To dress Flax to look like Silk.—Take one part lime and between two or three parts of wood ashes; pour over them a due proportion of water to make a strong ley, after they have stood together all night, which must be poured off when quite clear. Tie handfuls of flax at both ends, to prevent its entangling, but let the middle of each be spread open, and put it in a kettle, on the bottom of which has been first placed a little straw, with a cloth over it, then put another cloth over the flax, and so continue covering each layer of flax with a cloth, till the kettle is nearly full. Pour over the whole the clear ley, and after boiling it for some hours, take it out, and throw it in cold water: this boiling, &c. may be repeated, if requisite. The flax must be each time dried, hackled, beaten and rubbed fine; and, at last, dressed through a large comb, and through a very fine one. By this process the flax acquires a bright and soft thread. The tow which is off, when papered up and combed like cotton, is not only used for many of the same purposes, but makes lint for veterinary surgeons, &c.
[Am. Farmer.
AGRICULTURAL MEMORANDA.
Caterpillars.—Hemp is a great enemy to caterpillars. By surrounding a bed of cabbages with a row of hemp, the cabbages will be preserved.
Churning.—After churning some time, throw into the churn one spoonful of distilled vinegar for every gallon of cream. When churning proves tedious, this will greatly hasten the separation of the butter.
To cure Hams Westphalia fashion.—Sprinkle your ham with common salt for one day; then wipe it dry. Take 1 lb. brown sugar, 1⁄4 lb. saltpetre, 1⁄2 pint bay salt, and 3 pints common salt. Stir these well together in an iron pan over the fire till moderately hot. The ham to lie in this pickle for three weeks.
Rue.—The growth of this plant ought to be cherished in every stock yard; nothing being more salutary or even pleasant to fowls.
Guinea Corn.—The stalks of this grain, if pressed, are said to yield a juice sweeter and of greater body than the sugar cane.
Carrots.—According to some agricultural reports, carrots will yield 600 or even 900 bushels per acre.