Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-09-05
FARM AND PRESIDE.

EAkM ANIL ElkESlUEs
L H e CAT ON A FARM.-One rarely
considers that a well-kept cat may be more
profitable than COW. Il one rat per day
is destroyed, the services of the cat may
be estimated as at least equal to 800 per
year. Let us try to calculate the enormous
damage done by S65 rats in one year, to
say nothing of the ravages OF the numer-
Gus progeny of so many vermin. One rat
per day is a moderate amount of business
for an active cat. Recently the writer
counted five rats captured in stable by
one cat Ia one day, and possibly others
were not seen. The cat being we'll fed,
hunted for amusement, and did not eat
the prey. This is the principal point in
the management of Cat. 1t should be
well and regularly fed, for rats are un-
wholesome food, They are infested with
larvae of tape worms, and cats are FREE
qnentlys tormented with the mature para
sites IN consequence of devouring diseas-
ed rats. When kept free from hunger
cat will only occasionally devour a rat OF
mouse. The most healthful food for
cat is a mixed animal and vegetable diet.
Milk and bread; few potatoes with meat
gravy, or a little fat, ana a sprinkling Of
salt, with an occasional scrap Of meat,
are excellent food, and will keep the AMI
NAL in good health. "A farm can usually
support four or five cats oproftably, and
these should be chiefly male, and the ma
joritY Of these should be castrated. l1i
70 - & iaat
AMMONIA IN THE KITcHEN.-The pam
try shelves are getting grimy, or finger
marks around the doorlatches and knobs
are looking dark and unsightly. For lack
of time they are left day after day, for it
is hard work to scour all the time, and it
wears off the paint too. The husband
keeps his bottle Of oil, or perhaps large
can holds it, for he never stints in that
Now, suppose his wife has her bottle OF
spirits of ammonia to use; she takes her
bottle of water and clean cloth, just puts
on'a few drops of the fluid and wipes .off
all the dirt; it is worth more than half
days labor, and does not hurt the paint
either. She could put few drops in her
dishWater, and see how easily the dishes
could be cleaned; a few drops on sponge
would clean all the windows in the sitting
room, making them shine like crystal. 1t
would take the stains out of the teaspoons,
too and teaspoonful in the mop-pail
would do more towards washing up the
kitchen floor than ten pounds of elbow
grease applied to the mop HANDLE, A wife
has just as much right to- make her work
easy and expeditions as her husband. If
she does not do it the fault is her own, in
great measure.
CREAM SALAD DRESSING.-Put half
cup Of fresh cream in double saucepan to
heat, then .thicken with teaspoonful of
corn starch dissolved in a little cold milk.
Cook for minute or two and set to one
side; when partly cold mix in the white of
an egg beaten to stiff froth. Meanwhile
beat the yolks of two eggs with two tea
spoons of melted butter, half teaspoon
of mixed mustard, scant one of salt and
full one of powdered sugar. When these
are well blended stir in half cup of hot
vinegar: return to the fire and stir con-
stantly until the mixture thickens, but do
not let it boil. When partly cold beat the
two preparations together with a few swift
strokes, and when quite cold pour it over
the shaved cabbage or cut celery.
OIL STAINS OUT OF WHITE CLOTH
Make strong solution of borax water
one tablespoonful powdered .borax to
pint of boiling water; place the cloth on a
clean board or table, and rub the oil stains
we'll, using a clean brush dipped into the
solution; if the spots are of long standing.
a very little soap may be used with the
borax water, using the brush for that pur-
pose; then rub dry with clean soft cloth.
CRACKERs.-Crackers should be kept
in a close tin box, and, if possible, in a
dry place. Even thus kept, however, thew
soon acquire rather stale taste, which
may De entirely recti6ed by putting them
into moderately heated oven, and letting
them remain long enough to brown and be-
come crlsp.-They will taste as if Just
baked, and are especially grateful to the
palate Of an invalid If thus restored to
their normal condition. sfr
GINGER SNAPs.-Take two eggs, one
cup brown sugar, two cups molasses, one
cup heaping full Of lard, little salt; beat
well together; set upon the stove until it
boils; add two tablespoonsful of ginger
and soda, covered with four tablespoonsful
OF boiling water; mix soft; roll thick for
cookies, or mix stiff and roll thin for snans.
They are delicious.
CABBAGE SALAD.-Shave the cabbage
line and keep it in a mound in the salad
bowl and pour mayonnaise dressing over
the top. When done it should be very
thick, and may be thinned to the proper
consistency with rich sweet cream. This
makes delicious dressing for cold slaw
and is very nice for lettuce or celery.
GREEN CORN PUDDNG.-Twelye ears
of green corn, grated, one quart OF sweet
milk, three tablespoonful OF butter, three
of sugar and three eggs; bake in butter
ed dish until 1t begins to thicken. then it
is done; put the batter in last on top and
it will bake nice and brown.
BAKED MAcARONI.--Lay quart bowl
full of macaroni in cold water and let it
soak half an hour; then put it into a deep
baking dish; add one pint Of rich milk.
one. quarter of pound of butter, one tea
spoonful of salt. Cut the macaroni in
small pieces and CRATE plenty of cheese
over the top. Bake q light brown.