Year: 1877

Many farms of the country need re-
construction in plan. In the Middle and
Western States we see numbers of them
that remain just about as they did when
the owners got through clearing them.
As fast as the felds-of every size and
shape-were cleared, they were fenced,
and the heterogeneous divisions have
been maintained, without material al
teration, to this day. No thought OF
possible future convenience or economy
had place in the mind Of the designer,
present necessity overshadowing all
other considerations. Some of these
farms have cha 1ged hands many times
since their redemption from sylvan
shadows, but either from reverence for
ancient landmarks or lack of apprecia-
tion in regard to convenience, economy
of space and appearance, no change has
been made in the general plan by any
subsequent proprietors. We are aware
that every man cannot lay out land to
the best advantage, and perhaps no two
men would adopt precisely the same
plan in laying out any particular farm
] into fields and plats. Some men do not
seem to know what the word convenience
means, while others are so eminently
practical as to exclude every other con-
sideration. In laying out lands to COM
bine beauty, economy, convenience and
other advantages, there is room for the
display and exercise of quite as much
talent as the most skillful landscape
gardener possesses, though of a some
what different nature. The natural fea-
lures of the land should be mapped
carefully, first, and then the division
into fields, lanes and small plats, made
so as to cOunteract natural disadvan-
tages and combine the advantages. A
careful study of the peculiarities of the
farm, with clear view of what is desir-
able to accomplish, will 60 far toward
securing the best division. Where the
highway runs along the line and there
are no large water courses or other nat:
ural obstacles in the way, very little diff,
ficulty will be experienced. Still, we
know of many farms offering every ad-
vantage for convenience, and yet the
owners have made them inconvenient.
Wherever possible there should be a
lane through the middle of the farm,
with a gate opening into, it from every
field. The public road should never be
used to gain access to fields, unless it is
unavoidable, as it sometimes is, and one
field should never be traversed to OBJ
tain access to another. - Practical
Farmer.


Household Notes.


OAr MEAL MUsH.-Should never be
stirred after it is "set," but kept tightly
covered over slow fire. Then the
grains will be distinct and it will not be
sticky.


WASHING FLUID. - Unslacked lime,
one-half pound borax, one-half ounce
washing soda, one pound boiling water,
two gallons. Soap and soak clothes
over night, and to one boiler of clothes
add two cups Of fluid. Wash after boil
ing.


COVERING FOR INvALIDs.-Never use
anything but light blankets as cover
ing for the sick. The heavy, impervi-
Gus cotton counterpane is bad, for the
reason that it keeps in the exhalations
from the pores of the sick persons, while
the blanket allows them to pass through.
Weak persons are invariably distressed
by great weight of bedclothes which
often prevents their getting any sound
sleep whatever.


GERMAN ToAsr.-To use up stale
bread, cut the loaf i'll slices about half
an inch in thickness add a full cup of
rich sweet milk one egg well beaten, and
little salt and pepper dip the bread
slices in the milk, and fry them while
merely moistened, on pancake gTiddle.
This makes an excellent dish for either
lunch or breakfast.


RICE FLOUR PUDDING.-Three heap
ing spoonfuls of rice -four mixed with
new milk, until it resembles starch stir
into this "a quart of boiling milk; let
both boil fifteen minutes, stirring con.
stantly to prevent scorching. When
cold, add favoring, sugar to the taste,
and four beaten eggs. Pour into pud-
ding dish and bake one hour.s


AFew Hints About Poultry.


Those poultry keepers do best who do
the least, providing they are not neglect
full. By taking nature for our guide we
can scarcely go wrong, and yet there are
those who will 60 wrong, notwithstand-
ing they may obtain teaching fer moth
ing if they will but observe. When a
hen steals away and makes a nest in the
hedge she is pretty sure to bring out tif-
teen strong chicks. The eggs are laid on
the damp earth, the bird goes on and OFT
as suits her inclination, and she does not
have to submit to handling of any kind.
1t follows that snug, dark hooks are the
best places for the nests, and that they
should be on the ground, or very near it.
When the nest is made in basket the
bird is likely to break the eggs in get
ting in and out, and she is likely to eat
the eggs when broken, and thus acquir-
ing relish for forbidden fruit, the re-
mainder are likely to go the same way,
and q good bird become bad one
through being located in a way she
would never have located herself. Every
thing is easy if you go the right way to
work, and success rarely attends an
effort that is characterized by fussing.