NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES

3 3433 07736276 6

THE NEW

FAMILY RECEIPT-BOOK,

CONTAINING EIGIJT HUNDRED

TRULY VALUABLE RECEIPTS

In various Branches of

DOA1EST1C EOONO3O,

Selected from
THE WORKS OF BRITISH AND FOREIGN VvRITLR-

OF UNQUESTIONABLE EXPERIENCE AND AUTHORITY,

And from

SJJTE ATTESTED COMMUNICATIONS OF SCIENTIFIC FRIENDS-

" What loolrest thoa f

GOOD LESSONS FOR THEE, AND THY WIFE ?

Then keep them in memorj^ fast.

To help as a comfort to Lite."

A NEW EDITION, CORRECTED,

NEW-HAVEN:

BY HOWE &i SPALDING. AND SAMUEL WADS

WORTH;

2819,

L

A. //. Maltby &f Co. Printers.

o.

THE Collection of Domestic Receipts
now presented to the public could not have
been formed in any age but the present.
The wisdom of this age has been to bring
science from her heights down to the practi-
cal knowledge of e very-day concerns ; and
the number of its inventions and discoveries
have kept pace with the increasing wants of
man. Of the past we preserve what expe-
rience has sanctioned, and what improve-
nient has rendered more perfect ; but we can
add much more from our own stores. Sci-
entific men, in the present day, who choose
to be useful as well as celebrated, have stu-
diously noticed facts, and formed discove-
ries which can only be appreciated in the do-
mestic circle ; they have written such Re-
ceipts with the zeal which is felt by a good
housewife an honest farmer an ingenious

Table o t\\fc Contents

OF THIS

VOLUME.

CHAPTER I. AGRICULTURE.

Page,.

SECT. I. Management, Sfc. of the Soil, 37

Method of employing fallow grounds to advantage, ib.

Advantage of planting waste-lands with alikr, 38
To prevent much mischief Lo sea embankments, or

those of rivers, S3

SECT. II. Far in- Offices, ib.

Economy in thatching, ?"&

CL.HOUS mode of making earthen barn-floors, 40

To make durable barn-floors, 41

Virtues of pop! ".r wood for flooring granaries, 4~
i

SECT. III. Water, ib.

Easy method of obtaining water in almost any situation, ib.
To keep ponds and artificial, pieces of water free from

Breeds, ib.

Method of draining ponds in level grounds, 43

SECT. IV.. Fences, ib m

To make a quickset hedge or fence, ib.

To train evergreen and other hedges, 44

SECT. V. Teams, 45

Great advantage of ploughing with oxen instead of

horses, ib.

Useful hints relative to carters and teams of oxen, 46

vyr. N-. :

SKTT. VI. Manures. "4 7

>l..ir.ire for clover, ib,

iily of pidgeon's dung as a manure, ih.

Composts fur dunghill?, ib.

Kxp riment in manuring land, 4C!

J)r. Taylor's method of ascertaining the qualities of marl

Ue. for agricultural purposes, 53

SECT. VI I. Cull are, fyo. of Crops. 5 1

Iv.'.sy method of diso>\ ei-ing whether sends are ripe, ih.

To preserve seeds, when sown, from vermin, H .

Striped !:i^ recommended H-rhay, ib..
"\Vhcii ;.> c . i-yf-^r;i.-s for hay,

To pivvmt ir ,V(..m faking fire, ib.

Met.l.MH!.- :]:!". rjtii^; -mut in wheat, 5:3

Steep-, for \v heat. !):;i Icy. ice. ib.

Approved methoda-ofa >\vin;; wliuatto advantage, . 54

'!fM)\vir:^ l)iie:.-\\ heat, 55

T.) k*- p crov corn, ib.

iVo, ' iilmv d' inrnips, 50

r raising potatoes t<j advantage, r'/.

Preparation for e;,rr..is and other winged ... eds, /

SE'JT. VIII. Preservation of Com ami ' i.-'l-ibles. ib.

Import.'int di-n\ :-ry relal'n c t> the preservation of corn, iff

T,-i p,-<-siTve cor;, in 8ti '-. -. 53

To preserve oafs from heing minty, 59

To de-troy mites i , \\ee\ih in granaries, //;

T- preserv.- carrots, parsnijis and l>eet?, all tlie winirr, ih.

To piv.-erve turnips from froM, 60

T. IX. Prjtcdion of growing Crops f /;,.>.

Nation of I' main, ">l

Onod effects of* Ider in preserving plants from flies and

: -i-: ib.
l T se. of suit li.ir i:i destroy ing insects on plants, and its

l>e;:< :*t t T ve^eLit 'u>n, ib.
T'< st'v(> ;!>v. ravages of cateipi!! t: - s <-.i shfubsand veg-

i tables, C2
To prevent t;ie increase, of pismires in grass-lands, nov-

(y i;: : d de.wn, ^->

t/i.,;::ir to dt^tioy caterpillar? and otlu . insc^ ib.

To "destroy ants," ib.

To prevent the fly in turnips, 63

To prevent the destruction .of field-turnips by slugs, t&.

For preventing flies from destroying the seedling leaves

of turnips, ike. C4

To prevent mice from destroying early sew n peas, . /o.

SECT. X. Weeds.

Usefulness of mowing, 65

CHAPTER 11.J1.VGLLVGF1SKLVG.

To preserve fishing rocLs ih.

To make quill-floats for fishing, 66

Improved cork floats for fishing, G7

Easy method of dying fishing lines, ib.

To prevent fishing lines from rotting,, ib.

To prevent taking cold while angling, ib.
To improve the sport of angling, by attention to tho

dress, 68

Rules for fly-fishing, ib.

To intoxicate and take fish, 69

CHAPTER III. USEFUL ARTS. 70

Beneficial purposes to which the juice of aloes may be

applied, ib.

To bronze plaster figures, ib.

To blue mourning buckles, swords, ccc. 71

Composition to take off casts of medals, ib.
Method of sweeping chimnies, without employing chil-

dren, ib.

To clean feathers from animal oil, 72
To preserve the natural colour in petals of dried flowers, 73

Art of gilding iron or steel, ib.

Method of dry gilding, 74

Composition for gilding brass or siivcr, -ib,

To make shell-gold, ik.

To clean gold, and. restore its lustre, ib.

To silver glass globes, 7

To cut gla'% ib.

Substitute for hemp, and flax, ib.

To braze or solder pieces of iron, 76
Various methods of preserving iron and steel from rust, ib.

To soften ivory and bones, 77

Useful hints to lamplighters^ 1&

'

CONTEXTS.

. improved method of taking off impression a- of leave;:,,-

plants, cie. 70

To obtain the true shape and fibres of a le.tf, 79

To whiten linseed oil, il>-
To detect aduit* rations in lavender and dl essential oils, ?';.
To deteimine. the exact lime of noon, and to obtain a

meridian line on a small scale, CQ
(uTinan method of making; elm and maple wood resem-

ble. mahogany, Cl
Substi!;tte for malio:\ny,

'i'"i clarify and. harden (jiiill?, AS

:)utch mctiiod of preparing quilto for writing, '-i>-

Sub.stitutft for curriers oil, ib.

To repair roads near coal-mines, 8i

Substitute f<M- soap, ib.

To extract starch from horse-chesnuta, 8

To dissolvr wax in water, ib.

To make wafers, ^7

CHAPTER IV.3IRD CATCHLVG.

To n)nki- and nse the best sort of bird-lime, ib.

Experienced method of catching larks, 89

CHAPTER Y.BLE. ! WHLYG. 00

Method of blenching straw, Hi-

I'l:J'- .ry of horae-chesnutsin bltraching, *.

To blf^e'n bct.-s'-wax, 94

CHAPTER VI. BOOKS. OC

To extiac.t grease from the leaves of books, /'

Aletlu/d of cleaning dirty prints or books, it>.

To make book-binders pa^ ^0

To marble !<,(, ks or j.,i ( ib.

CHATTER Vll.nRK.ri.VG .LVD M.-LV.lGfiME.VT

OFMJLT LIQUORS. 1

Precautions and rules tcbe ob.-erved in malting. '/'

To extract tliti virtue of hops in brewing, ( J)
Dhtri}> :;.j(i -aty method of brcwtng,

Excellent and wholesome tab'<- 'lo-^ 97

Use of ground ivy in aV. A.
Tt> diakft gjuger-beei^

-,

-Page,

To make yeast, or bann, &S

Substitute fur yeast, ib.

Turkish manner of making yeaal, 90

Easy method of preserving yeast, ib.

To make artificial yeast, 7*6.

"Usefulness of the hazel-nut m brewing; 1 06

To extract the essence of malt for brewing !//,

To prevent beer from growing Hat, 16..

To recover sour or stale beer, ib.

CHAPTER Vlll.BUILDLVG. '&.

Artificial stone floors and coverings for houses, ib,

To cure damp Walls, 103

To increase the durability of tiles, ib*

Economical method of using tiles, 105

To improve chimnry Are-places, and alignment the hea, ib,

To cure, smoky chimnies, ib,

To preserve wood from catching fire, and also from

decay, IOC

Composition for preserving weather bearding, pal-

ing, &e. 107

To prevent disagreeable smells from house-drains, 103

Improved ventilators for rooms, ib.

To preserve churches from dilapidation-) 109
To make red coral brunches for embellishing grot-

tos, etc. ib.

CHAPTER IX.. CANARY BIRDS.

Breeding and management of canary birds, 110

CHAPTER X.--CATTLE, 114

SECT. I. Food for Cuiile ib.

Everlasting pea, a valuable crop for cattle, ib.

Scotch kale, excellent food for cattle, ib.

Virtues of hay-tea for cattle, 115

Profitable way of fattening pigs, 116

SECT. II. Best method of feeding alia manag-

ing Cotes* ib.
Ou the great increase of miik, by feeding cows with

santfoin, ib.

Parsnips productive of mi5k in cow?, 1 1 7

Most proper food for milch cows; '

V

Additional ^ua.ituy o;' milk to be gained by k_ r . 4 , b

milch cows in the house, 117

To prevent cows from conlracing bad habits while milk-

ii! c? tb.

SE<.T. III. Management, qf Cob 118

To roar calves without milk, ib.

] lay-tea for calve.-, 1 1-1

Method of rearing calves, Sec. i"i>.

To prevent sickue.ss in cu!\ Igfl

S E C T . I V . He, r.v .9 . //,

Carrots, n-;'i'i'! as food for \n>r*< -. ib

JJenefit of furze, as \\ ister Ibod for hor^-- 11

;;< T. V. >'.'.

To marl-: sl;vjf|, u ilium! i;:jury to ihe wool, -,//

\c ?fie wool ofsheep 1>\ .-. uu-aring, t'6.

SECT. VI.- / '.?o/' Cattle and .'-. -ib-

"T( j>r< serve r;-.tt!" tVor.i dls< -. i;i the winter, TV

To prevent the rot in -liven. l-j,-i

l';ii>! \. .1 [ireven'ive <-f the ( ,v^ in bhoc;', 'in
Cure of the rot in si .

CIIAPTKU M, -( /;.^;;.\'7> u,

Admirable cement, orimmar. u- o .M: th<- C't5wolil-

1 1 ills, ,'(,.

r-eful property of common glue, I JO

To make ^i/e frmn pulatf..^. ./^.

TII nnlv'- j'JsUct pa ' [I.

I'. \cellcnl glue, ib,
Tare hiiK-n! ulue,

Lip' ghitt for joining paper, silk, k . //,.
Common-cement for joining alabaster j warble, Sec. i J7

Stnii:^: ceuiont, '//,.

Fire-In'e, jjj;

< old-liit< - //>.

l.Ymvnt fir iron flues, Ib.

- f<!'. repairing copprr-hoih rv, 1^9

"To rector: i r0 n fun:;ices, .u-fi.lnifaliy cracUcil. Ib.

<'ement to p-si.-t {!); action of lin.- -IK! \\ ',(.T. Ib.
-- to rf^' :f ino'i-tncc..

'CON-TENT'S. XUI

Page.

.Japanese cement, or rice-glue, 130
Turkey cement for joining metals, glass, &c. 131
Cement for broken china. ib.,
To stop cracks in glass vessels, 133
( Y-rnent for preserving wood and brick, ib.
for wood or paper, 131

CHAPTER XII CLOTHES. ib.

ileceipts for Hacking, ilt. 13.3

Easy method of cleaning boots and shoes in winter, so as

to prevent soiling the person, house, S^e.

'Chemical liquid for boot-tops. 1.07

To clean boot-tops, or any tanned leather, ib.

To prevent shoes from taking water, 13

To restore the lustre of tarnished gold or silver lace, i->

To clean gilt buckles or toys, I.-'.: 1

"Black varnish for old straw or chip hats, ib.
To prevent gentlemen's hats from being spotted after

rain, ib-

Preventives against the ravages of the moth, 1 40

To purify wool infested with insects, 141

Chinese method of rendering cloth water-proof, //;.

New method of cleaning silks, cottons, and woollens, ib.
To slvp Ik" rapidity of fames, when the female dress has

accidentally taken fire, 1 H

To prevent clothes from catching fire, 1 43

Permanent inks for marking linen, ib.

To perfume linen, 115

To raise the pile of. velvet, when pressed down, ib.

To prevent danger from wet clothes, ib.

Useful hints relative to bedclothes, mattresses, cc. ib.

To clean si!k stockings, 116

Composition for restoring scorched linen, ib.
Danger of putting spirits into boots or shoes, to prevent

the effects of cold. 117

CHAPTER XIII. CURIOSITIES. 1 18

Sir Asht.va Lovar's method of preserving animals, ib.

Birds shot in this kingdom, 1 19

Rules for collecting curiosities on sea voyages, ib,

B

.vl\, COMEM3.

P.

CHAPTER XIV. DAIRY. l lu

Proper temperature fur a dairy, /,',,

Rules for milking cows, 100
To make excellent butter from the milk of cows fed on

turnips,

improved method of making; butter, ib.

Dr. Anderson's method of keeping milk and butter, 151

CHAPTER XV.DISTILLLVG. 112

A cheap refrigerator or condenser, ib.

To try the. purity of spirits, ib.

To cure spirituous liquors of a bad flavour, 7^.

To improve the smell and t;<ste nf spirits, 153

. neditious method of distilling simple A\a(ers, .ib.

CHAPTER XVI. DOMESTIC ECON-
OMY. 155

To purify infectious air in a room, ib.

Portuguese manner of preserving lish and meat, ib.

Various methods of preserving animal foud sweet, K;',

15G, 157

i -fful properties of charcoal,

To preserve \\ater and meat from jnitvefaction on lung

voyages, 157

To detect dampness in beds. i. ,

flints on warming bed*, ?"/,.

l>rrl-iea, ib.

improved management of boo?. 158, 15',

<. iiinese method of mending china.

To discover vitriol in hrrr. ib.

Excellent substitute for table-beer ib.

To make good spruce beer, ib.

Substitute for yeaet, 101

To make bottles air-tight, ib.

To loosen glass stopples of smelling-bottles and decan-
ters, 1(52

Improved corks for preserving wine or chemical limiors, ib.

To judge the quality of wheaten flour, f. :

To detect adulterations in iluiii- or bread, 1CS, 1C '

To preserve biscuit from putrefaction, !b.

To preserve sea-bread from the ^re\',!. to.

To make artificial or potatoe bread, H 1 ,.-

Bread made from the water-gladiole, 16,

CONTEXTS. .\v.

Ferment for bread, used by the inhabitants of Long

Island, in the state of New-York, 180

N e \v method o f m a ki ng flour wit hout grain, . ib.

Improved method of salting butter and meat, 167

Method of curing bad tub-butter, ib.
^fethod- of tailing the rankness and disagreeable taste

from Irish salt-butter, ib.

To remove, the taste of turnips from milk or butter, 103

To make suit butter fiesh ib.

Chidaveed, ib,

To prevent children from eating their food too quickly, ICG

To prevent the formation of crust upon the inside of tea-
kettles, 169

To make chocolate from cocoa-nut? ; ib.

Coffee, ib.

The virtues of coffee, 170

Turkish or Arabian mode of preparing coffee, ib.

Cheap and valuable substitute for coilce,. 171

Excellent substitutes for coffee, ib.

Acorn coffee, ib.

For improving coffee, -ib.

To preserve eggs for a length of time, i :-j

Best method of cleaning line block-tin dish-covers, pa-
tent pewter, fee,. ib.

Cleaning floor-cloths, ib.

To clean gold and silver lace, 174

To restore the lustre of glasses tarnished by age or acci-
dent, ib.

To clean flint-glass bottles, decanters. &c. &c. ih.

To clean mahogany furniture, ib.

To clean Turkey carpets, 175

To clean marble, ib.

Another, ib.

To clean alabaster or marble,. ib.

Mixture for cleaning stone-stairs, hall-pavements, foe. ib.

The danger of children eating gilt-gingerbread, or any

article covered with such a composition, 176

Varnish for furniture, ib.

German furniture gloss, or polishing wax fur mahogany,

ccc. ib.

Method of cleaning and polishing rusty steel. 177

Easy method of cleaning paper-hangings, ib.

To preserve metals from rust, 178

i?ur. cleaning steel or iron-polished stoves, ib,

Xv.

P.

To clear iron from rust,
Ho AY to jn'.i.cv th. I'pcr'ios of nutmeg?,
T;; taki'lhe ~:^. ,!i of p; ; h:t from rooms, : '>

! of mi , -lalo.i i

. {': ( iiecse. i~ ( J

To fall ultry,

A m v, in' ultry to ad'.aptagp : <<

muuicated bj M . U'Oyley to the orirty uf \.: .
kc.
I: :!.'. 1 of f\'}M'ilitii>!!.^]y : cliickens,

.. .^ ,

''\i-dis! i iiif;!;t)(! of rai . ' '

d duc!.-

. !"

. i . . :h.- <!. n of $ tfci

'n ttir pro| ilo\vn, /'6

To j.r-, vc.it iiic KJ\. :;i-j:icc iroui j ,A;cn of the

ii;.'i if.i)

To }.urify !-!! on ju : Iff*

\ f.iiitijy to make their o\vg /i), t'A.

'Pit ' out of ii:. KG

To ill j-iirr, 't'6.

ki;iu r xiu; ;;;ir,

'.; ( ; m: kc \ ' '::se of be'.'-hives aft^r the
. ic

i vilify . 1CS

1 i!,i!-iur;-:d \i , li'.

fhcrry \ i ft.

M o innK'

! ol'r. if ; y

r i'.' \v; l r ; ic j (id ot!j'

To |i:;iif*y

l/'.;'i!y the muddy n.'t r ofri i

ithoii df nviki,-!^ j>.'' .in a riiglit's tira< . .

o :1 thf !'. , in t:e \vintjr-

Easy nif'ihod of purifying Avater, '''

Til;.' best r,)'-;',:. )-i oi'obtai ing purr soft water, for noe-

dicihal j<i!!-j (-< -, ^^ iil.i sidi.ilii!';! ^ i',
To purify rivi-r, or any other n.u My \.;i{L % r,
AYunn \\atcr,

To make sea water fit for \va-h!n^ !! ;I ."M :.{ ^en.
Proper nieihod o! i>:;dvinp; t- .;! water,

To make a v-scl for liltcrii)^; wafer, 1 ! !

The Turkish method of filtering water hy ;tsrf-usi-.n. 1 '.'..

To preserve h-tnon juice duriii^ a i(-n;; voyaj

CONTENTS

Page,

Method of preserving grapes, 196

Singular and simple manner of preserving apples from

the effects of frost, in North America, ib.

To keep oranges and lemons, 197

New method of preserving potatoes, 198

To preserve potatoes from the frost, ib.

Method of recovering frost-bitten fruits and vegetables, 199
To preserve apples, ib

Preservation of succulent plants, 199

A method of preserving fruit fresh all the year, ib,

To preserve hazel nuts in great perfection for many

months, 200

To manage ripe fruit for a desert, ib.

To preserve aromatics and other herbs, ib.

To preserve grapes till winter, 201

Walnut ketchup, ib.

To cork and preserve cyder in bottles, 02

To make excellent punch, ib.

To make a pleasant, sober, and refreshing drink for

summer, ib.

To make the German liquor, mum, ib.

To make the celebrated eastern beverage called sher-
bet, , 203
To make birch-tree wine, . ib.
Currant wine, ib.
Elder wine, 204
Grape wine, ib.
An excellent family wine, ib..
To extract syrup from Indian corn,, 205
Excellent bitter for the stomach, ib.
To detect sugar of lead in wines, ib.
A- test, for discovering in wines, metals that are injuri-
ous to the health, 206
Substitute for soap, easily prepared in small quantities

by private families in the country, 0?

To m;tke Jamaica vegetable soap, 209

To make Lady Derby's soap, ib

To make British herb tea, 210

British substitute for foreign lea r ib

Another, ib.

Another, i&*

The virtues of sage, 211

To prevent excessive thirst, in cases of emergency at sta,
in the summer time,

B2

iVUJ.. CONTENTS,

Page.

Manner of preserving eggs perfectly fresh for twelve
months, 212

Another, 213

Cream preserved in long voyages, ib.

Substitute for human milk, where, from any circum-
stances, it cannot he procured for children, ib.

To make old man's milk : a nutricious and pleasant
beverage, ib.

To make artificial asses' milk, 2.14-

To prevent disagreeable smells from privies, night-
chairs, &;c. ib.

To free molasses from their sharp taste, and to render
them fit to be used instead of sugar, ib.

To destroy bugs, -1J

Another, " 216

Economy in fuc-1, 21?

Another method, 218

Economy in tinder. ib.

Plate powder,

Usefulness of clivers, or goose-grass, 219

Important use of the leaves of the vine, ib.

Valuable properties of cherry-tree gum, ib.

Valuable properties of the helianthus annuus, or sun-
flower, ib:

Remedies against fleas, 20

Fly-water, ib.

To make n wholesome food of cashew nuts, ib.

Economy in candies, ib.

Curious small cakes of incense for perfuming apart-
ments, 221

To prevent the disagreeable smell arising from house
drains, ib.

Polished ten -urns preferable to varnished ones, ib.

Management 01 razor-straps,

Essence of soap for shaving or washing hands, ib.

Composition for shaving, without the use of razor, soap,
or water, ib.

To prevent accidents from leaving a poker in the fire, 223

Economical mode of cutting cauliflower, ib.

Substitute for rnilk or cream, 22-1

V cessary hints to those who use copper vessels for cu-
linary purposes, ib.

To prevent lamps from bring pernicious to asthmatic
persons, or others, liable to complaints of the chest,

CONTEXTS.

Pae.

To make economical nicks for lamps,

Useful properties of celandine, id,

Economical use of roots oftre.es, ib.

Application of the roots of fir-trees or pines, 223

Useful properties of red spurge, ib*
Paste or food for singing-birds, superior to the German

paste in common use, 227

CHAPTER XVII. DRAWING. ib.

To make transparent paper for drawing, ib,

To trace drawings or prints against the fight, 223

Method of using tracing paper, ib.

To copy drawings, &tc. with fixed materials, ib.

To transfer any impression with vermilion, 229

Transparent paper, ib.

Method of copying a design, . ib..

To preserve pencil and chalk drawings, ib.

Method of setting pencil drawings, 230
Wash for preserving drawings, made with a black-lead

pencil, or with hard black chalk, ib.
Easy method of taking off a perfect copy of a print or

drawing, ib.

To make a drawing desk or frame, . 231

CHAPTER XVIII. DROWJYLVG. 23S

Method of rendering assistance to persons in danger of
drowning, ib.

Method of recovering persons apparently drowned, as
recommended by the Humane Society, 238-

CH AFTER X1X.DYELVG, ib.

To make a liquid for staining bone or wood of different
colours, ib.

Art of dyeing or staining leather gloves, to resemble the
beautiful York tan, Limerick dye, fee. 334

To stain wood a iin^. black, ib,

To stain wood a beautiful red or mahogany colour, ~-a7>.

To make nankeen dye, 235

To dye cotton a iinc. 'm;i t oSour, ib.

Substitute for ajahs ir. ' ; cine;, and also in making ink, ib.

Easy method cf dyein ; yellow or green, 36

To stain wood green, _

}iX. CONTEST*.

PC 'jr.

To stain born to imitate tortoise shell, 3(5

Substitute for verdigris in dyeing blacky 3?

Another substitute for verdigris,

CHAPTER XX. PLEASLVG EXPERIMENTS. 239

To produce gas light on a small scale il'.

The phosphoric pencil, ib.

Til'.- fire-bottle, ;'''<

To make tke phosphoric match-bottle^ ib.
To make an illumioated or phosphoric bottle, which will

preserve its light for several months, 240
To take impressions on paper from designs made on

stone, ib.
A cheap and simple process for painting on- glass, sulii-

cii-nt for the purpose of making a magic lanlhorn, 241
To make transparent screens for the exhibition of tin

phantasmagoria, ib.

T1 iiunder ponder. ib.

lAPTEK XXI.F.1RR1ERY. '24C

\ lereipt for thr rhoiic it) a hor

i ). -temper in do ih.

To know whether a dog is mad or not, ib.

CPAPTEIl XXll.FIRE. 1.13

Method of extyiguishing fires in chimnies, ib.

To ext; iiv,!) 1 ho; ;:'; fro::i lire, ib.
Method (.! n ndi ri:>g all sorts of paper, linen, and cotton
less combustible,

To p/event v, .M .;. ''men, kc. from catching fire, ib.

M< :;iod to Si ib.

To nniko Avater more "us in extinguishing fires, 24;"

1 ' ' : ;Ui! ! i'.\->'^ !-;te--(!ily, ib.

Hint rr.-pi.ctin^ v. onu .1'= aod children's clothes catching

fi ', t'6.

To stop the progress of fire on board of ships, iG

CHAPTER :FiI'}:-.M.\:S(AVD THE M.l-

To brown uun-barrt-ls, 16.

To keep arms and polished metals from ri^t.

Page.

To prevent lu?midity from b, ing JMVJU Jivi^l to prnvd^r

To tvcoviT dam:^"! ;.; mi powder.
To increase the foi ; e i:i' <r;u-';;.:w<Lv,
Method of'mi reasing the efF cts ot'ginp'iyvd'T, ana a!-o
h.^ \h<i necessity oi' certain pivcaution-i in Icud-

CHAPTER XX[Y..F!ilE-7rOR.^ 1J9

To make sk'y-rocketS)
Improvement in fire-workf?,

CHAPTER XXy.

SECT. I. Manp.geinent of Green-house, ^c. i.\'

Emper situation for a green-housej or room, vj

To air plants, and vontiiate rooms wherein they are con-
tained, ib. ,

SECT. ll.SwJs, 51

Easy method of discovering whether or not seeds arc
sufficiently ripe, iv>

Qrt preserving seeds of plants in a state fit for vegeta-
tion, fv.

To facilitate the growth of foreign seed?, 253

SECT, III. .Ma?i:i Cement ofGardci Border-*. ib,

To plant and make edging-, r 1 '.

How to cut box-edgings, {/-.

A sure method of curing gravel-walks, EJ,'"

SECT. IV. Culture and Management <<f Flowers. i'>.

Proper method of faying carnations, io.

Plants watered by n.-'-ing placed in dishes, improper, 3o

\v hen to plant annual and pt-rrnnlal flo'.vers, ib,

To remove herbs and flowers in the smnaKr, 257

3Iethod of growing i-lov.'crs and fruits during winter, ib,
To preserve delicate young slioois oi' flowers from slugs .

and earwigs, ?'y.

Virtues of the sun-flower 25o

To preserve flower-seeds i&.

n.

Pi

S :,-T. V. CV.Ji'ic-c ?:i/ TK-.ttiucvl' of I : ">'
and Shrubs

To pnnont. blossom r.mi fiuit-trces from being da

by i-ariy spring frost ''-

Chii, ;-. ij-jsniv of .propagating fruit-tree*

I'MproM- iYiiu-trc.es by Mention lo the colour of the

;"'v

T ( , increase 'he ;:rcuth in tro - -'-'>

i.'/fvci.i ban -- and KiLbits from barking joung plan-

tations i : J-
]>ad effects of iron nails, S:c. oti fruit-trees, or mischie-
vous effects of iron naiis in conjunction will) branch-

es of fruiJ-trros (11

To destroy moss on trees i >

Necessity of taking off snperfluoua suckers from shrubs ?/>.

1 cure the (iisi-;^ in npplctrn - ?i.

"IC;H-(- th; c.-irkfi- in trcr^ ::_

'. of curing fruit ti .fcctc;! with an Ccistorly

^.ht ib.

. l.\;)fi-i:-i'i -<<} mrihcil of healing wounds in trees -3

hr:u'ing wounds in trees '"''-

jiiniK 1 u;;;; !' nit Hi.

To ]> MIC \ in( - ',.. : iU;uil;ia~e (' i
ii< i roper time \s ln-ii li-nvos of trees ou^ht to be
lie* t< , for pharmaceutical an<! econo:nical pur-

T

r. VI. Ci'!li;r; and Management of Garden 4,V*;w. ib.

To j.;Tip;;^a;c herbs by shjis and c.titiii!^.-. ib.

ni'jtho'l ff reiulerinu; asparagus ;iM>rt' productive,
and of^jroducing it in \i :\ month in the \<
urns, and make Cayenne pepper

:Vr\v mctlimi ,!' r lisio^ cnciunb'

1 the irrcgui;'.:- --:-c.\t!i cf MI Ions
y metl o I of producing mushrooms //-.

i l-l'Op !jf (!!!"!'*

'!'..; , ,;, a;it;ig; of sowing j)cas in circles instead of straight

lo'.VS '.'/'.

T; 1 i .il^o pra c in autumn, and to ] rever;t mice from

ing thi-'M when sown G^

M'thoij of cultivating radislies fur salad, so as lo have
them ready at r.l! seasons of the year

Pctgt. ,
To preserve strawberry plants from the heat of the sun,

fcc. 271

Directions for managing strawberries in summer ib,

To cultivate the common garden rhubarb 272
Method of cultivating and curing Turkey rhubarb from

Cultivation of Turkey rhubarb by offsets 274

Method of curing rhubarb ib.

Proper soil for the culture of of turnips UK

Preservation of succulent plants 2?5

Various useful properties of tobacco to gardeners ib.

CHAPTER XXVI. HEALTH. 27 r

SECT. I. General rules for the Preservation of Health* ib.

Avoid, as much as possible, living near church- yards ib,

Valuable concise rules for preserving health in winter ib.

Cautions in visiting sick rooms 278

Preventive of autumnal rheumatisms ib.

To promote sleep ib.
The use of tar-water in expanding the lungs of public

speakers, &c. 273
German method of preventing hysterics ik.
Hints for ventilating stage-coaches ;'
Best mode of avoiding the fatal accidents of open car-
riages 200
To fumigate foul rooms ih,
To make a truly valuable fumigation powder ib.
To make balsamic and anti-putrid vinegar 231

SECT. II. On the Eye. 2C2

General rules for the choice of spectacles, an-! for the

preservation of the sight ib.

Of preservers, and. rule for the preservation of sight 283

Comfort for those nearly blind 280

To cure a bruise in the eye 287

SECT. III. Antidotes to noxious Substances and Animals, ib,

To prevent the effects of poison of lead on painters, gia-

ziers, &cc. ib.

To prevent the baneful effVr.ts of burning charcoal 2co

To prevent the mischief arising from the bite of a mad
dog A

^ . iV. CONTT..VTS.

?<.

To prevent death from the bite of veno.nous a;,i.v
To coiioteract the bane.ful nTects of poison
Cure for the poison of the deadly \ '^ht-shade

SrCT. IV. Tili /)?";: ,T- </'"'' Ji'tf/'j.

of causing; childi vn to cut their teeth en-iiy ?'V

(\' : 1 : for the preservation of the teeth and jrunis i'l

v l\i pr:;vfat the tooth-ache
K-:- ,'. safe, and ple.'isant method of removing tartar from

the i ( 29S

TiiK'turr ibr the teeiii and g:unv ih.

Tcj.-li-powder W

Another

Sr. : ;. 'v . 7i< c ' -> various loc<t! . ///I lii,ns. -ib.

Ea?y an il aim sl taneoua curn for th" ague ih.

'. Homasscl's account of his cure for burn: <M- c.-ilds ///.
!!"
Another

i urin IM:-:IS and Braids /"-.

hi 'i'.-i-^

in- i'r>.' '<: g earwigs from the ear //y.

I earwigs or i . ;-, \\inrii may accidentally

h:--. 8 ;-,].( i.ito i /''.

i-'or a j-aiii i,i ill"

iv for .ss

l\r chilblains '//.

To prevent coins from growing on th' fcrt -' ; '

Cure for waits -i'>.

C'ouri. p!:'.:- (rr '"''

(Yrtain cure for th." ri .',ip C'.iT

Simpli 1 r.-nvdy for \'\<- :; of lani'-nes- hy contr.ictioii ib.
To maUi- cliver, or ; raa - ni'it nii-nt, !-, i ;n.ii'k;it)le for

i!> salutary ' cases of iuveirralf ^-ur\ \

1'asy Mie'hod of fiii-jnp; 1 lie. sea scMirvy ib.

Method fi.. oe.i'dy reco\";-y of the u-;. 1 of the foot or

l;a;jd tl'.ai has hwi-n violently sprained
'i'o alh-vlai. !';'; pain < . -..'-ionrd by the. stint; "'
Simple and effect ' for thpse who maj cci-

th-nlly swal!o\ved a \\iisp v/.

To cure th<- sli;: of a. %v?.: p or bee /'.

Another /''

An- 1 ;:.<! /'''.

Anoti. Sl'J

CONTEXTS,

To prevent sea sickness, '

Remedy for a sore throat, o,

A common drink for a sore throa: 502

AJargle for a sore throat, ib.

A receipt for a cough, i&.

An excellent styptic, ib,

A new and useful styptic, ib,
-Infallible remedy for stopping bleeding of the nose, - - SOS

For curing worms in the human body, ib,

To make an improved tincture of bark, 304

Observations on leeches, and their use, ib,

Singularly useful properties of garlic, 507

The usefulness of two common plants, 608

CHATTER XXVII. /A"". ib,

*To make ink, 16

To make one gallon of black writing ink, S09

Red ink, ib,

To prevent ink from moulding, 510

To make Indian ink, ib.

To make China ink, ib,

Substitute for Indian ink, ib.,

German black for printers, 31 1

Permanent writing ink, ib,

Permanent red ink for marking linen, 312
To make sympathetic or invisible ink,
To make stuchum, or perpetual ink of the ancients, for

writing on stone, 513

CHAPTER XXVIII. PALVTPALYTLVGS

OF COLOURS, 'ib.

Directions for painting rooms, rails, fee, ib.

To prepare drying oil and paint, ib.

For the second priming, 314

To make putty and finish painting, t'5.

To prepare blue colour from verdigris, ib.

Lead-coloured paint for preserving iron, ib.

Method of preparing a cheap substitute for oil paint, as
durable as that prepared with oil, land free from any

bad- smell, S15

Cheap black paints from earthy and mineral sub-

stances, ib.

To make brown paint, ib*

C

COPTTEJWS.

Composition for preserving weather-boarding. ; ^i!ug,
and all other works liable to be injured by the wea-
ther, 316
To 'prepare the beautiful colour called Naples yellow, 317
Another method, i-<
Mrs. Hooker's method of preparing and applying a
composition for painting in imitation of the ancient
Grecian manner, 318
To clean oil paintings, 32:
To take off, instantly, a copy from a print or picture, ih. f
To clean and whiten prints or engravings, .ib.
To make mezzotintos, 323
To judge of transparent colours for painting 3^4
I'n prepare ivory leaves for miniature painters, ib.
How to stencil, or multiply patterns, for working mus-
lins, Sic. ''.
To stain paper or parchment yellow, ib.
To stain paper or parchment crimson, 320
Tu stain paper or parchment green,

CHAPTER X\l\. PERFUMES COSMETICS, ib.

make an excellent smelling-bottle, //<

To make jessamine butter or pomatum. 0.

To r-i^ke milk of roses, ib

"Wash for the skin, ib-

Method of extracting essences from flowers, ib-

To make the quintessence of lavender, or other aromat-
ic herb, 3^7

Te obtain aromatic oils from the pellicle, which enve-
lopes the seeds of the laurus sassafras, and laurus ben-
zoin, ib.

To preserve aromatic and other herbs, .3

Lavender water, ib.

Another, ib.

To make rose water, 3 .

To make eau de luce, and its use, ib.

To make Hungary water,

To make otto (or odour) of roses, ib.

To make lip salve, SCO

To make the celebrated pomade divine^ 331

To make soft pmatum,

To make hard pomatum,

.Genuine Windsor soap. ib.

To prepare : aromatic vinegar,

COSTJENTS.

jSr-=-:-nce ofso^.p for shaving or washing hands, 332,

To increase the growth of hair, 330

To know whether hair-powder is adulterated with

lime, ib.

To perfume hair-powder, ib.

Preparation of the Greek-water (or the solution of sil-

ver, for the converting red or light-coloured hair into

a deep brown),
A more convenient dye for the hair,

CHAPTER XXX.-Ji.2TS. SS6

To destroy rats and other vermin,

Another method of destroying rats, ib.

To destroy rats or mice, ib.
A mouse-trap, hy which forty or fifty mice may be

caught in a night, - -ib<

New, simple, and effectual method of destroying rats, 37
Dr. Taylor's cheap and efficacious naethod ol destroy-

ing rats, ib.

To prevent the burrowing of rats in houses, 839

CHAPTER XXXI. SPOTS OR ST.UVS. 240

To make portable balls, for removing spots from clothes

in general, ib;

The fumes of brimstone useful in removing spots or

stains in linen, &cc. ib

To remove spots of grease from paper, ib.

Substitute for salt of sorrel, for removing ink spots and

iron-moulds, S41

Expeditious method of taking out stains from scarlet,

or velvet of any other colour, ib.

To take spots effectually out of silk, linen, or woollen, ^^ti,
To take the stains of grease from woollen or silk, ~*ib.

Easy and safe method of discharging grease spots from

woollen cloths, 34SJ

* *

To take out spots of ink,

To take iron-moulds out of linen, ib.

To take out spots on silk,

To take wax out of velvet of all colours, except crim-

son, ^

Process for preparing nitrous acid for extracting stains,

k.c. from tanned leather,
extract grease spots from paper, 3i3

XV1W. CONTENT?.

/v

To remove spots of grease from books and prints, ID

To take spots out of cloths, stuffs, silk, cotton, and linen, 'JM

Remedy against the effects of ink, when just spilled, 345

CHAPTER XXXII. TIMBER. S4G

To promote the growth of forest trees, ib.

White-washing the trunks of trees recommended, ib.

To cure wounds in trees, 317
Mr. Forsyth's method of curing injuries and defects in

fruit and forest trees, ib.
To preserve wood in damp Filiations, 349
Clause and prevention of the dry rot, 550
Vure for the dry rot in timber, so as to make it indes-
tructible by water, ib.
>!< thod of trying the goodness of timber for ship-build-
ing, used iu the arsenal at Vienna, ib.
To season and render ^rccn timber immediately fit for
use, ib.

CHAPTER XX'SllI. rjR.VlSHES. Sji

Observations on varnishes, ib.

Ger.e.ral observations on making varnishes of all kiml^ 355

Of varnishes with spirit of wine, 3T>6

< ,. irl< -, irit h of mastic and s;mdrirac, ib.

\ aniish for violins and rnuMcal instruments, ib
Gold-colour varnish,

General observation.*) on spirit varnishes, ?/.

Oil varnishes, 358
Copal varnish,

Another, //;.

Another, ih.

Gold-colour varnish or lacruer, -'/iy

Black japan, ?',';.

Common varnish, ib.

Varnishes with turpentine alone, H.

Common turpentine varnish, ib.

Klastic gum varnish, 3GI

Varnishes of gums, ? 7 7>

Martin's copa4 varnish, j^

\mber varnish, y02

Varnish for coloured drawings and prints, ib.

To varnish plaster casts or models, ?*'/.

Another way, JGJ

xxix;

Page*

Varnish for earthenware,

French soft varnish for engravers, ib.

Varnish for furniture, ib.

A varnish for toilet-boxes, cases, fans, &,c* to.

Preparation of the true copal varnish, 3G4

To make varnish for oil- paintings, t'6.

To make white varnish, ib.

Another, by Dr. Withering, ib.

A varnish for preserving insects, fruits; &c, 365

Method of preparing 1'mseed-oifr varnish, ib.
Varnish for pales and coarse wood-work, -

To make goid varnish, S67

Varnish for drawings, prints, Sec. Sic. S63

To make a lacquer for brass, ib

To make Chinese varnish, 369.
Varnish to prevent the rays of the sun from passing

through the glasses of windows, ib.

Seod-!ac varnish, ib.

Sheil-lac varnish, ~5.>

CHAPTER XXXIV. EFFICACIOUS REMEDIES

FOR ttZSTR YLVG VERMLV.- 370

To destroy ants, ib,

Another, ib.

To destroy beetles, ^v

Another method, ib.

For destroying bugs and worms in wood,* 371

To drive away crickets, i&-

To destroy crickets, ib*
Methods of stopping the ravages of the caterpillars from

shrubs, plants, and vegetables, ib:
Liquor for destroying caterpillars, ants, and other in-
sects,

For destroying caterpillars on gooseberry bushes, i3.
To preserve flowers, leaves, and fruits from caterpillar?, 375
Method to destroy or drive away earth- worm?, aad

other insects, hurtful to fields and gardens, 37^f

To destroy ear-wigs and wood-lice, &-

Remedies against fleas, 375

To destroy fleas on dogs, ib--

To clear gardens of vermin by ducks, ib.

The use of garlic against moles, grubs, and snali*, ib.,
The use of sulphur in destroying insects on plants, and

its benefit for vegetation, $78

SXJU '. T2KYS-

/V^'.

.Method of destroying insects on fruit-trees, 37(>

To destroy insects prejudicial to apple trees, 377

To destroy insects on fruit-trees, ^

To kill reptiles, 378

To p;-e.v, it slugs getting into fruit-trees,
To destroy snails and the red spider,
- vr rmin,

insects on wall fruit-trees,

76.

i>r>2
Usefulness of the wren in destroying inbccti, &

CHAPTER XXXV. 1MTER.

wasps and hornets,
Cvorms in grmVn^, S.c.

To make artificial- sea- water, *&

To disperse noxious vapours from wells,

CPAPTEU XXXVI. ;r/.VES. f>

To make British Champagne,

- koumiss (a Tartar wine),
-- orange win*.-,
--- excellent American wine,

CHAPTER XXXVII. Jf'RITLVO.

Secret methods of writn^, -

To write blue and red Idlers at once with the same ink

and pen, and on the same p.tper, fr.

To write different colours on th- paper wilii tl;<'

juice of violets,
To wiite in the dark, as straight as by day or candle-

light, U>.

To form letters of gold on paper, and for ornaments of

writing, W

Method ol copying letters without the use of a copying

machine,

To make durable writing on paper,

To preserve letters from beinir opened^ ih.

To take out writing,
Method of recovering the legibility of decayed wri'-

ings,

To revive old writings which ;ire almost defac< O'.).'

To gild letters on vellum or [nper, '/>

To make pounce,
Method of obtaining exact copies of inscriptio &.

Pa I '

CHAPTER XSM-VllLMTSCELL^TEOUS RE-
CEIPTS, 395

To make, excellent ink, ib-

Quicksilver, 396

To revive a dull fire, ib.

Small pox, ib-

Against the blatta or cock-roaches. SD?

Corns and warts, ?.

To destroy snails and slugs, ib.
To prevent paper from sinking?

To harden plaster of Paris or casts, ib.

To change hair to a deep brown, ib.

Pearl-white, 398

TTo detect copper in liquids, ib.

To take off" a gold rmg, sticking tight on a fmger 3 ib.

To detect the mixtui e of arsenic, ib.

To try the purity t>f spirits, ib.

To raise a salad quickly, ib.

To destroy grubs, ib.

Remedy for burns or scalds. S99

A corn plaster, ib.

To keep off flies, ib.

For preserving the nails, ib.

To take away superfluous hair, ib.

To make phosphorus, ib.

To discharge grease from leather, 400

To prevent wounds from mortifying, ib.

To discharge grease from paper, ib,

Substitute for flax, ro.

Economical use of nutmegs, 401

To ascertain the quality of nutmegs, ib.

To increase the durability of tiles, 40

To prevent brass vessels from contracting verdigris, ib.

Improved mode of preserving flowers, ib.

Vanherman's durable white paint, ib.

Useful knife-board, 403

To cure chapped or sore lips, ib,

To mark sheep without injury to the woo^ ib.

To promote the growth of hair, 40 1

To fatten Turkies as they do in Norfolk, ib,

To j udge of the weather, ib,

Substitute for grease for coach-wheels, -405

Excellent varnish for umbrellas, '&

V \

COLLECTION

OF

CHAPTER I.

SECT. I. MANAGEMENT, &c. OF THE SOIL,

] . Method of employing Fallow Grounds to advantage.

PLANTED on about half an acre of fallow, of
an indifferent quality, the soil inclining to sand,
some potatoes in straight lines, two feet asunder,
and the plants forty inches distant in the rows,
ploughing the intervals three times in the summer,
that is to say every six weeks.

The plough that was used was very light, and
without wheels, and with two horses going one be-
fore the other ; it was easy to draw two furrows,
about five inches deep, without much damaging the
roots.

My workman, at first, smiled at my attempt: the
potatoes sprouted but slowly, and did not seem to
promise any great success ; but after the first plough-
ing they got forward ; and after the other two plough-
ings were, to the full, as forward as those of my
Neighbours, which had been plentifully dunged,

D

38 ACP.ICcLilRE.

Finally, after the third ploughing, every one w
astonished to see that the stalks of my potatoes,
which had not been at all dunged, were fn >\\ and
green, when the stalks of others, which had been
dunged, were turned yellow, withered and almost
dry.

Jn a word, this piece of ground yielded me in au-
tumn half as many potatoes as the same quantity of
land would have done in the ordinary method of
planting, and these were all of a delicious flavour.

Remark. Potatoes, however, are known to be a
scourging crop : they require as much dung, or (if
it be withheld) will impoverish the ground as much
as a crop of oats. By putting straw into the fur-
rows, where the roots are dropped, or even by keep-
ing the earth loose by frequent stirring, a tolerable
crop of potatoes may often be raised, without dun ,
but more injury is done to the ground than the va-
lue of the crop of potatoes will repay.

,\ Advantages of planting Wartc Lands u-ith dldcr.

Alder thrives wonderfully in swampy groun-.
and its uses are so various as to adapt it to an al-
most endless variety of purposes. The wood of
this tree is in great esteem and demand for machine-
ry ; the cogs for mill wheels formed of it being pro-
ved, by experience, to be superior to any other. -
It is commonly used for bobbins ; and the country
people [in England] wear shoes, or. as they are ge-
nerally termed, clogs, made of it. Its excellent
quality of resisting injury from water is universally
acknowledged : hence its great value for pump-
Irces, pipes, drains, conduits to reservoirs, piles
under water, and all kinds of wood work which are
kept constantly wet. It is much to be lamented,
that the valuable properties of its bark should be

MANAGEMENT OF TEIE SOIL. '&

so little, known, that in most instances it is buried
with the tree. The black dyers of cotton stuffs
know its value, and make much use of it. They
purchase it at the rate of seven to eight-pence the
stone, laid down at their djIHiouses. It is not chop-
ped, but sold as it is stripped from the tree, after
it has become moderately dry ; so that there is no
expense in chopping and cleaning it, as is the case
with oak bark. It might be used to great advan-
tage as an excellent substitute for many woods used
in dying, which we have from abroad, and on which
we expend considerable sums.

3. To prevent much mischief to Sea Embankments,

or those of Rivers.

Where a breach is actually made therein, it may
be prevented from increasing in width, by an early
application of old sails, fastened to each side of the
breach where the water enters, which will allow
the water to slide over them, and hinder more of
the earth from being carried away.

SECT. II. FARM OFFICES.

f. Useful Hint, whereby Fanners may make, a sav-
ing in the article of Thatching.

THE barns and tenements of many farmers hold-
ing on lease, and obliged to repair, being thatched,
and sudden winds sometimes making much thatch-
ing necessary, farmers would do well to make a rick
of wheat straw, except it happens to be very short,
and then they would keep their stack two years,
and make a new one the second.

The author of this article says, that though he not
only ricks his straw, but slightly thatches his rick

40 AGRICULTURE.

to keep out the weather, he has, in ten years, gam-
ed 531. by the practice, beside what he saved by
not being obliged to thrash wheat for straw at an
improper season.

*

/>. Curious mode of making Earthen Barn Floors.

Many of the barns in the Gotswold Hills. orWoM
of Gloucestershire, have a species of earthen floor,
which is generally thought to surpass floors of stone
or any other material, except sound oak plank.
Their superior excellence is partly owing to the
materials of which they are composed, and partly
to the method of using them for this purpose. Tire
materials arc equal p^rts of a kind of ordinary gra-
vel, the calcareous earth of the subsoil, as found in
different parts of these hill 1 the clippings of

free-stone, or calcareous granite, from the free-stone
quarries. The principle of making these floors \s f
perhaps, at least in Great-Britain, peculiar to these
hills. In other parts of the united kingdom, earth-
en barn floors are always made with wet materials,
a kind of mortar, which is liable to crack as it dries,
and which requires drying for some months after
being made, before it grows hard enough for use.
Here, on the contrary, the materials arc worked dry;
of course they do not crack, and are ready for use
immediately on their being finished. The process
commences by mixing the above materials together
in equal quantities, and twice sifting them: the first
lime, through a wide sieve, to catch the stones and
larger gravel, which are thrown to the bottom of thn
floor; the next, through a finer sieve, to separate
the more earthy parts from the finer gravel, which
is spread on the stones. Above that are then regu-
larly distributed the more earthy parts : trimming
down, closely and firmly on each other, the dillcr-
rlit layers, and making the whole about a foot in

FARM- OFFICE'S. 41

thickness. The surface being levelled, is next
beaten with a flat wooden beetle, made like a gar-
dener's turf beater, till the floor becomes as hard as
stone, and rings at every stroke like metal. These
floors are extremely lasting ; being equally proof
against the besom and the flail. The materials, it
is true, cannot be procured in many districts ; but,
the principle of making barn floors with dry mate-
rials being kept in view, other substances may, on,
a fair trial, be found to answer the same purpose*
This practice of hardening earthen floors, c. by-
excessive beating, is practised in several parts of
the world ; and in the kingdom of Naples, as well
as in the island .of Malta, where the tops of the hou-
ses are constantly flat, the cement of which they.
are composed,, though sprinkled with water, in that-
warm climate, is rendered so hard and dry, as well
as so compact, smooth and even, by continued beat-
ing, that the rain is carried off from them with the
same freedom as from any flat leaden or copper roof,
without being at all subject to any sort of corrosion.
The lime ash floors, in Devonshire, made of the
refuse of the lime kilns, and ash of the Welch stone
coal, with which the lime-stone is burned, are of a
similar kind. .

0. To make ditmble Barn Floors.

A durable barn floor may be made of well-burnt
polished brick on edge, placed in the herring-bone
form, on a pavement of stone three inches and a
half in thickness ; or oaken plank two inches and a
half in thickness ; or even of well-tempered indura-
ted loam, of a proper substance, not less than eight
inches, and laid upon dry materials, or bottom.
Any of them will make a durable barn floor, provi-
ded it is kept free from wet, waggon wheels, and
horses feet. The best thrashing floor for small farms

> 2

\oriICULTURE.

i 1 oO acres, is made of sound plank. la larg<
farms (say 300 acres and upward) the thrashing ma-
chine should supersede the flail.

". The Virtues of Poplar Wood for the Flooring of

Granaries.

The Lombard poplar is recommended as a timber
adapted for flooring granaries, which is said to pre-
vent the destruction of corn by wevils and insects.
Poplar wood will not easily take fire.

SECT. III. WATER.

8. Easy Method of obtaining Wuier in almost any

situation.

The ground must be perforated by a borer. In
the perforation is placed a wooden pipe, which i-.
driven down with a mallet, after which the borinc:

^5

i- continued, lhat the pipe may be driven still far-
ther. In proportion as the cavity of the borer be-
comes loaded, it is drawn up and emptied; and in
time, by the addition of new portions of wooden
pipe, the boring is carried to any depth, and water
is generally obtained.

0. To keep Pond* and artificial pieces of Waicr free

from /f teds.

\\. the marquis of Exeter's scat, near Burghley.
there is an artificial piece of water, about a mile in
length, which used to be so overrun with weeds,
that three men were employed constantly, for six
months in evry year, to ke*ep them under, in which
they never perfectly succeeded. About seven years
ago, two pair of swans were nut on the water;

WATER FENCES.

they completely cleared away all the weeds the first
year, and none have appeared since, as the swans
constantly eat them before they rise to the surface.

10. Method of draining Ponds in level Grounds.

At a certain distance below the surface of the
earth, there sometimes is a stratum of loose sand,
which freely admits the passage of water. This
stratum is at various depths, in different elevations;
but it will be generally found, that lands most sub-
ject to stagnant ponds have but a shallow stratum of
clay over the sand. All that is necessary, there-
fore, is to dig a pit in the bottom of the pond, till
you arrive at this stratum of sand, when the water
will be immediately absorbed, and the pond emp-
tied.

SECT. IV. FENCES.

11. To make a Quickset Hedge or Fence.

Quick fences often become open in many places
at bottom, notwithstanding the utmost attention,
and more especially if neglected. The barberry
shrub, on the contrary, will make an impenetrable
fence, and always close at the bottom, because it
puts up numerous suckers from the roots, which fill
every vacancy. It may as easily be raised from
the berries as quick or hawthorn, and it grows fas-
ter. The suckers also will strike root easily, espe-
cially if planted early. These shrubs may be had
at most nurseries. The barberry, however, can
never make so strong a fence as a good well trained
hawthorn hedge. But there are situations where it
may be preferable ; on the top of a high bank, (for
it is comparatively a light shrub.) as in the Devon-

ACRICILTURE.

shire hedges, for mixing with oilier plants in a
hedge, or stopping gaps in an old hedge. For the
last purpose the common sweet-briar (the seedlings
of which may be raised in almost any situation for
10s. a thousand) is also excellent.

12. To train Evergreen and other Hedges.

o O

Evergreen hedges may beclipt about the begin-
ning, but no later than the middle of April, as by
that time they will begin to grow, and it is proper
that this work should be previously performed.
Some content themselves with clipping but once a
year, in which case the end of July, or 1st of Au-
gust, is a better time.

In trimming these, or indeed any hedge intends 1
as a close fence, they should be dressed up f<> a ihin
edge at top, as otherwise they are apt to get full of

ps below ; and the cause is obvious, that the un-
ikr part, in square or cut hedges, is too much shad-
ed by the upper part. Now. by sloping the sides,
every part of the hedge is freely exposed to the air,
nor is in any part over-dropped by another. \
hcdijc, intended merely as a fence, need seldom be
more than five feet high, or at most six. Screen
hedges may be ailo\ved to run to any height thought
necessary for that purpose, neither is it requisite to
trim them so often as fence hedges ; once a year, or
in two year-;, may be sufficient.

In the training of any hedge, it should not be
J opped or shortened, until it has arrived at a full
yard in height; but it may then have a little taken
oft' the points, in order to make it bush the belter,
and shoot of a more regular height afterwards. The
sides, however, should be trimmed from the second
01* third year of planting, that it may grow the more
complete and close below, for therein consists the
excellence of any fence. Jt should not. in

TEAMS.. 45

ping, at any time, while in training, be much cut
in, as that would make it push the stronger at top,
to the detriment of the sides. When fence hedges-
outgrow their limits, they must of course be cut
cither wholly or partly down ; but if they be tolera-
bly well kept, it is seldom necessary to cut them
down more than half to the ground.

SECT. V. TEAMS.

13. Great Advantage of Ploughing with Oxen in

stead of Horses*

A team of four young horses will frequently cost
a hundred or a hundred and twenty guineas, and in:
six or seven years time will be mere jades ; whereas,
on the other hand, a much less sum will purchase
four capital six-year old oxen, which, after they
have worked five or six years, and have been kept
at two thirds of the expense of horses, will fetch as
much, or more, than their first cost.

Remark. The advantage of preferring oxen to
horses, however, is disputed by the most eminent
practical farmers. The principal point is, "that the
profit of a farmer, particularly in bad seasons, often
depends on the getting his work done within a given
time. In emergencies, a horse may be fed up to
almost any work. But an ox, however fed, will
sink under his labour, if tasked beyond his ordina-
ry rate. The farmer does not lose his half-worked
horses, for there is a demand for them by higglers,
petty carriers, and others, to whom of course he
sells them when they become less fit than at first for
his more severe work. The argument is stated as
fully, and perhaps as temperately, in the article
" Agriculture^ in the "Edinburgh Encyclopedia^

4C AGRICULTURE.

as in any other place. It is too long for ihrs col-
lection.

14. Useful Hints relative to Carters and Teams of

Oxen.

Do not retard the growth of your bca c 's of draft,
endanger their health, render them insignificant in
the eyes of the many, and disgustful to their keep-
ers, by working them too young. There is na dan-
ger of their becoming unmanageable ; nose rings
reclaim them, be they ever so riotous ; neverthe-
less, the younger they are inured to light work, tin.
more docile they will generally become.

Do not expect that they can work constantly, on
straw, nor expect to find them alert and spirited,
while their buttocks arc clodded with dung, and
their coats throughout are filled with dirt and ver-
min.

Divide them into teams of four; let each team be
fed by its respective carter. To give the man con-
sequence with his fellow-servants, provide him with
a curry comb lacquered on the back, and a brush
bound with gilt leather. With these he will take
a delight in combing off the dirt, and brushing out
tliL'du>t and filth. The ox, too, after the sensation
becomes familiar, partakes in the pleasure, and will
momentarily forego his meal to receive the full en-
joyment. lfi< feeder perceives this, nndbru-:-
il.c part which gives the most pleasure. The ox
\vs his gratitude by wagging his tail ; the caru :.
in return, calls him by his name, and ingratiates
himself with him. Thus, not only an intimacy b;i:
a mutual affection is formed, which at once gives
attention to the keeper, and docility to the ox, and
renders the labour of both pleasant.

A good carter feeds his cattle early and late, and
by little and little, being careful not to give m<->- -, ,
oir.e than thev will eat immediately.

MANURES.

Their labour and their fodder ought to be so pro-
portioned, that their health and their spirits are
kept in full tone. Their coats ought to be sleek ;
their hides loose and silky; the flank should fill the
hand ; and the shoulder handle mellow. If they
be overworked or under fed, disease and sluggish-
ness must inevitably follow. A working ox ought
always to be beef, that, in case of accident, he may
grace, at least, the poor man's table.

If oxen be introduced into a horse-team country,
not only attention, but some address is necessary.

SECT. VI. MANURES.

15. Manure for Clover.

Some farmers make it a rule to spread about fifty
bushels per acre of ashes over their clover in
March, which they find, from long experience, to
be a good manure for this grass. Wood-ashes will
be useful on any soil; coal-ashes chiefly on stiff
clays. On the stiff soils of some parts of Bucking-
hamshire, ashes of all kinds are much esteemed, and
have risen to a high price.

16. Utility of Pig eon? s Dung as a Manure.

Pigeon's dung will improve moist meadows very
much by extirpating bad kinds of grasses, bringing
white clover in its stead, and augmenting the crop.

1 7. For Compost Dunghills.

Mix one hundred loads of earth with ten chal-
drons of lime (a chaldron is thirty-six bushels) a-
bout May ; let them lie together until the lime is fall-
en, but not run to mortar ; then turn it over ; lay

4& AGRICULTURE.

seventy loads of stable dung close to it. U'lien
the dung is in a high putrid heat, which will per-
haps be in four months, lay a layer of this and a
layer of earth, two thirds of manure to one of
earth, and so go through the hill ; turn it over in
the spring, and lay it on in March or April ; eigh*
loads on an acre of grass.

18. Another Compost.

Mix lime and earth as before, and turn it ; then
cover it with soil from privies, and coal-ashes abor.
one third in quantity: lay it on the top for some
months, in an oblong heap ; then turn, and mix all
together, letting it lie some months longer; and lay
about eight loads on an acre of grasr-.

19. E i>> nt iii //iatit:/-//i'j Land.

\- a farmer, like a chemist, should lose none ui
hi rials, but even make his washings, runnings,

,\ residuums, turn out to his advantage, I have
sent you some account of an experiment I have
made in manuring of land, which I beg you will lav
before the committee of agriculture, that they ma}
communicate itloo'Y PS.

1 am possessed of a farm of near three hundred
pounds a year, and have in my yard what you usu-
ally see in most farmer's yards, iwu recesses or
pools, as reservoirs of dung and waier. These n -
servoirs of dur.i- and water are continually running;

* ^5

over, and of course part of the matter contained i;i
{.hern is carried off by the necessary drains, into the
highways, ditches, and rivers.

o *

As much of the essential quality of the dung is
lost in this manner, (for part of the salts, whether
fixed or volatile, will be washed into the pools, and
when they run over, will be conveyed into the
pitches, r c.) I thought it a part of good husband'-

MANURES. 49

to carry this superabundant water or manure, (for so
we may justly call it,) on rny land, which I did by
means of a watering-cart, not unlike those with
which the roads near London are watered in sum-
mer-time, to allay the dust.

That the experiment might be the more obvious
and certain, I first tried it in the beginning of
March, on a few acres, in the middle of a large
field of wheat, where, in a little time. I found a con-
siderable increase in growth, both of grass and
grain ; and at hay-time and harvest, both the one
tend the other were much better crops than what the
same lands produced that were not so manured.

As a man, or even a boy, with one of these carts.
and one horse, may manure a great deal of land in
a day, provided it be near the yard, I would recom-
mend the practice to all farmers ; for the expense
is nothing but the value of the time of the boy and
horse, and the increase- by what I have seen will be
very great.

v O

This manure may be also laid to great advantage
on land, that is fresh sown with barley, oats, or any
other grain ; but on grass it should be laid in the
winter time, when the rains will wash the salts off
the blades ; or in the spring, when the lands are laid
up for hay, as the cattle will not feed on the grass
while the dung or salt adheres to the blade of it.

This dung water should likewise be carried on the
land, not at a time when it rains, but in dry weath-
er, and at a time when the dung water iu the pools
is of a deep brown colour, and strongly impregnat-
ed with salts. By this means the land may be ma-
nured from time to time, and the pools kept almost
empty for the reception of fresh matter almost every
time it rains, and nothing will be lost.

AGRK IL'lUIiL.

20. Dr. Taylor's Easy Method of a?ccrtuining lit?
Qualities of J\hrle, Lime Stones, or Quick Lime,
for Ihe Purposes of Agriculture.

This was a communication by Dr. Taylor to the
Manchester Agricultural Society : the general use
of marie and lime, as manures, having prompted
him to point out the importance of an easy and cer-
tain method of determining the qualities of different
earths and stones, and ascertaining the quantity of
calcareous earth in their composition ; their value,
in agriculture, commonly increasing in proportion
to the greater quantity of it which they contain.
The process recommended is thus described. The
innrlt- or stone being dried, and reduced to powder,
put half an ounce of it into a half pint glass, pour-
ing in clear water till the glass is half full ; then
gradually add a small quantity of strong marine acid,
commonly called .-pirit of salt, and >tir the mixture
well together. As soon as the effervescence thus
excited subsides, add a litile more marine acid :
thus continuing the operation while any of the ear-
thy matter appears to di>solvc; and till the liquor,
after being well stirred and allowed to stand for h;;li
an hour, appear^ .-rnsibly acid to the taste. When
the mixture has subsided, if the liquor above it be
colourless, that marlc or lime stone is the best which
leaves the least in quantity of sediment or deposit
fst the bottom of the glass. This experiment is suf-
ficient to determine which of the samples tried i-
niost proper for the uses of agriculture ; as pure cal-
careous earth or lime, which is the earth useful i;i
agriculture, will be entirely dissolved, but clay or
sand will not be sensibly acted on by the acid.
Where great accuracy is required in determining th
experiment, lay a soft spongy paper, of which the
weight is exactly taken, in an earthen colander for
no metallic vessel, or implement for stirring,

CULTURE OF CROPS.

must be used in any part of the process aud, pour-
ing the saturated mixture of earth and acid on it, let
all the liquor fill re through ; then pour a little clear
water over the earthy matter remaining on the filter ;
and, when that water has also filtered through, dry
the paper with the earthy matter on it which re-
mains undissolved, when the deficiency found, on.
weighing them, from their original weight, will dis-
cover what portion of the marie or lime has been
dissolved in the acid. What quantity of earthy
matter has been dissolved, may be made evident to
the sight, by gradually adding, to the liquor which
has been filtered through the paper, a clear solu-
tion of pearl ashes, or ashes of burnt wood ; this
will occasion a precipitation of the contained limo
or calcareous earth to the bottom of the vesseh
which precipitate must be dried and weighed.

SECT. VII. CULTURE, &c. OF CROPS.

21. Easy Method of discovering whether or not
Seeds are sufficiently rips.

Seeds, when not sufficiently ripe, will swim, but
when arrived at full maturity, they will be found
uniformly to fall to the bottom ; a fact that is said to
hold equally true of all seeds, from the cocoa nut to
t-he orchis.

2*?. To preserve Seeds, when sown, from Vermin.

Steep the grain or seed three or four hours, or a
sufficient time for it to penetrate the skin, or husk,
in a strong solution of liver of sulphur.

23. Striped Grass recommended for Hay.

The Indian striped or ribband grass, which is
cultivated in gardens, would answer admirably for
hay. In rich grounds plants are frequently four feet
high ; what a burden of hay would a field so crop-
ped produce ! Cattle are exceedingly fond of it - y

.-' AGRICULTURE.

.lie seeds are easily saved, so that a person- migFir
.con have enough for a rood, and from that save a-
gairi and again, lor as many acres as he might chnsc.
It is probable that the crop might be much too large
o be made en the field where it grew -, if so, it would
be worth while to carry part into another field.

When to cut Rye-Grass fur

Rye-grass, if mown for hay, should be cut when
in blossom, and not creen. The hay made from it
does not heat or sweat so much, and is very good
for horses, but not for sheep and cattle. If it is suf-
fered to stand too long before it is cut, the seeds
rob the plants of their juices, and leave it no bet-
ter than wheat or rye straw.

26. To prevent Hay-Stacks from taking fire,

tVhcn there is any reason to fear that the hay,
which is intended to be housed or stacked, is not
sufficiently dry, it is only necessary to scatter a few
hanclfuls of common salt (muriate of soda) between
each layer. It would be very ill judged to regret
this trifling expense, for the salt, by absorbing the
humidity of the hay. not only prevents the ferment-
ation and consequent inflammation of it, but it also-
adds a taste to this forage, which stimulates the ap-
petites of cattle, assists their digestion, and preserves
them from many diseases.

AY//m/-/j. The cattle like a liule salt, but it has
little effect in preventing inflammation.

G. Method of preventing the Smut hi Wheat.

} have seen a great deal, read a great deal, heard
a great deal, of the benefits arising from steeping
seed wheat in brines and other preparations, to pre-
vent its being smutty : some have answered, others
have miscarried ; but I always observed that if the
seed was well washed, it failed not. I took the hint,
nnd washed well, in a lartre tub. some seed I knov-

CULTURE OF CROPS. 53

to be smutty. I washed it in plain simple water,
stirring it violently with birchen brooms, and took
care, from time to time, to skim off the light corn,
impurities, &c. It answered well, and I have con-
tinued the practice ever since. Let your practical
readers try it, and it will do the same.

27. To prevent the Smut in Wheat.

The means to prevent smut are simple ; and no
other than immersing the seed in pure water, and
repeatedly scouring it therein, just before it is sown
or dibbled in.. Whether well, spring, or river wa-
ter be used, is indifferent ; but repeated stirring and
change of water is essential to remove the possible
particles of infection that may have imperceptibly
adhered to the seed. Thus purified, the subsequent
crop will be perfect in itself, and seed successively
so likewise, if there be no adjacent fields from
whence this contamination may be wafted. The
addition of any alkaline or earthy salt, by increas-
ing the specific gravity of the water, is of advantage
in floating off the unsound grains, and after the seed
is washed it should be dried immediately, by rub-
bing it with newly slacked lime.

28. Fertilising Steeps for Turnips, Wheat , or Barley.

Steep turnip seed twelve hours in train oil, which-
strain through a fine sieve, and immediately tho-
roughly mix the quantity of seed you would wish to
SJDW on an acre with three bushels of dry loamy earth,
finely silted, which drill (or sow) as soon as possi-
ble ; and when the plants begin to appear, throw a.
small (quantity of soot over them.

29. Steep for Wheat, Barley, or other Grain*.

Put a peck and a half of wood ashes, and a peclr
f unslacked lime, into a tub that will hold forty gal-
lons ; then add as much water as will slake the lime,
and render the mixture into the consistence of suff

AGRICULTURE.

mortar. In this state It should remain ten or tweu
hours; then add as much water as will reduce t!
mortar to a pulp by thorough stirring. In this state
fill the tub with water, and occasionally keep stir-
ring for two or three days. After which, draw off
the clear lye into an open vessel, and gradually put
the grain into it : skim off the light grains ; and af-
ter the corn has been steeprd three hours, spread k
on a clean floor to drv, when it will be sufficiently

* ' *

prepared for drilling or sowing. The lye will re-
tain its full virtue, and may be repeatedly used.

Remark. It has been doubled whether steeps are
of any use, except so far as they facilitate the sepa-
ration of the light grains, and wash oil* the seeds of
the parasite plants, which are thought to occasion
Hnut, &c. In the best cultivated parts of Scotland,
:-ecd uh'.'at is steeped in stale urine, or in a brine
made with common salt, which, by increasing the
specific gravity of the water, floats the unsound
: rains. The seed is well washed, and then driej^
ily mixing it with fresh slacked lime, and rubbing it
briskly with a wooden shovel. The quick limear. 1
nibbing is thought to assist in cleansing the seed;
.-lit. independent of that, the mere drying the seed
quickly is convenient.

.""O. To sow Wheat to ^chantage without laying on

Manure.

It has been found expedient sometimes to sow
\vhcat without laying on any manure; and, in the

ginning of February, to collect twenty bushels of
lime, unslacked. for every acre, and forty bushels of
sand, and the rubbish of a brick-kiln ; then, about
the end of the month, to slake the lime, which dou-
bles the measure, and mix, it well with the sand, and
immediately afterwards to scatter it by way of top-
dressing over the green wheat. As rain generally
succeeds, it is soon washed down tg the roots of the

i

CULTURE OF CROPS. 55

plants, and gives them a vigour and strength which,
to those who never made the experiment, is aston-
ishing. The lime, sand, and rubbish, are particu-
larly useful in breaking the tenacity of stitf clays.
In a clay soil, where coal was very cheap, the clay
was slightly burned in the field, and spread over
the surface, as the cheapest way of subduing the
coarseness and stiffness of the soil. The refuse or
rubbish from mines in the neighborhood has been
burned and applied with advantage on the same
principle*

31. Approved Method of Sowing Wheat on Narrow

Ridges.

The seedsman should walk up one side of the bed
and down the other side, always keeping his face,
and the hand with which he sows, towards the bed
he is sowing : his eye must be continually on the
edge of the opposite interfurrow, and deliver his
seed principally on the side of the bed next to it :
as he returns, the sides will of course be reversed^
and the beds become evenly seeded.

32. Great Utility of sowing Buck-Wheat.

In light lands buck-wheat may be raised to great
advantage, as a lucrative crop. When green it is a
fine feed for milch kine, and when ploughed is a fine
preparation for the land. , It fattens pigs with great
economy, and, passed through the mill, is, with car-
rot, a capital feed for work horses. The seed is
excellent food for poultry, and when ground makes
good bread.

33. To keep Crows from Corn.

Take a quart of train oil, as much turpentine and
bruised gunpowder, boil them together, and, when
hot, dip pieces of rags in the mixture, and fix them
on sticks in the field. About four are sufficient for
an acre of corn.

56 AGRICULTURE.

34. Proper Soil for the Culture of

Sandy loams, in good heart, arc most favorable to
their growth, though they will thrive well on strong
loams, if not wet; but on clayey, thin, or wet soils,
they are not worth cultivating; for though a good
crop may be raised on such ground, when well pre-
pared and dunged, more damage is done by taking
off the turnips in winter, in poaching the soil, than
the value of the crop will repay.

35. Instructions for raising Potatoes to advantage*

The earth should be dcg twelve inches deep, if
the soil will allow it : ai'ler this, a hole should be
opened about six inches deep, and horse dung, or
long litter, should be put therein, about three inches
thick : this hole should not be more than twelve in-
ches diameter. Upon this dung, or litter, a potatoe
should be planted whole, upon which a little more
uung should be snaken, and then the earth must be
put thereon. In like manner the whole plot of
ground must be planted, taking care that the pota-
toes be set at least sixteen inches apart. When the
young shoots make their appearance they should
have fresh mould drawn round them with a hoc, and
if the tender shoots arc covered, it will prevent the
frost from injuring them : they should again be earth-
ed when the shoots make a second appearance, but
not covered, as, in all probability, the season will
be less severe.

A plentiful supply of mould should be given them,
and the person who performs this business should
never tread upon the plant, or the hillock that is
raised round it, as, the lighter the earth is, the more
~oom the potatoe will have to expand.

A gentleman obtained from a single root thus
planted, very near forty pounds weight of large po-
atoes ; and, from almost every other root upon the
same plot of ground, from fifteen to twenty pounds

PF iSERVATlON OF CORY AND VEGETABLES.

Weight ; and, except the soil be stony or gravelly,
ten pounds, or half a peck, of potatoes may almost
be obtained from each root, by pursuing the fore-
going method.

36. Preparation for Carrots and other winged Seeds.

Take two bushels of dry loamy earth, finely sift-
ed ; to which add one bushel of bran, and a sufficient
quantity of carrot seed, cleaned from stalks, and well
rubbed between the hands ; all which thoroughly
mix together, and drill (or sow.) The carrot seed
will stick to the bran, which, with the earth, will
be regularly discharged.

SECT. VIII. PRESERVATION OF CORN

AND VEGETABLES.

37. Important discovery relative to the Preservation

of Corn.

To preserve rye, and secure it from insects and
rats, nothing more is necessary than not to winnow
it after it is thrashed, but merely separate it from
the straw, and to stow it in the granaries mixed
with the chaff. In this state it has been kept for
more than three years, without experiencing the
smallest alteration, and even without the necessity
of being turned to preserve it from humidity and
fermentation. Rats and mice may be prevented-
from entering the barn, by putting some wild vine or
hedge plants upon the heap; the smell of the wood
is so offensive to these animals, that they will not
approach it.. The experiment has not yet been
made with wheat and other kinds of grain, but they
may probably be preserved in the chaff with equal
advantage, h must however be observed, that the
husks and corns of rye are different from most other
grain. It has been sown near houses, where many
poultry were kepi for the purpose of bringing up r c

iKi AGRICULTURE,

crop of grass, because the poultry do riot destroy

they would have done wheat, oats, or even barley
in the same situation.

>8. To preserve Corn in Sacks.

Provide a reed cane, or other hollow stick, mad. 1
so by pliiinir together l\vo grooved sticks: let it be a-

O

bout three feet nine inches long; and that it may

be the easier thrust down to the bottom of the corn
in the sack, its end be made to taper to a point, by
a wooden plug that is fix< d in, : -d slops il-.c orifice.
About one hundred and fifty small hole-?, of one
t ighth of an inch in diameter, are to be !ored on all
sides of the s'.ick, from its bottom for about (wo 1< <'.
ten inches of its length ; but no nearer to the surface
of the corn, lest too great a proportion of the air
should escape there. By winding a packthread in
a spiral form round the stick, the boring of the holes
may be the better regulated, so as to have them a-
bout half an inch distant towards the bottom, but
gradoalty at wider distances, so as to be an inch

Kider at the upper part; by which means the
lower part of the corn will have its due proportion
of fresh oir. To the top of the s:irk !t i there be fix-
ed a leathern pipe ten inches loi.v; : which pipe is.
to be distended by two yards of spiral wire, coiled
r;~> within it. Atliic upper part of the pipe is fixed
a taper woodrn fr-^ _ ihtb which the nose of a
common household bciows is to be put, in order to
ventilate the corn.

Jf corn, when first put into sack's, be thus aired,
every other or third day, for ten or fifteen minutes,
its darnj) sweats, which would hurt it, will, in a f<
weeks, be carried off to such a degree, that it will
afterwards keep sweet with very little airing, as has
been found by experience.

By the same means other kinds of seeds, as well
as corn, may be kept sweet either in sacks or smo
bins.

PRESERVATION OF CORN AND VEGETABLES.

39. To preserve Oats from being musty.

Richard Furmore, Esq. of Tusmorc, in Oxford-
shire, has, in his stable, a contrivance to let oats
down from a loft out of a vessel, like the hopper .of
a mill, whence they fall into a square pipe, let into
a wall about fou* inches diagonal, which comes into
a cupboard set into a wall, but with its end so near
the bottom, that there shall never be above a de-
sirable quantity in the cupboard at a time, which
being taken away, another parcel succeeds ; by this
motion the oats are kept constantly sweet, (the tak-
ing away one .gallon, moving the whole above)
which, when laid up otherwise in great quantities,
frequently grow musty.

40. Easy Method of destroying Mites or Weevils in

Granaries.

A very sagacious farmer has succecded-in de-
stroying weevils by a very easy process. In the
month of June, when his granaries were all empty,
he collected great quantities of the largest sized
ants, and scattered them about the places infested
with the weevils. The ants immediately fell upon
and devoured everyone of them ^ nor have any wee-
vil's since that time been seen on his premise?.

Remark. The large, or wood ant, feeds entirely
.on animal substances, of course it would not destroy
the corn.

41. To preserve Carrots, Parsnips, and Beets all

the Winter.

A little before the frost sets in, draw your beets
or parsnips out of the ground, and lay them in the
house, burying their roots in sand to the neck of the
plant, and ranging them one by another in a shelv-
ing position ; then another bed of sand, and another
of beets, and continue this order to the last. By
pursuing this method, they will keep very fresh,
When they are wanted for use, draw them as they
stand, not out of the middle or sides.

60

42. To preserve Turnips from Ffost.

The best way is to stack them up in straw in
following manner: One load of any dry straw is
Sufficient for an acre of fifty tons weight. Pull up
the turnips, top and tail them, then throw them in
a sort of windrow, and let them lie a few days to
dry.

First, lay a layer of straw next the ground, and
upon it a layer of turnips about half a yard thick ;
Then another layer of straw ; so go on alternately
with a layer of straw and a layer of turnips"; every
layer grows narrower, till it comes to a point at the
top like a sugar loaf. The last layer must be straw,
which. serves to keep all dry. You must observe
always when you have laid a layer of turnips, to
stroke or lap over the ends of the under layer of
straw, in order to keep them close, or from tumbling
out. The heap should be as large as a hay-cork :
the tops may be given to sheep or cattle as they ar"
cut olf.

43. Another,

Turnips placed in layers, though not thirk. havr
been found, after a few wcrks, to rot. in some
places the following method is adopted : Lay the
turnips close together in a single layer, on a grass
field, near the farm yard, and scatter some straw
and branches of trees over them : this will preserve
them from sudden alterations of frost and thaw.
They keep as well as stored turnips can do. The
bare grass is of no value in winter, and may rather
perhaps receive some benefit from the shelter of the
turnip. An immense quantity may thus be stored
on a small extent of grass-ground. It is chiefly use-
ful for small formers, in soils unfit for the turnip, but
who are forced to raise it for milk-cows, or to sup-
port in the winter, the sheep they feed in the sum-
mer on the commons, and which they keep per-
haps principally in the night on the fields they have

AGRICULTURE. 61

fto other means of manuring. But it may be useful
even on proper turnip soils, to save the latter part
of the crop from the sudden frosts and sunshine in
the spring, or in an open winter, which rot so great
a portion of it ; perhaps a fourth or third part of
what is then on the ground.

SECT. IX. PROTECTION OF GROWING

CROPS FROM THE DEVASTATION OF
VERMIN.

44. The good Effects of Elder in preserving Plant*

from Insects and Flies.

1. For preventing cabbage and cauliflower plants
from being devoured and damaged by caterpillars,

2. For preventing blights, and their effects on
fruit trees.

3. For preserving corn from yellow flies and
other insects.

4. For securing turnips from the ravages of flies.
The dwarf elder appears to exhale a much more

fcetid smell than "the common elder, and therefore
should be preferred.

45. The Use of Sulphur in destroying Insects on

Plants, and its Benefit for Vegetation.

Tie i.:p some flower cf sulphur in a piece of mus-
lin or fine linen, and with this the leaves of youn
shoots of plants should be dusted, or it may be
thrown on them by the means of a common swans-
down puff", or even by a dredging-box.

Fresh assurances have repeatedly been received
of the powerful influence of sulphur against the
whole tribe of insects and worms which infest and
prey on vegetables. Sulphur has also been found
to promote the health of plants, on which it was
sprinkled ; and that peach trees, in particular, were
remarkably improved by it, and seemed to absorb

F

C2 PROTECTION' OF CROPS FROM VERMIN".

it. It has likewise been observed, that the verdure.
and other healthful appearances, were perceptibly
increased ; for the quantity of new shoots and leaves
formed subsequently to the operation, and having
no sulphur on their surfaces, served as a kind of
comparative index, and pointed out distinctly the
accumulation of health.

46. Methods of stopping the Ravages of the Cater-
pillars from Shrubs, Plant s, and Vegetables.

Take a chafllng-dish, with lighted charcoal, and
place it under the branches of the tree, or bush,
whereon are the caterpillars ; then throw a little
brimstone on the coals. The vapour of the sul-
phur, which h mortal to these insects, and the suf-
focating fixed air arising from the charcoal, will not
only destroy all that are on the tree, but will effectu-
ally prevent the shrubs from being, that season, in-
fcslcd with them. A pound of sulphur will clear n !
IT. any trees as grow on several acres.

Another method of driving these insects offfruii-
Irecs, is to boil a together quantity of rue, worm-
wood, and common tobacco (of each equal parts,)
in common water. The liquor should be very
strong. Sprinkle this on the leaves and young
branches every morning and evening during the time
the fruit is ripening.

In the Economical Journal of France, the fol-
lowing method of guarding cabbages from the depre-
dations of caterpillars is stated to be infallible, and
and may, perhaps, be equally serviceable against
those which infest other vegetables. Sow with
hemp all the borders of the ground wherein the cab-
bage is planted ; and, although the neighbourhood
be infested with caterpillars, the space inclosed by
the hemp will be perfectly free, and not one of these
vermin will approach it..

AGRICULTURE. 6.,'

17. To prevent the Increase of Pismires in Grass-
lands nctvly laid den-):.

Make a strong decoction of walnut-tree leave.%
rind after opening several of the pismire's sandy
habitations, pour upon them a quantity of the li-
-jiior. just sufficient to fill the hollow of each heap:
after the middle of it has been scooped, throw in
?he contents IVom the sides, and press down the
whole mass with the foot, till it becomes level with
he rest of the field. This, if not found effectual at
first, must be repeated a second or a third time,
when they infallibly will be destroyed.

48. Liquor for destroying Caterpillars, Ants, and

otker Insects.

Take a pound and three quarters of soap, the
same quantity of flower of sulphur, two pounds of
champignons, or puff balls, and fifteen gallons of
water. When the whole has been well mixed, by
the aid of a gentle heat, sprinkle the insects with
the liquor, and it will instantly kill them.

49. To destroy Jlnts.

Ants are destroyed by opening the nest, and put-
ting in quicklime, and throwing water on it.

50. To prevent the Fly in Turnips.

Sow good and fresh seed in well manured and
well prepared ground.

51. To prevent the Destruction of Field Turnips by

Slugs.

A few years since, a considerable farmer, near
7 ath, observing the turnips in one of his fields
st . K rjgly attacked by something, discovered, by ac-
cidcif t j iat tne g nem y was really a slug, and im-
rnediaio v prevented farther damage by well roll-
ing the \>, i G fie j c i by r]j ht. whicn ^11^ a n tn
slugs.

o4 PROTECTION: OF CROPS FROM VERMI.V.

N. B. This was the grand secret which was ad-
vertised for two thousand subscribers, at one guinea
each, by W. Vagg, for destroying the fy in turnips,
which it will not do !

52. For preventing Flics from destroying tJie Seed-

ling Leaves of Turnips, d^-c.

Mix six ounces of flower of brimstone with t^rce
pounds of turnip seed, daily, for three days succes-
sively, in an earthen-glazed pot, and keep it clou:
covered, stirring all together well at each addition >
that the seed may be the more tainted with the sul-
phur : this will sow an acre of ground, and let the
weather come wet or dry, it will keep the fly ofr'till
the third or fourth seeding leaf is formed; and by
this time they will all be somewhat bitterish, and
consequently very much out of danger of this little
black Hying insect, which, in summer time, may IT
seen in swarms, on the wing, near the ground,

:rci;ing for, and settling on fresh bites, till they
n:i.'i thousands of acres.

53. To prevent J\Iicc from destroying early sown

Peas.

The tops of furze, or whins, chopped and thrown
into the drills, and thus covered up (by goading
them in their attempt to scratch) is an ctt< n::nl pre-
ventive. Sea sand, strewed prclly thick upon the
surface, has the same effect. It gets into their cars
and is troublesome.

54. Jl;U)ihcr*

In the gardens in Devonshire, a simple trap is
used to destroy mice. A common brick, or Hat sto >0
is set on one end, inclined at an angle of about fr '
fivc degrees. Two strings, tied to a cracke
stuck in the ground, with loops at the e^' 8
strings, are brought round to the mi<Jd L f tne ur >-
dcr part of the brick, and one loop jC:n S P IU into

ANGLING.

the other, a pea or bean, or any other bait, makes
the string fast, so as to support the brick. When
the animal removes the bait, the loops separate,
and the brick, by falling, smothers the animal,

SECT. X. WEEDS.

55. Usefulness of mowing Weeds.

In the month of June, weeds are in their most
succulent state ; and in this state, especially after
they have lain a few hours to wither, hungry cattle
will eat greedily almost every species. There is
scarcely a hedge border, or a nook, but what at
season is valuable; and it certainly must be good
management to embrace the transient opportunity;
for, in a few weeks, they will become nuisance

'(See also Cattle, Dairy, Vermin, Weather,

CHAPTER II.

3 6. To preserve Fishing Rods.

Oil your rods, in summer, with linseed oil, dry-
ing them in the sun, and taking care the parts lie
flat they should be often turned, to prevent them
from warping. This will render them tough, and
prevent their being worm-eaten ; in time they will
acquire a beautiful brown colour. Should they
get wet, which swells the wood, and makes it fast
m the sockets, turn the part round over the flame
of a candle a short time, and it will be easily sei
at liberty.

66 ANGLING.

57. To make Quill Floats for Fishing.

Take any quantity of swan or goo.sc quills you
may want, cut off tne barrel part from that where
the feathers grow, and, with a thick piece of wire
wrapped round the end with cotton wool, clear the
inside of the quill from the film ; put in a small
piece of pitch, about the size of a sweet pea, and,
with the wire, force it to the end, ramming it close ;
this will effectually keep out the water; put a small
piece of cotton wool upon the pitch, sufficient, when
forced close into the quill, to form a space of a
quarter of an inch, and, upon the cotton, add anoth-
er piece of pitch of the same size as the first, which
will secure the cotton, and make the iloat easily dis-
cerned on the water; take a piece of sallow hazel,
or other soft wood, about the same size as the cir-
.'mieronce of the quill, and about two inches long ;
lit it neatly about ? of an inch into the quill, and fas-
ten it with a cement made of powdered bees-wax,
rosin, and chalk, melted over the fire in a ladle;
dip the plug in when it is sufficiently melted and in-
corporated, and put into it immediately a piece of
doubled brass wire, the loop e:id formed into a
round eye, and the other twisted, which will pass
into the plug like a screw, holding the wire fast with
a pair of small pliers, and turning the float round ;
the line passes through the eye of the wire ; the top
of the float is made fast to the line by a hoop made
-f the barrel part of the quill, and rather wider than
'.he float, to admit the thickness of the line ; by
means of this hoop the float may be shifted at plea-
sure, according to the depth you are inclined to
iish ; the hoops eiay be dyed red by the following
method : Take some stale urine, and put to it as
much Brazil wood in powder as will make it a deep-
rcd; then take some fair water, and put a handful
of salt into it, and a small quantity of argol, stirring
them till they are dissolved 5 boil them over tjie lire

ANGLIXG. 67

in a saucepan, and when cold, put in the quills, well
scraped, and let them lie awhile in it ; then take
them out, and put them into the urine made red with
the Brazil wood, and let them continue a fortnight ;
when dry, rub them with a woollen cloth, and they
will be transparent.. The hoops must be cut with a.',
sharp knife, or the quill will split.

58, Improved Method of making Cork Floats fur

Fishing.

Take a cork, firm and free from flaws, and with
a small red-hot iron, bore a hole lengthways through
the centre ; with a sharp knife cut it across the
grain about two-thirds of the length, tapering to the
end where the hole is bored, and the remaining
third rounded with it, (which is the top of the float)
in the shape of an egg, the lower end tapering more
gradually, resembling in shape the small peg- tops.,
children play with..

59. Easy Method of dying Fishing Lines.

Lines of silk or hemp may be coloured by a
strong decoction of oak bark, which, it is believed,
renders them more durable, and resists the water ;
it gives them an excellent russet-brown colour, and.
any shade of it may be obtained, by the time they
remain in the decoction, which should be cold.

60* To prevent Fishing Lints from rotting.

Never wind your lines on your reel wet 5 at leas-t,
when you get home, wrap them round the back of-a
chair, and let them be thoroughly dried, otherwise
they will soon rot, and cannot be depended on ;
with this care they will last a considerable time.

61. To prevent taking Cold while Angling.

Avoid sitting upon the ground, though it may ap-
pear dry, for the heat of the body will cause a aiois-
ture which soon cools, and may be sensibly felt.

T8 ANGLING.

the angler, through age or infirmity, is incapable of
standing long, a piece of coarse woollen cloth, dou-
bled two or three times, will be very useful to sit
.upon, especially in fishing for barbel, reach, and
dace, where the angler is confined to one place.

C2. To improve the Sj)ort of Angling, by Attention

to the Dress.

Some attention should be paid to the colour of an
.angler's dress ; it is natural to conclude, that green
would be most eligible, as it would vary little from
those objects with which fish are familiarised, such
as trees growing near the sides of rivers, and herb-
age on the banks ; yet, as this particular colour
might, be disagreeable to many, the angler should a-
void all strong contrasts to those objects, particular-
ly scarlet, and very light colours.

. Jiulcsfor Fly Fishing,

\ fishing fly is a bait used in angling for various
kinds offish. The fly is either natural or artificial.
The chief of the natural flies are the "stone fly,"
found under hollow stones at the sides of rivers,
between April and July; it is brown, with yellow-
streaks, and has large wings. The "green-drake,*'
found among stones by riversides ; it has a yellow
body ribbed with green ; it is long and slender, with
wings like a butterfly, ar.d is common in the spring.
The " oak fly," found on the body of an oak or ash,
is of a brown colour, and common during the 'sum-
mer months. The " palmer fly or worm," found
on the leaves of plants, when it assumes the fly state
from that of the caterpillar ; it is much used in trout
fishing. The " ant fly," found on ant hilK from
June to September. The u May fly," is to be found
playing at the river side, especially before rain.
And the " black fly," which is to be found upon eve-
ry hawthorn after the buds are oil'. There are two
ways to fish with natural flies, either on the surface.

\N"GLIXGf ; . 69

of die water, or a little underneath it. In angling:

7 O O-

for roach, dace, &c. the fly should be allowed to
glide clown the stream to the fish, but in very still
water the bait may be drawn by the fish, which will
make him eagerly pursue it.

There are many sorts of artificial flies to be had"
at the shops ; they are made in imitation of natural
flies, and the rules for using them are as follow :
Keep as far from the waters edge as may be, and
fish down the stream with the sun at your back : the

/

line must not touch the water.. In clear rivers the
angler must use small /lies with slender wings, but
in muddy waters a larger fly may be used. After
rain, when the waters are muddy, an orange-colour*
ed fly may be user. 1 with advantage ; in a clear day,
the fly must be light coloured, and in dark water
the fly must tv dark. The line should, in general,
be twice as long as the rod ; but, after all, much
will dep^d upon a quick eye and active hand,
Flies pade for catching salmon must have their
wing" standing one behind the other. This fish is
sa : -/to be attracted by the gaudiest colours that can
.'/e obtained ; the winsrs and tail should be ions: and

o

spreading..

64. To intoxicate, and take Fish,

Make a paste in the following manner : take cocu-
lus indicus, cummin seeds, fenugreek seeds, and co-
riander seeds, equal parts; reduce them to powder,
and make them into a paste, with rice-flour and wa-
ter ; reduce this paste into small balls of the size of
peas, and throw it into such ponds or rivers where
there are fish, which, after eating thereof, will rise
to the surface of the water almost motionless, and
v;ill allow themselves to be taken, out by the hand,

TO F^EFUL

CHAPTER III.
USEFUL ARTS.

65. Beneficial Purpose to irhirh Ihe Juice of .-/.

!' ('..:>',- (I.

TV the EasJ,-Ifidies aloes r.rc employed n<; a var-
nish, to preserve wood trom worm> and oilier i,j-
sects ; and ?!<ins, and ever) Uvi::.; :j:mn:d.var<- i ,1-
ed with it for the same n Tin.- havork com-

mitted by th<- white ants iu In.-lin first siii.v >li i fl
trial of aloe juice, to protect wood from them : for
which purpose the juice is either used as extracted,
or in solution. 1 y >ome solvent.

G6. L r tti( Jtiin- ' "" ' . on , c f: 'Jom*.

>< > have I.HT:I found effectual in preserving
ships fr e ravages of the worm and thesdhesion
of barir . Tlic sl.-i; *fi I : -. for this pu
i> smeared with a compo-iiion of hepatic aloe-, tur-
prnliiio. tallow, and white lead. In proof of the </
fir: , \ of (his method, two planks of e:jua! thickness,
and cut from the same tree, were plao '1 under wa-
ter, one in its natural state, and the other smeared
with tin: composition. On taking them up, after
hcinij: immersed ciirht month*, {!." I " ' is found

>~ C?

to be pf % ;' r < ( ,' as at first, while the former wr..s en-
tirely penetrated with insects, and in a state OJ '
solute rottenness.

^/. 7'' Bronzi Planter Figur,-.

\ ,ny the figure over with isinglass size tii'l it ho.
out. or without any part of its surface becoming dry
or spotted: then with a bru'-h. such as is termed I .
painters a sash tool, go over the whole, observi
carefully to remove any of the si/:e (wh.. it is yet
soft) that may lodge on the delicate or sharp p

tJSEFUL ART'S. 71

and set it aside to dry : when it has become so, take
a little very thin oil gold-size, and, with as much of
it as just damps the brush, go over the figure, al-
lowing no more of this size to remain than what
causes it to shine. Set it apart in a dry place, free
from ^jpoke, and, after it has remained there forty-
right hours, the figure is prepared for bronzing.

"The bronze, which is almost an impalpable pow-
der, (and may be had at the colour shops, of all me-
tallic colours) should be dabbed on with a little cot-
ton wool. After having touched over the whole fi-
gure, let it stand another day ; then, with a soft dry-
brush, rub off all the loose powder, and the figure
will resemble the metal it is intended to represent,
and possess the quality of resisting the weather.

68. To Blue Swords, Mourning Buckles, $-c.

Take a piece of grindstone and whetstone, and
rub hard on the work, to take ofT the black scurf
from it ; then heat it in the fire, and as it grows hot
the colour changes by degrees, coming first to a light
then to a dark gold colour, and lastly to a blue.-
Indigo and salad oil, ground together, is also used,
by rubbing the mixture on the work with a woollen
cloth, while it is heating, leaving it to cool of itself.

G9. Composition to take off Casts of Medals.

Melt eight ounces of sulphur over a gentle fire,
and mix it with a small quantity of fine vermilion;
stir it well together, aad it will dissolve like oil;
then cast it into the mould, which is first to be rub-
bed over with oil. When cool, the figure may be
taken, and touched over with aquafortis, and it will
lock like fine coral.

70. Method of Sweeping Chimnies without employing
Children, and the danger attending the old ricihod
pointed out.
Prociue a rope for the purpose, twice the length

72 ^ >E1'UL ARTS.

of the height of the chimney : to the middle of it lie
a bush (broom, furze, or any other.) of sufficient
size to fill the chimney, (if there be any windings in
it, tie a bullet or round stone to the end of the rope,)
and introduce the wood end of the bush after the
Tope has descended into the room ; then let a per-
-son pull it down. The bush, by the elasticity of
its twigs, brushes the sides of the chimney as it de-
scends, and carries the soot with it. If necessary,
the person at top, who has hold of the other end of
the rope, draws the bush up again ; but, in this case,
the person below must turn the bush, to send the
wood end foremost, before he calls to the person at
top to pull it up.

.Many people who are silent to thf calls of human-
ity, are yet attentive to the voice of interest : chim-
neys cleansed in this \\;iy m ver need a tenth part
of the repairs required when they :irc swept by chil-
dren, who, being obliged to work themselves up by
pressing with their feet and kncrs nn one side, and
their back on the other, often force out the bricks
which divide the chiinni' This is one of the cau-

s why, in many houses, a fire in one apartment al-
ways fills the adjoining one with smoke, and some-
times even the adjoining hous". Nay, some hous-
es have even been burnt by this means ; for, a foul
chimney, taking lire, has been frequently known to
communicate, by these apertures, to empty apart-
ment's filled with timber, \\ here, of course, it wa.>> not
thought iiiTfssary to make any examination, after
extinguishing the fire in the chimney where it began.

71. Y. n- Method of clearing Feather* front the ii

imal Oil.

Take, for every gallon of clear water, a pound of
quick lime; mix them well together; and, when the
undissolved lime is precipitated in fine powder, pour
oft* the clear lime-water for use at the time it is wan-

GlLDJX-G. 73

^ccl. Put the feathers to be cleaned in another tub,
nnd add to them a sufficient quantity of the clear
lime-water (o cover the feathers about three inches,
when well immersed and stirred therein. The fea-
thers, when thoroughly moistened, will sink down,
and should remain in the lime-water three or four
-days : after which, the foul liquor should be sepa-
rated from the feathers, by laying them on a sieve.
The feathers should be afterwards well washed in
clean water, and dried on nets, the meshes bein<r

O

about the same fineness as those of cabbage nets.
The feathers must, from time to time, be shaken on
the nets : and, as they dry, they will fall through
the meshes, and are to be collected for use* The
admission of air will be serviceable in the drying,
and the whole process may be completed in about
-three weeks. The feathers, after being thus pre
pared, will want nothing more than beating for use,
either for beds, bolsters, pillows, or cushions.

72. To preserve the natural Colour in Petals of dri-

ed Flowers.

Nothing more is necessary than to immerse the
petals for some minutes in alcohol. The colours
will fade at first ; but in a short time tfrey will re-
sume their natural tint, and remain permanently
fixed.

73. Art of gilding Iron or Steel.

Dissolve in aqua regia, with the assistance of a
little heat, as much gold as willfully sa'uirnte it:
then, adding cream of tartar, form it into a paste.- -
Any bright piece of steel or iron, snch as the blade
of a knife or razor, &c. being first wetted with wa-
ter, or saliva, and then rubbed with this paste, will
be instantly gilded in a beautiful manner; after
v/hich it is to be washed with c old water, If a thick-
er coat of gold be desired, gold leaf may be laid on,
*nu -burnished hard, when it will adhere to the first

G

7-4 WSEFVL AK1>

gilding; and, if the nature of the thing gilded \\ili
admit of heat, by warming it, but not so as to be-
come red hot, and then burnishing it. anv thickness

Lj J ^

of gilding may be easily added.

74. Method of Dry Gilding.

Dry gilding, as it is called by some workmen, is a
light method of gilding, by steeping linen rags in a
solution of gold, then burning them ; and with a
piece of cloth dipped in salt water, rubbing the ash-
es over silver intended to be gilt. This method re-
quires neither much labor, nor much gold, and may
be employed with advantage for carved work and
ornaments. It is not, however, durable.

75. Composition for gilding /j/v/^ or <S7;-."r.

Take two ounces of gum-lac, two ounces of ka-
i-abe, >r yellow amber, forty grains of dragoi;'-
!ood in tears, half a drachm of saffron, and forty
ounces of good spirits of wine : infuse and dige.st
.he whole in the usual manner, and afterwards strain
it through a linen cloth : when the varnish is used,
the piece of silver or brass must be heated brfon
- applied : by this means it will assume a gold col-
our, which is cleaned, when soiled, with a little
warm water.

76. To make Shell Gold.

Take the paring of leaf gold, or even the lenv-
.emselvcs. and reduce them into r.-n impalpable
powder, by grinding them on a marble with honey ;
put this into shells where it will stick and dr\ :
when you want to use it, dilute it with gum water.
N. B. Shell silver is made the same way.

77. To clean Gold and restore its Lustre.

Dissolve a little sal-ammoniac in urine ; boil your
soiled gold therein, and it will become clean and
'

USEFUL ARTS.

i

7C. To silver Glass Globes.

Take two ounces of quicksilver, one ounce of
bismuth, of tin and lead haff an ounce of each : first
put the tin and lead in fusion, then put in the bis-
muth, and when you perceive all in fusion, let it
stand till almost cold, arid then pour in the quick-
silver.

After this take the glass globe, which must be
very clean, and the inside free from dust, make a
paper funnel, which put in the hole of the globe,
as near the glass as you can, so that the amalgam,
when you pour it in, may not splash and spot the
glass : pour it in softly, and move it about that the
amalgam may touch every where ; if you find it
begin to be curdly, hold it over a gentle heat, and
it will flow again ; the cleaner and finer your globe
is, the looking-glass will be the better.

79. To cut Glass.

Take a red-hot shank of a tobacco-pipe, lay it on
the edge of your glass, which will then begin to
crack, then draw the shank end a litlle gently be-
fore, and it will follow any way you draw youv
hand.

80 Substitute for Hemp and Flax.-

As hemp and flax (lint) is now very high-priced,
if the public would turn their attention to the Urti-
ca Diocia (common nettle,) an excellent hemp
might be obtained from it, by cutting it just before
the seed is ripe, and steeping it in water, as they
do hemp or flax, and manufacturing it the same
ivay ; the root of the plant is esteemed to be diure-
tic, and the roots, boiled with alum, will dye yarn
a yellow colour. It is likewise used by making a
strong decoction of the young plant, and salt put to
it, and bottled up, which will coagulate milk, and
make it very agreeable ; by which means that plant.

76 PROCESS RELATING TO IRON.

which is an obnoxious weed, might be turncu to
good account.

USEFUL PROCESS RELATIVE TO IRON.

01. To braze or solder Pieces of Iron.

This is done by means of thin plates of bras?,
melted between the pieces that are to be joined.
If the work be very fin", ns when two leaves of a
broken saw arc to be brazed 'ogrther. cover it with
pulverized borax, melted with water; that it m:
incorporate with the brass powder which is added
to it: the piece must be then exposed to the fire
ui.'.o'.u touching the coals, and healed till the brass,
is see;: to run.

* :. ' dish Mrth .//',, ;>/>-< -ri'inff from Rust Iron

/Tc.7: ex j) a.-:* id to Air.

.ey take --iic-h a quantify of pitch and tar as they
think they have occasion fur, and mix up with it

uantity of (.he best sort of soot as not to

mnke it too thick for use : with this composition they
j>:iint or be. I'M :.:?.!! tl : : . the iron work, for
v.iiich purpose they make \'..^. of. horl hru'd l.;M:.-.h' .-,
because tlu-y must pro. s prciiy r^lr');)^!}' ii|;rn tin-
iron in order lo give iia sulQicient quantity, raid ihry
always choose to pr-rform t!:is operation in the
spring time of the year. bcc?'.isc the RiodonMe hrm
of the season hardens the pitch so much that it is
never melted by the succ*. ^ of the sum-

mer, but, on the contrary, aco'iires such a gloss as
to lock like varnish. This h:t* !>ccn foiiiid, by ex-
perience, to preserve iron from rust much better
than any sort of paint, and is as cheap as any that
can be made use of.

03. Composition that will eft't dually prevent Iron,
.SV. >/. vv'C.yV07/i rusting.

This method conM^t-? iu mixing, \viih fat. oil v:,:

USEFUL ARTS. 77

nish, four-fifths of well rectified spirit of turpentine.
The varnish is to be applied by means of a sponge ;
and articles varnished in this manner will retain their
metallic brilliancy, and never contract any spots of
rust. It may be applied to copper, and to the
preservation of philosophical instruments ; which,
by being brought into contact with water, are lia-
ble to lose their splendour, and become tarnished.

84. To prevent Steel or Iron from Rust..

Take one pound of hog's lard free from salt, one
ounce of camphirc, two drachms of black lead pow-
der, and two drachms of dragon's blood in fine pow-
der 5 melt the same on a slow fire until it is dissolv-
ed, and let it cool for use.

85. To prevent polished Hardware and Cutlery from

taking Rust.

Case-knives, snuffers, watch-chains, and other
small articles made of steel, may be preserved from
rust, by being carefully wiped after use, and then,
wrapped in coarse brown paper, the virtue of which
is such, that all hardware goods from Sheffield, Bir-
mingham, &c. are always wrapped in the same.

86. To clear Iron from Rust.

tf

Pound some glass to fine powder, and having nail-
eel some strong linen or woollen cloth upon a board,
lay upon it a strong coat of gnm water, and sift
theieoa some of your powdered glass, and let it
dry; repeat this operation three times, and when
the last covering of powdered glass is dry, you may
easily rub off the rust from iron utensils, with the
loth thus prepared.

C7. To soften Ivory and Boms*

Take sage, boil it in strong vinegar, strain the
decoction through a piece of close cloth ; and when
you have a mind to soften bones or ivory, steer*;

G 2

To USEFUL ARTS.

|

(hem in this liquor, and the longer they remain in i>
the softer they will grow.

88. Useful Hints to Lamplighters.

As many accidents happen in the winter time by
the sliding of ladders, the same would never occur,
if the following simple method was generally adopt-
ed. u If a strong nail was put in the top of the lad-
der, in an horizontal position, accidents could nev-
er happen, as, when the ladder slides, the nail
would catch the lamp iron."

09. Improved M'lhvd of taking off I/nprcssions of
Leaves, Plants, $-c.

Take half a sheet of fine wove paper, and oil it
ivell whh sweet oil ; after it has stood a minute or
two, to let it soak through, rub off the superfluous
oil with a piece of p;ipcr. and let it hang in the air
to dry ; after the oil is prUty well dried in, take a
lighted candle or lamp, and move thr- p;.per slowly
over it, in an horizontal -'in', lion, so as t<> touch
the thuno, till it is perfect!} b!:ick. When you wish
to take offinopressions of plant-. l;iy your plant care-
fully on the uiii-d p.-.pf.T. and lay a piece of clean
paper over it, i"ni rub it with your finger, e<|u;dly
in :dl parts, for about half a minute ; then take up
your plant, and be careful not to disturb the order
of the leaves, nn! place it on the book or paper, on
which you wish to have the impression ; then cover
it \vith a piece of blotting-paper, and nib it with your
finger fr a short time, and yu will have an impres-
sion superior to the finest engraving. The same
piece of bhuk puper will serve to take off a great
number of impressions ; so that when you have once
gone through the process of blacking it, you may
make an impression in a very short time.

The principal excellence of this method is, that
ihc paper receives the impression of the most rni-
auto veins and hairs 5 so that you may take the ge-

USEFUL ARTS, 79

neral character of most flowers, much superior to
any engraving. The impressions may afterwards
be coloured according to nature.

90. To obtain the true Shape and Fibres of a Leaf*

Rub the back of it gently with any hard sub-
stance, so as to bruise the fibres ; then apply a
small quantity of linseed oil to their edges ; after
which, press the leaf on wJiite paper, and, upon re-
moving it, a perfectly correct representation of eve-
ry ramification will appear, and the whole may b^
coloured from the original*

O

91. Another way.

This may be called printing of a leaf, and is ef-
fected by carefully touching the fibres with one of
those balls, lightly covered with printer's ink, and
impressing it on wet paper. This is done to most
advantage by a round stick, covered with woollen
cloths, rolled backwards and forwards over the pa-
per and leaf.

92. To whiten Linseed Oil.

Take any quantity of linseed oil, and to every
gallon add two ounces of litharge ; shake it up eve-
ry day for fourteen days, then let it settle a day or
two ; pour oif the clear into shallow pans, the same
as dripping pans, first putting half a pint of spirits
of turpentine to- each gallon. Place it in the sun,
and in three days it will be white as nut oil. This
oil, before it is bleached, and without the turpen-
tine, is far superior to the best boiled oil, there be-
ins no waste or offensive smell.

o

93. Sophistication of Oil of La-vender and all Essen-

tial Oils.

These valuable oils are frequently adulterated by
a mixture of oil of turpentine, which may be kn^vvn.
by dipping a little paper, or rag, in the oil to be

USEFUL ART-.

tried, and holding it to the fire, the fine scented <
will last evaporate, and leave the smell of the tur-
pentine distinguishable, if any has been mixed
therewith.

94. Simple Way of determining the exact Time nf
JVoorc, and to obtain a Meridian Line, on a small
Scale.

Near the top of a room, facing the south, fix a
plate of metal, with a circular hole in if. for the sun
to shine through, from ciirht or nine o'clock in the

O ' v3

morning until three or four in the afternoon : then.

O

by means of a line and a plummet, determine the
point upon the floor, which is directly under the
centre of the hole, and from that point, as a cen-
tre, draw several concentric circl- -. Having made
choice O!'M>:IH: clear day near the summer solstice,
make the room nearly dark, and about three or four
hours before and jifternoon. mark the points where
the northern. n.- also the s^u'licm limit of the sun's
image cross those semicircles, and thr-rc will be
sever,:! curves included between these points,
hro'.i-'h the middle of which a right line being drawn
;hc centre of ihe semicircles, is a meridian line,
the lir.e has been dr;,\\n in this manner, it
must be examined by succeeding observations, and
corrected, if necessary, by which means a line may
drawn exceedingly near the true meridian.

Practical (.)'< /;:///'?*.<? v?i the above.

1. The ! phiic, which may be about or
ih of an inch thick, must be placed p;>r:illel to tl

axis of the world, that the sun's rays may pass pci
pendicularly through it when he is in the equator.

2. The aperture need not be more than one-fifilt
of an inch in diameter, if it be counteisunk on both
sides, to admit the inn's rays to flow through it at
the distance of three or four hours before, and .
noon,

USEFUL ARi -.

J- If the surface of the floor, on which the obser-
vations are to be taken for finding the meridian, be
not sufficiently even, the floor may be covered with
new boards, taking the greatest caro- that they are
laid down perfectly horizontal from east to w.est.
After the line has been correctly drawn, and the
north and south ends of it marked upon the walls o'"
the room, the boards mav be taken away, and oth-

v W *

ers laid down to draw the lines upon.

A meridian line, upon a small scale, but sufii-
eiently correct for regulating clocks and watches,,
may be had by the following method :

Let a stone, with an even surface, about three
feet long and two broad, be fixed horizontally upon
a brick or stone pillar, at a convenient height for
observation, with one of its ends facing the south,
Near the middle of this end of the stone fix a gno-
mon in a direction perpendicular to the horizon.
This gnomon, which should be made of a strong
bar of metal, must have a small aperture through it ?
for the sun's rays to flow through early in the morn-
ing and late in the evening. From that point, as a
centre, which is directly under this aperture, draw
several concentric semicircles, and fix the meridian
line according to the preceding directions. The
gnomon should have several other holes made
through it in a line perpendicular to the horizon, that
the sun's rays at noon, flowing through some of
them, may fall near the north end of the stone at all
seasons of the year;, for, if only one hole be used,
the sun's image will fall near the centre of the gno-
mon in the summer, and in the winter it will be
thrown far beyond the north end of the stone.

05. German Method of making Elm and Maple
Wood resemble Mahogany.

Having very smoothly planed whatever boards
of the elrn or maple tree are intended to be used for
the purpose of appearing like mahogany, w.ash then:

USEFUL ARTS'.

v.-cll with a little aquafortis diluted in common
tcr. Then take a few drams of dragon's blood, ac-
cording to the quantity which maybe wanted in tlv
whole, with half as much alkanet root, and a quar-
ter of as much aloes, and digest these ingredients
in four ounces of proof spirit to every dram of the
dragon's blood. As soon as the boards arc dry,
varnish them over with this tincture, by means of ;i
sponge or soft painter's brush; and they will, it is
said, ever after s<5 wear the appearar.ee of mahoga-
ny as to deceive the eye of any indifferent observer*

9G. Substitute for Mahogany.

The difficulty of procuring mahogany and other
precious woods, and the consequent exorbitant
prices demanded for the ordinary articles of family
convenience, has occasioned the art of the cheih
to lc pppli^d (o a subject peculiarly calculated to
promote domestic embellishment at a trifling ex-
pense. It has been contrived to render any spe-
f ies of wood of a close grain, so nearly to resemble
rnu!i<-._;:uiy in the texture, density, and polish, that
the most accurate nidjys rrc incapable of distin-
guishing between this happy imitation, and the "na-
tive produce. The first operation, as now pra-. tis-
ed in France, is to plane the surface, so as to render
it perfectly smooth ; the wood i> th--n to be rubbed
with diluted nitrous acid, v . i pi iares it for the
materials subsequently to bo np[:.i '. Ai'' . ds
one ounce and a half of (Img-n'^ I ' .. nvcd

in a pint of spirits of wine, and 0110 i ii.nl of that
quantity of carbonate of , soda, are to be; mixed to-
gether, and filtered > and the liquid, in this thin
state, is to be rubbed, or rather laid, upon the wood,
with a soft brash. This process is repeated with
very little alteration, and in a short interval after-
wards, the wood possesses the external appearance.
of mahogany. When this application has be-
properly made, the surface will resemble an

-SFUL ARTS. 83

cial mirror ; but if the polish become less brilliant,
by rubbing it with a little cold drawn linseed oil, the
wood will be restored to its former brilliancy.

97. To clarify Quills.

Scrape off the outer film, and cut the ends off ;
then put the barrels into boiling water, wherein is
a small quantity of alum and salt ; let them remain
a quarter of an hour, and then dry them in a hot
pan of sand or an oven.

98. To harden Quills.

In order to harden a quill that is soft, thrust the
barrel into hot ashes, stirring it till it is soft 5 and
then taking it out, press it almost flat upon your
knee with the back of a pen-knife, and afterwards
reduce it to a roundness with your fingers. Another
method to harden quills is by setting water and alum
over the fire, and while it is boiling, put in a hand-
ful of quills, the barrels only, for a minute, and then
lay them by.

99. Dutch Method of preparing Goose Quills f (ft

if ing.

The process consists in immersing the quill, when
plucked from the wing of the bird, it; to water al-
most boiling ; to leave it there till it becomes sufli-
ciently soft to compress it, turning it on its axis with

.e back of the blade of the knife. This kind of
i'riction, as well as the immersions in water, being
continued till the barrel of the quill be transparent,
and the membrane, as well as the greasy kind of
covering, be entirely removed, it is immersed a last
time to render it perfectly cylindrical, which is per-
formed with the index finger and the thumb ; it is
then dried in a gentle temperature.

100. Substitute for Curriers Oil.

A cheap substitute for the oil used by curriers ia

-6-i VSEF'CL !

'ho preparation of leather, is made by boiling whale-
oil for a few minutes, at a temperature of twenty-
five degrees Reaumcr, with nitric acid, in the pro-
portion of half an ounce of the acid to a pound of
oil.

101. To rfpair Roads near to Coal Mines*

The roads to and from coal mines are usually in

bad condition from the heavy loads passing in curls

>vcr them. The late Duke of Bridgewater, to re-

iir them, adopted, with great success, the follow-

ing plan, p.t VVorsley, in Lancashire. The stones.

i. lay, and rubbish, first raised from the shaft, were

laid in a large heap above ground ; then, such in-

' riorcoal, pyrites, or shale, as was unfit for sale,

ir.d usually thrown away, was laid in another near

: a third heap was raided from a mixture made by

ving repeated layers from the above two heaps.

, alum super stratum, and this heap, set on fire in

: h a direction that the wind would assist the fire

to pciv trnte if throughout. The mass, when burnt,

formed a compound of half vitrified substances, and

abundantly suppled good materials for his drag-

paths along the canal, and enabled him to sell the

surplus advantageously for the repair of the turnnikc-

roads in that neihbourhood.

10-2. Easy Method of making a :i:/>onaccoufi /V,,
which may lc. used instead of Solutions (>f Soap for

Jl'usli i . _' .

Take the ashes produced from the combustion of
od \\hichhas not been floated, and make a ley of
them, according to the usual manner, mixing with
ihc ashes a handful or two of quick lime, well pound-
ed or recently slacked.. Let the ley staryl till it is
grown clear by the settling or swimming of the for-
eign substances contained therein ; then pour it into
another vessel, and keep it for use. When it is
proposed to malic use of this ley, take any quantity

USEFUL ART 3. 85

of oil, and pour upon it thirty or forty times as much
as of the ley. Immediately a liquor, white as milk,
will be formed, which, by beings-well shaken, or
stirred, lathers and froths like a good solution of
soap. This liquor is to be poured into a washing
tub, or other vessel, and to be diluted with a great-
er or less quantity of water ; after which, the linn,
meant to be washed, is to be steeped therein, to be
rubbed and wrung in the usual wav.

LJ /

Observations on the foregoing Receipt.

1. It is better that the ley should not be made
until the time when it is to be used ; if it is left to
stand in open vessels, its power is weakened, and its
nature changed.

2. Fresh wood-ashes are preferable to old ones,
particularly if the latter have been exposed to the
air; in that case they have no longer their usual
power; and in order to make them serve the pur-
pose, mix with them a greater proportion of quick
lime.

3. Those ashes arc preferable which are pro-
duced from hard wood : those which are left after
the burning of floated wood, cannot be made use of
with equal success.

4. Fat oils, of a thick consistence, are most pro-
per for the purpose here spoken of; fine thin oils
are by no means fit for it.

If stinking oil be made use of it is apt to give a
bad smell to the linen : this mny be removed by
passing the linen carefully through a strong pure
ley ; but, in general, this smell goes off as the linen
becomes dry.

6. When the mixture of the oil with the ley is of
a yellow colour, it must be diluted with water.

7. When the oil rises in the ley, and swims upon
the surface of it, in the form of small drop?, it shews
that the oil is not fit for the purpose, not being thick
enough ; or else, that the ley is too \vcak, or not

sufficiently caustic.

H

06 L'5EI'l L A P. . '

8. To prevent the quick lime from losing it.-.
power, and to have always some in use when want-
ed, it may be broken into small piece-, and kept
in bottles well dried and well corked, or in bar-
rels.

103. Method of extracting Starch from Horse Chcs-

nuts.

First take off the outward green prickly husks,
and then, cither by hand, with a knife, or other tool,
or else with a mill adapted for that purpose, very
carefully pare off the brown rind, being particular
not to leave the smallest speck, and to entirely era-
dicate the sprout or growth. Next take the nuts,
and rasp, grate, or grind them fine into water, ei-
ther by hand, or by a mill adapted for that purpose.
The pulp, which is thereby formed in this water,
must be washed as clean as possible through a
coarse horse-hair sieve, then again through a finer
sieve, and again through a still finer, constantly ad-
ding clean water to prevent any starch adhering
the pulp. The last process is to put it with a kirgr
quantity of water (about four gallons to a pound of
starch) through a fine gau/r. muslin, or lawn, so a-
entirely to clear it of all bran or other impuriiir- :
as soon as it settles, pour olVlhe water; then mix it
up with clean water, repeating this operation till it
no longer imparts any green, yellow, or other colour
to the water; then drain it off till nearly dry, and si i
it to bake, cither in the usual mode of baking starch,
or else spread out before a brisk fire, being very at-
rcntive to stir it frequently to prevent its hornin
that is to say, turning to a paste or jelly, which, on
being dried, turns hard like horn. The whole pro-
cess should be conducted as quickly as possible.

104. To dissolve Wax in Water.

To every pound of white wax take twenty-four
ounces of pot-ash dissolved in a gallon of warm wa-
ter; that is caustic ley of pot-ash, made with quick

USEFUL ARTS. S?

lime. In this boil the wax. cut in small pieces, for
half an hour ; at the end of this time take it from
the fire, and suffer it to cool. The wax floats on
the surface in the form of white soap ; triturated
with water it yields what is commonly called milk
of wax, and may be applied to furniture, pictures,
&c. An hour alter the application, the coated parts
are to be rubbed with a piece of woollen cloth,
which will give a great brilliancy to paintings, and
a fine polish to furniture.

105. ' To make Wafers.

Take very fine flour, mix it with the glair, (or
whites) of eggs, isinglass, and a little yeast ; mingle
the materials, beat them well together, spread the
batter, being made thin with gum water, on even
tin plates, and dry them in a stove ; then cut them
for use. You may make them of what colour you
please, by tinging the paste with Brazil or vermil-
lion for red ; indigo or verditer, &c. for blue ; saf-
fron, turmeric, or gamboge, &c. foryellow*

CHAPTER IV.
BIRD -CATCHING,

10G. Method of making the best sort of Bird Lime,
and manner of using it.

Take, at midsumer, the bark of holly, and peel
from the tree so much of it as will fill a moderately
large vessel ; then put to it running water, and set
it over the fire, and boil it till the gray and white
bark rise from the green, which will take up sixteen
hours ; then separate the barks after the water is
>rell drained away : then take all the green -bark.

. v ,5 EIRD-CATCHIXG.

and lay it on the ground in a close place and moist
floor, and cover it over with green weeds, as hem-
Jocks, docks, thistles, and the like ; thus let it lay
'ten or twelve days, in which time it will rot, and
turn to a filthy, slimy matter ; then put it into a mor-
-iar, and beat it till it becomes universally thick and
tough, without the discerning cf any part of the bark
or substance ; then take it cut of the mortar and car-
ry it to a running stream, and there wash it well,
-not leaving any foulness about it ; then put it up in
a close earthen pot, and let it stand and purge for
divers days together, scumming it as often as any
-foulness arises for four or five days ; when you per-
ceive no more scum, thru take it out of that pot and
,put it into anoth-.T clean earthen vessel, cover it
close, and keep it for use.

When you \\ant to u-c your lime, take what'
;'.iantity you think fit, r t nd put it into a pipkin, ad-
ding a third part of goose or capon's grease, finely
clarified, and set them over a gcr.tle fire ; let them
melt together, and stir them continually, till they
are well incorporated ; then take it from the fire,
and stir it till it be cold.

When your lime is cold, take your rods and warm
them a little over the fire ; then take your lime and
v.'ind it about the tops of your rods, then draw your
lods asunder one from the other, and