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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 1877)
September. THE WEST SHORE GLASS VESSELS IN THE DAIRY. H. L. Shields, of Bennington countv, Ver mont, gives the Country GaOtma the'follow ing account of his experience, which is at least oTel and interesting; Fur some years past I have been much interested in the milk ami but ter question. Having MUM good Jersey cows (thorough ami half-bred), sweet mountain pas ture, abundance of cold spring water, a food dry milk-room above ground and an ex cellent cellar, 1 determined to experiment until I found the best means of producing butter of the finest quality. I tried shallow open pans, and deep cans, in air and in water, in the milk room and in the cellar, but round objections to all. Cream rises rapidly to the surface from milk set in shallow pant, aad dry, cool atinos phere, but the milk MOD sours, ami the greatei surface of cream ex(osed, the more flies and peeks to be removed. Again, too much room is required to set the pans, and too much pan waslmig and ainug tor comfort. Deep cans produco perceptibly no more cream for the amount of milk set than shallow pans, ami if they did, the increased ditliculty of skimming the deep cans balances the gain. If cans or pans are set uncovered, in running water, thev are liable to the same insect annoyance. If eovered by wire or other gauze, time, space and cost make this course unavailable prac tically. In my cellar the thermometer indicates ,"8' to 4" in the hot months, but the dampness or some other (cellar) cause allows the cream to riae very slowly. The insect trouble also ex ists there partially, and cream has a tendency to absorb odors, and tastes of everything emit ting smell even to the dampness of the cellar itself. Refrigerators, to hold the cans, will not obviate all these troubles. They are not air tight, and are generally kept in eellars, K-sides being costly in themselves and in the ieo they sonsume. Much less would it answer to keep running water iced down to the temperature f 40J. I concluded that vessels of convenient size and shape, constructed of material impervious to all Atmospheric influences save those of temperature, would be most lilted for setting milk. 1 accordingly had some large glass jars made, so con structed as to give the great est strength, with wide mouths into which are fitted air and water-tight corks. The jars are about eight and a half by seventeen inches, for protection and facility in handlim;, they are place in pairs iu crates, resembling peach crates. The milk is strained directly into jars, above ground, to avoid any damp cellnr air heng ileft in them. The mouths are closed, air and water tight, by the orks, and the jars are then put, bottom side up, into the water, the hinged lid of w hich is then closed and fastened, and set into the coldest available place in hot and warm, or cold weather on the cellar tloor, iu the water box, or the crates may I"' hitched to the bucket-chain and lowered into the we lor any desired length i time. In these jars milk wi be sweet after setting 24 to 36 hours, and is drawn oil' from beneath the cream by a mall tube or a siphon, thus avoiding alt skimming. For churning, I first used a rec tangular box, with arevolving dash of certain construc tion. It churned well, but took too lone to cleanse after wards. 1 tried the old earthen ware dash chum, which was good, but alow, liable to breakage, difficult to scrape out and ventilate, and requiring ton much muscle. Then we used the semi -barrel-snap! wood churn, with revolving dash, but found the same trouble that all wood churns must have ditliculty in keeping sweet and clean, and splin tering when scraping. Now I use a glass thurn. It consists of two, four or six of the before-named large glass jars, set upright in a partitioned, recUngular DOT, resting and re volving on an axle, and set on a light frame about three feet high. The jars are not quite filled witli cream, the corks put tightly into the mouths of the jars, the hingod-lid closed and fastenod, and the box is then revolved by a rank at the end of the axle. I find that this churn can le operated with the smallest force, if prowrly balanced: that in revolving, all the cream is thoroughly and equally shaken by its dashing against the top, bottom and aides of the jars; that the moment the butter comes, it can lw seen through th glass, and the buttermilk (toured off; that the butter can le washed in the jar, or van readily be emptied out for working, as the opening is ample; that any butter adhering to the sides or Iwttom can be easily scraed otf without risk of splinters: that the jars can then be rapidly and thoroughly washed, and it can he seen that they are clean; that there are no joints, comers, metal or wood gears, or cogs to clean; that it admits of thorough airing and soon drying; that being barrel-shaped and arched at top, bottom and sides, it is strong in form, and can only be broken wilfully, or through great carelessness in the use of hot and cold water; that the cream can be tempered alike, and to any degree, by setting the jars in a tub of hot or cold water; that it is durable, not liable to get out of order, and cheaper, I think, than any churn made. If as many, or more desirable points exist in any other mode of setting milk and making butter. 1 should be pleased to know of them. BrBurrrt, the funny man of the Burlington Havkftft, is as noted at home for his tender aare of a sick wife as he is for his original itiea. 11 GIVE THE GIRIS A CHANCE Yes, we repeat it, give the girls a chance; and we will tell you what we mean by it We mean, give them a chance to learn all kinds of housework, from the dusting of the grand piano iu the luxuriously furnished parlor to the cooking of meat and potatoes and washing of dishes; and we warrant you they will be willing andglod to do it, too. What if they do spoil the first man) they attempt to cook ? Tell them to try it over, and encourage them to jierscvere. Fear of ridicule keeps many a girl from learning housework. We havo often stepped into a house and found the daughter thrumming on the piano, or engaged with some fancy work, while the mother was cooking or washing. Now a great many persons would have exclaimed, "What a buy, good-for-nothing girl, playing the piano while her mother is at work," but we did not. We have found out the cam of this, .aud, in nine cases out of ten, it was the mother's fault. She would not allow her daughter to help her, and, when asked her reasons, her answer lias invariably been : "Oh! she is more of a hindrance than a help; she only musses and wastes." Now, who could expect a girl to do anything else but muss and waste, when she has never been shown bow to do anything? Would not wo think a person insane who required a child to sit down at a piano or organ and execute the most brilliant and dilticnlt music, without any previous tenching? Most assuredly we would ; yet the idea would not be any more ridiculous than to expect a young ami inex perienced girl to go down to the kitchen and prepare an excellent dinner in the same style and time that an old and experienced cook would. Wo do not think it any kindness on the mother's part to keep a girl in ignorance of the ditlereut kinds of housework. This is one place where ignorance is not bliBB. What will the noor girl do when she has a house of her own ? It will then be ten timed harder for her to learn than it would have been at home, under the WBRD SEEH ON THE WATERS. A theme for essayists has been the intluence of rivers on civilization. It is a grand subject for the student of history, for he has many facta to weave into his theories of the spread of conquest, of arts, and of ideas, up and down the navigable streams. Ours is a ditlerent task; for although the rivers carry conqucriug heroes, and pioneers, and traders, and mission aries, they are none the less freighted with mi nute seeds aud germs of life, which, falling upon the moving current far up amid the wilds, are tossed at last npOO. fertile meadows, there to reproduce the noxioua growths from which they sprang. Thus not only weed seed but pi ant-destroying insects are disseminated. Thus the rivers, which bring life-giving water, often bring evils upon its flow. As with torrents so with rills; light burdens are faithfully delivered, and the brook aud the rivulet In'ooiiies a thoroughfare for weed seed as well as the mighty river. The tall rank w eeds Wside Uie stream continually nod their salute to passing water, and when their seeds an- ripe, sprinkle the passing flood with them. Where ever this water goes, there goes the tiny prom ise of a weed. Whether it le bttwOOQ the rows of vines or trees, or garden growths, or whether the water spread in Matte flow over ihe growing grain or pasture plants in every place it lays down its burden, where its own inherent energy will call upon it to rise again, Weeds growing by the roadside, weeds growing by the railway trck these are dangers great and sure reservoirs of weed seed enough to stock the neighborhood; but weeds beside the running streams are surer of securing rapid transit for their seed ami safer deposition of it. The Biiggestiou is to keep these fertile river banks clear of evil growths, to guard well the ripening of the seed in every noxious plant which springs into life beside them. In many a IsaWalillnl ; FOR A HOME MADE KRAMr guidanco of her mother. Even if she Bhould be so situated as to have servants, it would )ki letter for her to understand the mysteries of the kitchen. Besides, fortune is tickle, and we have no assurance that we will always lie sur rounded by the wealth we may have at present. We may have every luxury to-day, and to-morrow DO poor. 1 apeal to the mothers of our land to teach their daughters all kinds of housework, for their own happiness, and the happiness of future generations. -Moff Myrtir, in rural PftH, FIELD STACKING. Stekkaok Dux -Each emigrant has a con tract ticket which stipulates for his transpor tation to New York in consideration of four, five or six guineas, according to the current rate of fare. The company engages to provide a full supply of wholesome provisions, cooked and served by it steward, and the passenger is re quired to provide himsulf with bedding and cooking utensils. The weekly allowance of food for each adult is prescriheu by the govern ment and printed on the contract ticket as fol lows: "Tweutv-one otiarts of water. thnw anil a half pounds of bread, one pound of wheaten Hour, one jHiund and a half of oatmeal, nee anil peas, two pounds of potatoes, one and a quarter pounds of beef, one pound of pork, two ounces of tea, one pound of sugar, two ounces of salt, pepjier, mustard and vinegar." filter. Tux Chicago Journal asks in a towering rage "Shall we as American citixens pay for thumbs by the pint and (mart and not get them?" If they are measured in your berries you ought to bare them. SiUKKsnuM asked "what's in a name?" We can't always tall, bat some of the Eastern names hare two alphabets in them. () of onr pious exchangee tells as "there is no balm in Gilead that will soothe the spot whereon a bumble bee has sat down." parts it will require no little work to accom plish the desirable result, but by all means do not neglect an effort now which w ill save a hun dred tunes the lalior in a year or two to come. In all countries wheru irrigation has lieeu practiced has this evil of weed sited distribu tion to be met. In Colorado the evil is well uuder way. A farmer riding along thu I'latte and Bear valleys sees the danger of the dwellers, and writes these words of caution and advice to the farmer: " The irrigating ditches are lined on lioth sides with noxious woods, which im pregnate the water with seed to that extent which makes a ranch usuitf water from them so weedy that it is imssible to keep the ground clean and in good condition for grains or other crops, Kvtm meadows are made weedy yearly by this inlliix of fresh weed seed. The altuvo condition arises from the fact that the banks of a ditch cannot Is mown with a machine; that the moisture found there is especially produc tive of vegetation, and the annual vanetiea of plant are proiiairated by the current, which J deposits the seed wherever it flows. To pre vent mis, trees snotim ihi pianui wtiera tney would shade the lianks of the ditch, especially wherever a mowing machine, cannot ojwrate. Of course there are exceptions and cases in which the ditch is beat kept free from tree growths, but in others there are decided advan tages in the planting of trees. Not only will their shade prevent the ripening of seed in whatever weeds insist upon a sickly lifu, but in dairy pastures the trees will serve a useful purpose in giving the cows a cool ruminating spot, and their frequent visitations will in turn give the ditch bank the smoothness and hardneasof a floor, unless it he in earth of treacherous char acter where the tread ol animals would destroy the banki and tread the lied into a slough hole, and thus iiiqmdc the progress of the water. Though counsel for trees would lie of special ap plication, there is do exception in the wisdom uf keeping the banks clean of foul weeds, in whatever way it may be beat accomplished. As to the carnam- of insect bv minimi .1. r nearly every one, doubtlesa, has instances in his own mind. Who has not seen the little voy agers sailing along on chips or rubbish, careless of the length of their passsM, having little fear of the great ocean beyond, but fully confident that their vessel will be stranded near some fruitful fields! In a letter from Chili we read as follows concerning insects and irrigation ditches: " Insects also float down the running streams and ltccomc scattered over the land; and iu reference to this, the alfalfa stalk is gen erally covered with a minute black insect, aud when this plant is irrigated thev ant often washed Into the canal and form" long black streaks on the side that at first sight would apjiear to be soot, but in thrusting a stick into then midst and drawing it out, it will te found covered with this vermin, so destructive to vegetables." Thus it will be well to rememWr that onr brooks may bring us evil with the good; and though there may le some visitations it will be hard to guard against, there are others which may 1 avoided by attention and thorough work. STACKING THE STRAW. Although it is late to think of new arrange ments for stacking either hay or straw from this harvest, it will DO well to make a point that it worth bearing iu mind and preparing for next year's use. We hear of the use of a now stacking frame among the farmers on the prairies a frame which any one or any one's carpenter can make, for the inventor gives his right to any one who wants to use the apparatus and has not (tat. anted it. Our engraving shows this frame. The sketch was made for the tj, S. Wind Engine ami Pnmptni Company, of Batavia, Illinois. This OOtDpany, finding there was a demand for the new style of stacking frame, undertook the manufacture of the iron parts of the arrange ment, and they have an anti-friction carrier, which carries the fork and its load in a most satnoactory manner. There are several advan tages in stacking with a ma chine like that shown in tho engraving. Hay stacked in the flOld by the use of carrier and frame will keep hotter. The hay is all tapped iu the middle of the stack, and tho middle Incomes packed hard while tho outeido remains loOsa, When the stack set tles, tho middle remains the highest, and it sheds water. The stack is not so likely to lean, as there is no occasion for tramping on tho outside of it. In every respect it fa cilitates work and does it in a more workmanlike manner. That the frame is very easy to make ami very cheap can lw Been from the following description of tho necessary parts. Tim frame for ricking iu the field should be about W feet high, the pairs of posts Bhould Ih attout 8 feet apart at the ton ami 1H feet aart at the liottom, and well braced. The following pieces Of limber Will lie needed, or poles can lie used: 7 pieces 4X090 feet; 8 pieces lx4xlfl feet; I piece 'JxHilttt I piece BxlwdB foot Track ia put on to txe, as in tracking bam. The 8x4 in nailed 00 the side Of the gflfi. The timbers should Iki halved and liolted or framed together and well braced as shown. From the workmanlike HUM which the frame shows ami the many teBtimonials wiucn we have heard of ite usefulness, we have no doubt it will prove a help to some of our farmers as well m to their conquers in the Prairie States. If any reader should wish to make inquiry concerning the iron fittings and other details of construc tion, we doubt not the company named ftbofl will Ik pleased to furnish the information. iNFoitMvnoN About Womkn' Wom, Women who are engaged in trades, professions, literary, educational, philanthropic, or religious work, or in any kind of industrial occupation, and who would help to hasten thu solution of the "Woman Question," will pleaae write con cerning their success during the past year to Frances E. Wiltard, Evanston, 111. This re quest is ni.fi.- for tho purpose of securing all DOOsibM information relating, to what women have attempted iu the way of self -support, or aa a beneficent vocation, lelioving that tho infor mation will bt Of prai tiial value, and will serve as an incitement to more earnest work. Miss Willard ia Vic-Bresident for Illinois of the Woman's Congress, which holds its annual aesaion in Cleveland, October 10th, Ilth and I'ith, at which time rejKirte are to be given by the Vice Presidents concerning the States they represent. Ax Iowa youth tried to take, borne a widow and three swarms of bees at one load. He and the widow walked -it was so pleasant, you know. It Is said that the Nex I'erceetook their stylo of ringing the uose from awing the hook so often in a salmou' noee. We thought they usually BNtared salmon and hooked hones. Memory is the cabinet uf imagination, the treasury of reason, the registry of conscience, and the council-chamber of thought, faille. MEMOKr is the treasure -house of the mind, wherein the monuments: thereof an kept and and preserved. rVfr. Kkulanu has put up a potato bug notice. If he lauds on British shores be will be treated aa