The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-05-05
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
Plant Good POTATOES.

seed is most likely to secure n good crop:
Whatever variety of pot atoes are planted
select the best tubers for seed. Plant
large, well-formed. smooth potatoes, as
it is evidence of a large well-formed
variety, evidence of soundness and
health, evidence of perfection; and in
order to produce the best of anything
the surest way is to select the best to
grow from. Small potatoes used for
seed may, and do often, produce large,
fine tubers, but they may be a small
varietv-some of them at least are liable
to be. Ifthey do not belong to a small
tuber family then the weight of evidence
is in favor of their being imperfect and
unripe, consequently weak and un-
! healthy. Such stock, either of animals
or vegetables, is not fit to propagate
| from. Nature stores in the perfect
seed what is required to promote and
perpetuate the vigorous and hardy
plant. By carefully selecting the best
of everything to plant, the finest
grain, fruit, roots and other vege-
tables can be produced with reason-
able certainty; but if this fundamental
law is neglected the chances are in favor
of large per cent. of inferior produce.
The same natural law governs in the
vegetable that is acknowledged to be so
potent in the animal kingdom. Like pro-
duces like, and faults and imperfections
seem to be more readily transmitted
than the more desirable qualities. Very
much better crops could be raised if
farmers gave this subject more study,
and acted upon the well-established
principles of production. Many years
ago, and in a period of our agricultural
history when new varieties of any form
were extremely rare, an observant
farmer Of Pennsylvania, acting on the
principle that perfect grain could only
be insured by using perfect seed, origin
ated a superior variety of wheat, which
he named barrel wheat" This he did
by holding the sheaves of wheat in his
hands by the butts and beating the tops
over a barrel. The large, plump, perfect
grains would fly out and none others.
This wheat was used as seed, and the
same practice to procure seed being fol-
lowed a few years, produced what
seemed to be new variety of wheat,
but which was only the result of a prac-
tical application of the natural law of
selecting the fittest. This anecdote is a
practical illustration of using none but
the very best for seed. Unripe, small
potatoes are not fit for seed; neither are
overgrown, hollow-hearted tubers. The
former are weak and imperfect; the
latter, like all abnormal monsters, un-
healthy.
CoOKTEs.-Two cups of sugar, one
half cup of butter, one cup of sweet
milk, teaspoonful of baking powder,
caraway seed if liked, and flour enough
to roll out.
CORN MEAk PUDDING.-Quarto of corn
I meal lnn6 mn of
chopped fine, cup of raisins seeded, and
a small teaspoonful of salt. Boil three
hours in buttered steamer. Eat with
syrup or sauce.
CHICKEN SALAD.-Remove the skin
gristle and fat, and chop the meat quite
fine; add two-thirds in quantity OF
chopped celery, one-fourth as much
chopped cucumber, pickles and celery
rub the yolks of two hard boiled eggs
and one tablespoon butter together
moisten with little milk, mix well,
add salt to taste, and garnish with ce lery
leaves.
SPANISH CUSTARD.-If your family
numbers six, take eight yolks of eggs,
eight teaspoonfuls of sugar, beaten very
light, adding flavor if you like; put over
a slow fire, stirring all the time until
quite thick; then have small saucers,
either of glass or china, and pour some
on each saucer; to be served in this
way cold; powdered almonds are very
delicious on it.
TEA CAKES. ITO each pound OF
-four allow dessert spoonful OF
yeast powder, one egg, half a
pint of milk, two spoonfuls of melted
butter, two spoonfuls of sugar. Rub
the dry ingredients together. then
quickly mix in the milk with the but
ter, then the beaten egg; cut into bis
cult form, and bake quickly in buttered
pans.
PIGS FEET.-If you have more than
you want to use now, boil them until
The bones drop out, then mince them
cOarsely and boil in little of the same
water, season well, pour into n crock,
press down closely, and when cold cover
with vinegar and it will keep until warm
weather. 1t will be firm, like Jelly, and
can be cut into slices. This is very good
for laboring men or those who work out
of doors. There is no oil or grease for
boots or shoes that can compare with
the grease, when cold, SKINNED off the
kettle in which pigs feet have been
boiled. 1t is very softening, and there
will be just enough of the gluey sub
stance in it to make good mixture and
| give good "shine."
When 90 PIOV.
An experienced farmer says: know
by trial that blowing land when it is
very dry is nearly as hurtful as when ii
is very wet. But my experience is with
heavy clay. or land in which clay is an
important constituent. Such land when
plowed dry breaks up lumpy, and sub
sCquent rains do not dissolve the Jumps.
1t is my opinion that there is never a
more suitable condition for blowing any
soil than when it has enough moisture
to cause the burrows to fall loosely from
the plow with no appearance of packing
and no Jumps.