throat or lungs,