LET US RAISE PEACHES! THE readers of this Gem of the Season will recollect that we have repeatedly recommended the use of muriate of potash to be applied around peach-trees as a preventive and remedy for the yellows, a disease which no one seems fully to understand, but which has made it so difficult, of late years, to raise such crops as we used to within the memory of most farmers who have passed the meridian of life. Prof. Goessmann is entitled to the credit of having instituted the first experiments in this direction, and his investigations have borne highly valuable fruit. Here is the testimony of a practical fruit-grower of large experience, and it is worthy of the most careful consideration. He says: "At the time of planting the first trees, the whole ground, some five or six acres, was manured with about 800 pounds of muriate of potash to the acre (probably a very heavy and unnecessary application), except on one field near the house, where some 200 trees were planted. No potash was applied there. Every year since, all of these orchards have had from five to six hundred pounds of muriate of potash per acre applied, sometimes in the fall, sometimes in the spring, and this plantation of nearly 200 trees near the house has never had any potash until this last season, in the spring. They were then five years old. Of the 5800 trees, where the potash has been applied for the last four or five years, there is just one tree that shows any trace of the yellows, and of the 200 trees that have not had an application of potash, over thirty per cent. of them are dead with the yellows, and at least twenty per cent. of the balance show traces of the yellows." This result, which corresponds with the experience of others, seems to justify the hope that the time is not far distant when the peach will be added to the long list of fruits which flourish in our soil as it used to do half a century ago. The only drawback apart from the yellows is the borer, but with ordinary care and attention we can prevent its ravages, because we know how to treat and exterminate it. The great mistake many peach-growers have made is in setting the trees too near together. They do well enough at first, but after a few years' growth the roots meet in the ground and rob each other of proper nourishment and plant food. A peach-tree is a gross feeder. It makes wood rapidly and it requires abundant space, tnough a medium or even a poor soil is to be preferred rather than one too rich. With a rather poor soil we can feed to it just what it needs, without the risk of overfeeding, and a consequent tender growth of wood that is quite liable to winterkill. A LITTLE MORE RYE. It is a capital idea to sow a small patch of winter rye every fall, near the hen-house. A few square rods will furnish a real treat for the fowls in the mild days of winter, and in the early spring, when a bit of green food is not easy to find. For spring use it may be sown as late as October, but for late fall and winter it is better to sow it in August, or the first of September. It can well follow early potatoes, pease or corn, or take an old sod where the grass has run out. It is a wonder, also, that every farmer does n't sow a patch of rye for early spring feeding for cows. If cut early, while it is tender and juicy, cows and horses are very fond of it. After it reaches its full size, and is headed out, they will often refuse it. For this reason it is not worth while to sow more than you'll be likely to want. If you overdo the thing, and get more than the hens and the cows will consume green and tender, you may be disappointed. But that is no reason why you shouldn't put in a little. Sow at the rate of two bushels of seed to the Cleveland's plurality over Blaine By State Electoral votes: THE PRESIDENT'S CABINET. L. Q. C. Lamar (Mics.), THE KITCHEN. 62,683 219 182 Sec. of Interior. TEST FOR BUTTER. -There is a qualitative test for butter so simple that any housewife can put it into successful practice. A clean piece of white paper is smeared with a little of the suspected butter. The paper is then rolled up and set on fire. If the butter is pure, the smell of the burning paper is rather pleasant; but the odor is distinctly tallowy if the "butter" is made up wholly or in part of animal fats. New York Times. OATMEAL.-Oatmeal, Indian meal, and hominy all require two things for perfection- plenty of water when put on to boil, and a long time for boiling. Have about two quarts of boiling water in a large stew-pan, and into it stir a cupful of oatmeal, which has been wet with cold water. Boil one hour, stirring often, and then add half a spoonful of salt, and boil an hour longer. If it should get too stiff, add more boiling water; or, if too thin, boil a little longer. You cannot boil it too much. The only trouble in cooking oatmeal is that it takes a long time; but surely this should not stand in the way, when it is so much better for having the extra time. If there is not an abundance of water at first, the oatmeal will not be very good, no matter how much may be added during the cooking. Cracked wheat is cooked in the same way.· Miss Parloa's New Cook Book. ROASTING BEEF AND MUTTON. - When you roast beef, put it as near as you can to the fire till there is a crust all round. Baste first with a little butter. When the crust is formed, remove it further from the fire by degrees. Baste and turn often. Do the same for mutton. Veal and lamb must be put further from the fire, as they will burn quick. If it be very young lamb, it may be wrapped in greased paper, set close, and basted over the paper. POTATO CROQUETTES. — Pare, boil, and mash six good-sized potatoes. Add one tablespoonful of butter, two thirds of a cupful of hot cream or milk, the whites of two eggs, well beaten, and salt and pepper to taste. If you wish, use also a slight grating of nutmeg, or a teaspoonful of lemon juice. Let the mixture cool slightly, then shape, roll in egg and crumbs, and fry. Miss Parloa's New Cook Book. MIXED SANDWICHES.-Chop fine, cold ham, tongue, and chicken; mix with one pint of the meat half a cup of melted butter, one tablespoonful of salad oil, one of mustard if desired, the yolk of a beaten egg, and a little pepper; spread on bread cut in slices and buttered. Ham alone may be prepared in this way. From Practical Housekeeping. TO CLEAN KETTLES EASILY. Pour a little hot water into them and put a cover on. The steam will soften the dirt so that it may be easily removed. POST-OFFICE REGULATIONS. (Prepared Oct., 1885, at the Post Office, Boston.) DOMESTIC. NOTE. All kinds of mail matter (except regular publications sent to subscribers) must be prepaid by postage stamps. FIRST CLASS MATTER. LETTERS AND POSTAL CARDS in the U. S. Letters. (To be sent beyond the office where deposited, or for any lettercarrier office.) Letters and written matter, also all articles sealed, for each ounce or fraction thereof, no limit to the weight, Must be prepaid. Drop or Local Letters.-(To be sent within the delivery of the office SECOND CLASS MATTER. (Rates for Publishers.) .02 .01 .10 .01 .10 .free. All Newspapers and other Periodicals, one copy to each actual subscriber residing within the county where they are printed, wholly or in part, and published, except those deliverable at letter-carrier offices Newspapers (except weeklies) and Periodicals to regular subscribers, and not for letter-carrier offices, each pound or fraction When for letter-carrier offices, for two ounces or fraction For weeklies, deliverable by carriers, or at letter-carrier offices, for each pound or fraction THIRD CLASS MATTER. .01 .01 .02 MISCELLANEOUS PRINTED MATTER in the U. S. Transient Newspapers and Periodicals, printed regularly in known offices of publication, not over 4 lbs. in weight, for each four ounces or fraction, .01 Pamphlets, occasional publications, proof-sheets or corrected proofs, and manuscript copy accompanying the same, and all matter wholly in print not issued regularly, in which the printing forms the principal use, and not exceeding four pounds in weight, for each two ounces or fraction Books (only printed). For each two ounces or fraction, not over four pounds in weight (single volumes may be over) Fee for registration, in addition to the postage, for each package FOURTH CLASS MATTER. MERCHANDISE in the U. S. Merchandise. -Samples of metals, ores, minerals, or merchandise, paintings in oil or water, crayon drawings, printed envelopes, bill-heads, letterheads, wrapping-paper with printed advertisements thereon, blank cards, photograph albums, blank books; labels, tags, playing cards; also seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, and scions, and any articles not of the other classes, and not liable to damage the mails, or injure any person, not exceeding four pounds in weight, for each ounce or fraction thereof Fee for registration, in addition to the postage, for each package. .01 .01 .10 UNITED STATES MONEY ORDERS. .08 | Over $40, and not exceeding $50. .25 .30 .35 .40 FOREIGN. Universal Postal Union. The rates for the countries and places which belong to the Postal Union a list of which is given below, are as follows: Prepayment optional, except for registered articles, but on printed matter and samples postage must be at least partially prepaid. LETTERS. - 5 cents per 15 grammes, a weight very slightly over one half ounce. POST CARDS. — 2 cents each. PRINTED MATTER. - 1 cent for each two ounces or fraction. Limit of weight, 4 lbs. 6 oz. COMMERCIAL PAPERS (Insurance Documents, Way Bills, In- Algeria. Argentine Rep. Azore Islands. Bahamas. Barbadoes. Bermudas. Borneo. Brazil. British W. Afr. India. Hong Kong. Miquelon. Mozambique. St. John. New Caledonia. St. Kitts. Newfoundland. St. Marie de To Canada, comprising British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, the postage for letters and printed matter is the same as in the United States, and samples, ten cents for a weight limited to 8 ounces. All matter for Canada must be fully prepaid, except letters, which must be prepaid at least 2 cents. Merchandise is not allowed in the mails to Canada. All mail matter may be registered to the above places upon prepayment of 10 cents for each address, besides the postage. Places not comprised in the Postal Union, Africa (South), Cape of Good Hope, New Zealand and New So. Wales, 12c Ascension 5c Tasmania, or Van Dieman's Land, 5c Victoria 23c Zanzibar 12c 5c To Africa (South), including Cape of Good Hope, Caffraria, Natal, Orange Free State, etc., and to St Helena and Ascension, the postage for newspapers is 4 cts. each, if not over 4 oz., and on other printed matter, and on samples, 5 cts. for each 2 oz. To New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, and Victoria, newspapers are 2 cts. each; other printed matter, etc., 4 cts. for 4 oz. To Madagascar and Transvaal, newspapers are 6 cts. each, if not over 4 oz.; and other printed matter, and samples, are 7 cts. each 2 oz. FOREIGN MONEY ORDERS. Money Orders are issued as follows: To Great Britain, Ireland, France, Algeria, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Canada, Newfoundland, New South Wales, Victoria, New Zealand, and Jamaica, for every $10 or fraction of $10 HINTS FOR THE HOUSEHOLD. NEED OF CHANGE. - Women need more change, more variety, than is to be found in the ordinary housekeeper's life. Year in and year out the great body of womankind in our country stay at home, faithfully treading their monotonous round of work and duty; no break in the drudging sameness of their lives only as sickness, or births and deaths, each in its own way, jars on the monotony for a time. We are more careless of ourselves than of our britannia and silver, for we are careful to keep them brightly burnished, but our intellects are dulled with lack of friction with others, and our minds narrowed for want of broader channels in which to widen. With all of us the dearest spot on earth is home, sweet home; yet do we not all admit that always staying at home leads to narrow, unhealthy views and nervous prostration? Change of air, change of surroundings, change of thoughts. —oh, for more of it for our over-worked, nervous women! - The Household. IMPURE AIR.-A very large quantity of fresh air is spoiled and rendered foul by the act of breathing. You yourself spoil not less than a gallon every minute. In eight hours' breathing a full-grown man spoils as much fresh air as seventeen three-bushel sacks could hold. If you were shut up in a room seven feet broad, seven feet long, and seven feet high, the door and windows fitting so tightly that no air could pass through, you would die, poisoned by your own breath, in a very brief time; in twenty-four hours you would have spoiled all the air contained in the room, and have converted it into poison. IMPURE WATER. - Drinking-water is of the greatest importance. In many towns the water supply is liable to pollution. The only way to escape danger during the prevalence of cholera is to boil the water before using it. Boiled water is not pleasant to the taste, but a weak infusion of tea will make it palatable. Ice will improve it; but look out for ice cut on questionable ponds and inlets, or below sewers in a winter following a cholera season. The spores, or seeds of the cholera fungus, may stand any amount of cold, while a boiling heat speedily kills them. Maxims of Public Health. CHILDREN'S READING. Put before them only good books; keep bad and indifferent books away. Watch for and encourage their own good selections. Tell them stories, and then send them to the books where the stories are to be found. Read with them. Have good books about the house, and no others. Read them yourself, and talk them over. Give your children at first simple and interesting books, then something better. Hints for Home Reading. BAD CELLARS. In the city and country alike, it is the dark corners, the neglected and little used places in a house, which most frequently contribute to its unhealthfulness, and in ways which are the more insidious because so often unsuspected. In this respect the cellars of many houses have much to answer for, for they are generally dark and damp, with no direct rays of the sun to kill the mephitic gases, which always seek those low levels, and no ventilation to disperse them, even where the cellars themselves are not made the depositories of cast-off rubbish and vegetable refuse. Therefore, the warning cannot be too often given, especially in the spring, when so many families move into new houses, to look to it that the cellar is not neglected. - Scientific Am. LIVING BY RULE. Whoever tries to live entirely by rule may end by not living at all. It would be a fatal mistake, however, to take encour agement from this to live an irregular life. - Maxims of Public Health. |