is to be found, and what is the first verse.
Cookery.
Ariel writes, in reply to Princess Ida, that the way to make jumbles is to rasp on some good sugar the rinds of two lemons; dry, reduce it to powder, and sift it with as much more as will make up a pound in weight; mix with it one pound of flour, four well-beaten eggs, and six ounces of warm butter; drop the mixture on buttered tins, and bake the jumbles in a very slow oven from twenty to thirty minutes. They should be pale, but perfectly crisp. Answer also received from Nora F.
Maid of Athens wishes to have a recipe for oat-cakes.
Pepper and Blossom would like to know how to make cocoa-nut ice.
General.
White Anemone writes, in answer to Bluebell, who wishes to know when and by whom organs were invented: "Jubal is mentioned in Gen. iv. 21, as 'the father of all such as handle the harp and organ;' but neither the century of its invention nor the name of the inventor can be given. Hero and Vitruvius speak of a water-organ, invented or made by Ctesibius, of Alexandria, about 180 or 200 B.C., so that it may be inferred that other kinds of organs were then in existence. Aldhelm, an Anglo-Saxon writer, mentions that organs were used in England at the end of the seventh and the beginning of the eighth century. The Byzantine emperor, Constantine VI., sent an organ to Pepin, the father of Charlemagne, about the year 757. In 812, Charlemagne had another one built in the same way. This is related by Eginhard, who was Charlemagne's secretary. In 880, Pope John VIII. had an organ from Germany, and an expert player was sent with it. It is supposed that this organ was the first ever used in Rome. Of the quality of these early organs little is known."—Answers also received from F. Cropper, Gamba, Cherub, and Claudia.
The Duke of Omnium writes, in answer to Sister Snout, that a window-box may be very prettily arranged with nasturtiums (climbing ones) at each corner, and Lobelia speciosa. Mignonette would make a border, or violets and sweet alyssum placed alternately. Red geraniums should be placed behind the smaller plants, and thus a very pretty box may be made with good, hardy plants.—Answers also received from Iolanthe, Cherub, H. B. Bodington, Dear Dumps, and Cupid.
The Black Prince wishes to have directions for making a cardboard model. [An article on this subject appeared in Little Folks, Vol. XVII., page 205.—Ed.]
M. H. S. would be glad to know if maidenhair ferns need much water, and how often they ought to be watered.
The Duke of Omnium writes, in answer to Queen Mab, that if her myrtle suffers from scale, the following is an excellent cure for it:—"Make some size or jelly glue water of moderate thickness. Dip the head of the plant in such water, or syringe it well all over. After this, the plant should be placed in a shady place for about two days, and then, after rubbing the dry head of the plant through your fingers so as to cause the insects and glue to fall off, syringe heavily with clear water at 120°."
Elaine.—[The meaning of "A E I" was given in Little Folks, Vol. XVIII., page 63.—Ed.]