Agricultural And Domestic

Around the Farm. Winter Squash does not (Iemand mtich hard work, and since it sells by the wagon load is a very good erop. Any poor specimens or unsold portions of the erop are worth more tlian the cost of production for feed. Meions aleo sell in lnrge quantities and are not exacting as to soil or culturo. Cake of the Chickens. - On the farm t Giften devolves upon the "w-omen folks" to care for the poultry, if any care is given, and we have just a word to say about feeding the chicks. As they como from the egg they have enough nutriment in the stomach to last for a day without suffering ; then the food given, wh ether it be cooked rice or Indian meal, should not be in a pasty condition but in granules, bo they can easily swallow it. They should be fed often - that is, ñve or six times a day, and have plenty of fresh water continuously. If the food can be so placed that the ohicks can get at it at any time, all the better. It is wise to give the first feed quite early in the morning. It assists in kecping them in a growing condition. Raising Beans. - To raise a good erop of beans, choose a piece of ground that is in good lieart and as even as possible in its fertility and drainage ; ñt it thoroughly, same as oom ground, and plant soon after the planting of corn, say the 25th of May. The great thing to be reached is even ripening during dry weather. By planting early on good soil this is secured. It is rather botter that a erop of beans be preceded by somo hoed erop, so that the land may be well subdued. Plant in drills two feet and a half apart ; then doublé shovel cultivation does the rest up to the harvesting. If the erop ripens evenly, and a few dry days follow the pulling, beans may be secured in such a manner as to need no handpicking to bring a good price, othcrwise the expense is very much augmented. Fraotical Ilinii for Farmer. Cold, damp, sour sous can be made productive by draining and manuring. " One year's seeding makes seyeu years' weeding," so it don't pay to raise weeds. "BEcarSful wliat you sign," sliould be printed in large capitals and put up in a prominent place in every farmer'i house. Seeds of the squash family are said to be improved by age, as the new seeds run to vines, while old seeds produce more fruit. It is doubtless a fact, though not fully appreciated, that from the extra food given all meat-producing animáis comes all the profit. On som e of the New England farms there are six bushels of salt per acre. They claim that it promotes fertility and destroys all insects. No labge fruit or forest trees should be in or near the garden. Their roots which extend wide will exhaust the soil, and their shade dwarf the crops. Beans cultivated and planted right will produce from twenty to twenty-five bushels per acre. There is prolit in a few acres at $1.50 to $2.00 per bushel. Slow, gentle farm work is not injurious to brood mares up to two or three days of their time. The exercise for them is better than being confined in box stalls. An hour's open-air work daily in the garden is refreshing, invigorating, remunerative and productive of cheerfulnes and health to merchant, professional man, mechanic or loafing gentleman. In plant growth about 95 per cent. comes from the atmosphere, and 5 per cent from the earth, so it is important to have the soil iight and susceptible of receiving the gases of the atmosphere. The Agriculturist says : We must get rid of our scrubs - of beeves that ilon't make beef ; of cows that neither give milk or yield butter ; of sheep that aflbrd neither wool nor mutton ; of pigs that make no pork or lard, and of poultry that lay no eggs. A neat and well-arranged lawn adds great attraction to a home, whether in country or village, but a good vegetable garden from which is drawn the daily support of the family is of far more pleasure than nice lawns, delightful summer houses or vine-clad alcoves. New garden seeds are the best. But nearly all kinds will germinate the second year but onion, parsnip and leeks. Those safe for two years are beaus. peas and carrots. Those tolerably reliable for three years are lettuce, spinach and radish. For four years, cabbage, cauliflower and celery. And those possessing the longest vitulity are tomatoes, beets, cucumbers, melons and squashes. These are the opinions of all gardeners. These days the slothful man and foolish lieth in bed until 8 o'clock, or even more, and ariseth with a headache, a sour temper, a heavy heart, and a quahnish internal mechanism; while he who is wise bestirreth himself simultaneously with the early bird, braceth up nobly, and devoteth himself assiduously to the pursuit of garden architecture, coming n to the morning meal with an appetite equivalent to that of a famishing anaconda. About the House. Coffee-gkotjnds sprinkled on shelves and floors will free them from ants. To oxean up the ugly stain made by a broken egg on the floor, pour boiling water on it, when it will cook and be easily swept up. How to Make Coffee. - There are a number of things to be taken into eonsideration in order to make good cofl'ee. First, select good coffee; second, brown it good; third, keep the coffee-pot clean; fourth, steep it; ñíth, do not let it stand when done; sixth, do not make somo to waste; seventh, have good sugar and cream; last, but not least, have a good judge. A Nice Johnny-Cake. - A most delicious jolmny-eake is made by taking two cups of corn meal, one of flour, with one teaepoon of salt ; one egg, well beaten ; half-cup molasses; three table-spoons vinegar, or one cup of sour milk, ii jon have it ; three-fourths teaspoon saleratus, dissolved in a little butter. Stir all well together, till about the consistence of griddle-cakes, and add saleratus the last thing before baking. Then bakc in a hot oven for twenty or tliirty minutes, or till nicely brown. Good, eaten cold or hot. Carpets. - A table-spoonCul of ammonia in one gallon of warm water will often restore the color of carpets, even i f injured by acid or alkali. If a ceiling has been whitewashed with the carpet down, and a few drops should fall, this will remove it. Or, after the carpet is woll beaten and brushed, scour with oxgall, which will not onlyextraot grease, buti'reshen thecolors. One pint of gal] in three gallons of warm w;;tor will do íor a large oaipefe Table and Hoor oil-clotiis mr.y be thus washed. The suds left from a wash, when ammonin is use.'l, even if almost cold, will cleanse Üoor oloths well. Nevek cut flowers during intense sunshine, or keep them exposed in the eran or wind. Do not collect them in lnrge bundies, or tie them together, .as this hastens their decay. Do not pull them, but cufc them cleanly off the plant with a sharp knife - not with scissors. When taken in doors, place them in the sl.imlo uid reduce tliem to the required lengtli of stalk with the knife, by whioh llie tubes through which they draw up water oro permitted to act freely; wkerens, if the sterns arebruissd or iucerakxl, the pores nro clo=.ed up. Use puye water tu set tliem, or white kinu in a state of saturatiiai, stiekiüp; the ends of the stalks irito it, nti tot in u orode(j manner.