The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-02-17
Farm and Household.


the better.
Water filtered through charcoal becomes
perfectly pure.
Oak is stronger than iron, both pieces being
of equal weight.
One firm at Grundy Centre, Iowa, shipped
thirty-fi car loads of flax-seed the past sea-
son.
The simplest method to remove the hull
from corn is to make weak I've from clean |
wood ashes and soak the corn in il.
Poor COWS are dear at any price really good |
ones, if young, are never sold too high. A
COW should give at least $50 worth of milk
year.
It is well for farmers to bear in mind that
the average for all breeds of cows is about
six pounds of hay, or its equivalent for one
quart Of milk.
the Agricultural Department is informed
that the codling moth is making such ravages
among the orchards of California as threaten
the destruction of all the apple trees on the
Pacific coast.
At the recent poultry exhibition at the Crys-
tai Palace. in England. there were 800 exhibit
tors, showing 1886 pens. Of these, 2 200 were
of cocks and hens, 1879 ducks, geese, tur-
keys and 1880 pigeons.
A Western correspondent says herd of a
thousand Texas COWS and forty short horn
bulls, which can be bought for $4,000, would
increase to 5000 in number and $4,000 in
value in five years ON the grazing grounds of
Wyoming.
A COW with three rings on horn is years
old with four she is years old. No new
rings are formed after the tenth year. The
deeper rings, however, and the worn appear
ance of the horns are pretty sure indications
of old age.
A singular curiosity on exhibition at the
postofice in Franklin, N. T., is 50pound
pumpkin, grown between the four posts of a
common chair, completely filling the space SO
that it cannot be removed without breaking
the chair.
1t is not an uncommon occurrence to find
sod turned under in May, thoroughly decom-
posed before one turned under in November
previous The one turned under in May is
well warmed, decomposition of the grass COM
mencing Immediately.
No doubt common salt is about to take up
a prominent place as one of the cheapest, as
it is one of the best, though not the strong
est fertilizer. Many farmers, practiticians and
observers have pretty nearly arrived at the
conclusion that a little salt fol- most of the
crops is nearly of as much benefit to them as
are regular rations of it to the whole line of
domestic animals.
THE DAIRY.
A milk cellar will be coolest when well
sunk in the earth, and not much above its sur
face.
The most fertile farms in New England to-
day are, as a rule, those that are devoted to
stock and dairy farming.
II housekeepers would have thermometer
and test the temperature at which their cream
is kept they would save themselves much
trouble Cream should stand in temperature
of about sixty degrees, and not be kept longer
than six days. As long as milk is allowed to
stand near the kitchen stove, as where many
farmers wives make practice of placing
it in winter, SO long bad butter may be ex
pected.
Almost the only demand in our large
city markets Is for new butter. New butter
in January and February as well as in June
and September and SO far as the dairymen
the country cater to this want, they seem to
be successful. Probably twice as much cream
cry or imitation creamery butter is now sold
during winter as of all other sorts put to-
gether, and it brings the highest price because
= of its fresh flavor.
A correspondent fthe Western Stock Jour-
nal says he once had valuable heifer which
was an exceedingly vicious kicker. To cure
her of the habit he put a common garden hoe
end in front of her off hind leg and behind and
above the gambrel joint of the nigh hind leg.
Then sitting down on the right to milk, he put
the hoe well up under his arm and began
milking. The heifer could not stir either hind
leg, and after one week she could be MIXED
safely without lettering and proved to valuable
and gentle animal.
Turnips are healthful and milk producing
food for COWS. Whether they produce a rank
taste in the milk or not it appears to have
been pretty well proved, depends on the
amount fed and the time of feeding. Supple
mented by other feed and given several hours
previous to milking or Immediately after, there
will be no disagreeable effects on the milk
While the aromatic principle in these roots is
decidedly penetrating it is also volatile, and
when taken into the stomach is quickly dis
tributed and soon passes away. Turnips may
therefore be fed to fattening beeves it is best,
however, to abstain from feeding them for sew
eral hours previous to slaughtering the ami
mails.
THE HOUSEHOLD.
DELICIOUS GRAHAM MUFFINs-Add two
beaten eggs to one pint of milk stir in two
cups of Graham -four and one teaspoonful Of
baking powder. Bake in quick oven fifteen
minutes. These are made very quickly.
SALAD OF FRENCH BEANs.-The canned
French string beans which are tender, young,
and bright green, are very nice for winter
salad. Cook them as much as needful in little
boiling water, drain, and while still hot, pour
ever them mixture (half cup) of oil, vine
gar, pepper and salt Let them stand and get
cold couple of hours, and this mixture (mar-
inade) will be thoroughly absorbed. On being
brought to the table the salad will probably
. need more oil and vinegar.
BEIeNETs SouFELEs-Put about a pint Of
water into saucepan with a few grains of
salt, piece of butter the size ofan egg, and as
much sugar, with plenty Of grated lemon peel.
When the water boils, throw gradually into
It sufficient flour to form thick paste; then
take it off the fire, let it remain ten minutes,
and work into it three or four eggs, reserying
whites of one or two, which you whisk into
the froth and mix into the paste Let it rest
couple of hours, then proceed to fry it by
dropping into hard lard pieces of it the size Of
walnut Serve piled on dish with pow