The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-12-25

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ward him, and pressed his first kiss up
on her lips. And so she found her
hero.
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD
Small Fruits for Country Homes.
Complaints are made that our farmers
isolate their families from many enjoy.
ments of city or village life, and neglect
to provide those Injuries Of the garden
that Tighten the heart and invigorate the
stomach; a choice collection Of which
delicacies one might well travel some
distance to partake at the home OF q
friend, as some writer has intimated.
Such complaints are we'll founded, and
farmers are to be censured, if, as some
imagine, our farmers are independent
and burdened with leisure hours. But
this happy condition being simply q
dream of the poet or a burlesque on
struggles for existence, let us not berate
the patient husbandman; for no class is
so badgered, harassed and driven, norso
poorly paid for their toll. The care OF
farm fences, buildings and live stock,
long journeys to market over horrible
roads; relentless storms, the tickle sea-
sons, and countless never.ending drudge
ries, assail the farmer at every turn;
and 10 and behold ! it is discovered that
his fruit garden, his flowers, his lawns,
do not compare favorably with those of
his city brothers. The homes of many
of our farmers are indeed barren of the
choice varieties and species of small
fruits; but the farmers heart beats kind
~ toward those dependent upon his
efforts, and as he becomes more familiar
with the better varieties, and appreciates
their value for home use, and learns how
easily they may be grown, he will pro-
duce them. In fact, our well-to'do
farmers are, of late, introducing these
comforts quite literally.
Small fruits are q great attraction to
any place, but no country home is COM
plete without them in abundance from
June to January. They are not only
toothsome and healthful, but are possess
ed of great beauty. Downing says that
fine fruit is the most perfect union of
the useful and beautiful that the earth
knows" AS much pleasure may be OBJ.
tanned by wandering through a garden
of strawberries, raspberries, blackber-
ries, currants, gooseberries and grapes
under good culture and treatment, when
in bloom and fruit, as from many flower
gardens. We are apt to overlook the
beauty of these useful plants, and bestow
our admiration Unfortunately on those
hat have their being for beauty alone.
If We desire we may train most of the
small fruits in forms Of beauty, greatly
enhanced when bearing their luscious
burdens. For instance, the Black Gap
raspberry may he made to cover a ~trellis,
or may be trained low, and as round
headed as a hay-cock, or transformed
into & uniform and trusty hedge-1ow.
Should we see the currant in fruit when
strolling for wild flowers, we should feel
that we had discovered berries of great
beauty. Like blades Of grass, apple
blossoms and sunsets, currants are too
familiar to receive general admiration.
Few vines are more ornamental for
home grounds than the grapes; and
when the "bloom busted" clusters
swell and ripen in the autumn sun, we
may rest with content beneath their
shadows. Hundreds of dollars expended
in architectural display may not add so
much attraction to q country home as
will the old grapevine, trailing from a
rustic arbor about the gables. How well
we remember the vines that twined their
tendrils about the homes of n child
hood. Familiar scenes and former &C.
uuaintance may have been forgotten,
but the old vines cling to our memory
m all their beauty and fru%itfulness. Let
US plant the small fruits about our
homes. They will promote health and
contentment, aud do much to brighten
LIES toilsome journey.-Er.
How to Do the Family Washing.
The clothing for the weeks washing
being duly assorted, it is we'll to place
coarse and badly-soiled articles by them
selves in warm suds to soak until you
colored clothes, wash, rinse and starch,
and hang them out to dry; faInels,
also, should be disposed of in the early
part OF the day. These done, proceed
to the white clothes. A little soaking
in as warm suds as can be conveniently
managed is undoubtedly a help, and
with that and the washing through two
suds, kept as clean by renewing as your
supply of water will admit of, brings
them ready for scalding (not boiling).
One should never have less than three
tubs to use in a family washing, and
four are better. Into the deepest tub
you have throw the garments as they
are washed from the second suds, shak-
ing them Loosely, and rubbing a little
soap where there is any indication of it's
being needed. When the tub is nearly
full, or you have all the clothing of that
class in, pour over it boiling water in
which a little soap has been dissolved,
until they are well covered with the
water; then cover the tub with a blan-
ket or whatever will hold the steam
until you can bear the hand in to wash
the clothes out of this waller. AS this is
the last Of the washing every part
should be carefully examined and have
whatever rubbing may be necessary;
wiring lightly, as the suds helps the
bleaching, and spread OF the grass,
where the sun will fall on them the rest
of the day, and keep them wet by an
occasional sprinkling from a garden
watering-pot. This scalding has to be
repeated if you have more than n tub
full of cloths. With the coarsest and
most soiled articles thelo is no objection
to boiling for a few moments, but l
would advise taking from the boiling
water into fresh, clean suds before put
ting out on the grass. This part Of the
washing can be accomplished and every
thing cleared up by n or two o'clock
where there is good large wash. AS
the clothes should be left out to bleach
all the afternoon, THU part OF the day
can be utilized, if you are hiring by the
day, in having the c~a!icoes ironed. AS
late as you cal conveniently do SO, have
the clothes taken from the grass, still
keeping the coarse and fine ones sepa-
rated, and put to soak in n liberal supply
of clear water. The next morning have
them rinsed from this water, or n
slightly blued after. II dried under
favorable circumstances they will lock
30 white and smell so delightfully."- pure
and fresh it will he a pleasure to wear
them. and you will have the comfort of
knowing your clothes wear ont instead
OF washing out-a much slower but
more satisfactory proccGs.-American
Agricultnrist.
How Farmers Lose Money,