Page images
PDF
EPUB

FABLES.

[graphic]
[graphic]

[Beech Tree.]

In those places where oak is scarce, the bark of the beech is sometimes used in preparing leather.

In France and Germany an oil is extracted from the beech-nuts, which is next in fineness to that of the olive. For this purpose the fruit is gathered as soon as it is ripe, as it is liable to be injured by the rain. It is swept together upon the ground, or is gathered by spreading sheets under the trees, and beating them. It is then cleaned with fans or in mills, and is spread like corn, in a garret to dry gradually.

The oil is abundant only when the fruit is perfectly ripe. The season for extracting it is from the beginning of December to the end of March; if the operation is delayed longer, the nuts are liable to be injured by the warmth of the season.

The skin is commonly ground with the kernel, but as the produce in this way is diminished a seventh, it is better to separate them; the kernel should be immediately reduced to a paste as the paste becomes dry in the process, water is added in the proportion of one pint to fifteen pounds of fruit to prevent its being impaired by the heat. The paste is sufficiently reduced when the oil is discharged by the pressure of the hand. It is then put into sacks of coarse linen or woollen and pressed. Three hours are generally necessary for this part of the

process.

THE LYNX AND THE MOLE.

NCE by chance a Lynx, in his rambles, met with a Mole. The Lynx, pleased with the various beauties of nature as seen by his penetrating eye, solicited the Mole to participate with him in viewing the delightful prospect from a rising ground.

The Mole, who had just left his hole in the earth, consented to accompany him. When they came in sight of the distant country, "See," said the Lynx, "how charming is the view before us! behold the bright sun, that seems to give life every where, and makes all things rejoice."-"Well, well," said the Mole, "I do not know what you may see; but, for my part, there seems only a heavy mist before me."

"Now," said the Lynx, "I clearly perceive the difference there is between us your dull senses perceive little or nothing, while I receive both information and delight. You are no fit companion for one who by alchymy of mind can generate jewels, and whose keen eye can pierce objects the most opaque. Go you back again to your dark abode in the earth, while I shall range the forest; for to such as have the power of perception, the treasures of nature are every where teeming with knowledge and with pleasure."

APPLICATION.

This fable seems to carry its moral in itself: so that little more remains to be said upon it. Certain it is, that if the very same thing be shown to two persons of different degrees of intellect, or of different dispositions, their perceptions of it will as widely differ from each other as if they had seen two different things: one views it with apathy, and without interest; the other sees it with delight, still heightened by a lively imagination, which brings a thousand associated pleasures in its train; and thus while to the one it seems as if deprived even of its

If the process be performed skilfully, the oil obtained is equal to one sixth of the fruit. Its quality depends on the care with which it is preserved. It should be drained off twice during the first three months without disturbing the dregs, and a third time at the end of six months: it arrives at perfection only when it becomes limpid, several months after its extraction. It improves by age and may be pre-own beauties, to the other, it is decked out in borserved longer than any other oil.

BEWARE of sudden changes in any great point of diet; and if necessary enforce it, fit the rest to it; for it is a secret both in nature and state, that it is safer to change many things than one.-Bacon.

rowed splendour. From this cause proceeds that vast difference of opinions which we often hear given by different persons concerning the same object. The dull perceive but half of what is shown them, while the genius sees all its excellences refined and magnified.

USEFUL KNOWLEDGE.

To prevent Iron and Steel from Rusting.-Heat the steel or iron-till it burns the hand, and then rub it with a piece of pure white wax, and polish it with a piece of cloth or leather till it shines well. This simple operation fills the pores of the metal and defends it completely from rust, even though it should be exposed to moisture.

To make Red Sealing-wax.-Take an equal weight of gum lac, vermilion, and pure Venice turpentine, melt them with a gentle heat, and stir them well together. It may be cast into sticks, by pouring this fluid into moulds made of flour of plaster, or of

copper.

Lamp-glasses-To prevent lamp-glasses from cracking by a sudden expansion of heat, run the point of a diamond along the base of the tube. This operation will be best performed by a glazier.

To preserve Hams.-Take clean strong lie, made of wood ashes, and boil it down to make the solution stronger than it generally runs off. Then dip the hams into it so that they may be completely wet, and then hang them to dry.

The

To make Currant and Gooseberry Wine.-For currant, dissolve eight pounds of honey in fifteen gallons of boiling water, to which when clarified add Then ferment it for twenty-four hours and add two the juice of eight pounds of red or white currants. two pounds of sugar to every gallon of water. preparation is afterward clarified with the white of eggs. For gooseberry wine, the fruit is gathered when about half ripe and then pounded in a mortar. The juice is then strained through a bag and mixed with sugar in proportion of three pounds to every two gallons of juice. It is then left quiet for fifteen days, at the expiration of which time it is carefully poured off, and left to ferment for three months when the quantity is under fifteen gallons, and for five months when double that quantity. It is then bottled off, and is soon fit for use.

Excellent Soft Soap.-Sixteen quarts of lie of sufficient strength to float an egg, eight pounds of clean grease, one and a half pounds of rosin; put the whole rise, in which case, add a little strong lie, and so into a five-pail kettle and boil it. At first, it is apt to continue to do until the materials are incorporated. Then remove it from the fire and add by degrees weak lie, stirring it at every addition, till the kettle

be full.

East Indian mode of making Ice.-Large pits, about three feet square, and two feet deep, are dug, and their bottoms are covered from eight inches to a foot thick with sugar-cane or the dried stems of Indian corn. A number of small, shallow, unglazed earthen pans formed of very porous earth, are placed on this bed in rows; these pans are about a quarter of an inch thick, and about an inch and a quarter deep, and they are filled at evening with soft water which has previously been boiled. In the morning, before sunrise, the ice-makers attend at the pits and collect the ice which is formed in baskets, and convey it to its place of preservation. This is prepared in some high and dry situation, by sinking a pit, nearly Preserving Vegetables green for Winter.-Take fifteen feet deep, which is lined with straw first, and green corn either in the ears or carefully shelled, afterward, with a second lining of coarse blanket-peas, beans in pods and dip them into boiling water ing. The ice is deposited here, and it is beaten and then carefully dry them in a room where there down with hammers, till at length its own accumu- is a free circulation of air. Thus preserved they lated and accumulating cold, again freezes the whole will keep until winter and retain all their freshness mass into a solid cake. The mouth of the store-pit and agreeable flavour. is well secured from the influence of exteriour air with straw and blankets, and lastly, a thatched roof is placed over the whole.

Transplanting Shrubs in Full Growth.-Dig a narrow trench round the plant, leaving its roots in the middle, in an isolated ball of earth. Fill the trench with powdered plaster of Paris, which will harden in a few minutes, and form a case to the ball and plant, which may be lifted and removed at pleasure.

To Silver Iron.-Add to a solution of silver in nitrick acid, a portion of common salt. Wash the precipitate thoroughly on a filter, and let it dry. By rubbing this powder on the iron or steel, previously coppered, by plunging it, with a clean surface, into warm solution of sulphate of copper, and rubbing it with a polisher, with a little cream of tartar, a coating of silver may be established, which admits of a fine polish.

[ocr errors]

Transplanting Young Trees.-In transplanting Maize Sugar.-Mr. Pallas has after repeated exyoung trees, the more they are lopped, the more cer-periments succeeded in procuring a crystallized sugar tainty there is of their living; nursery-men, who from the stalks of Indian corn, which bears a strong usually supply them, and warrant their taking root, analogy to that extracted from beet root. amputate without scruple the head and branches.

To preserve Potatoes in a dried state.-Wash them, cut them in pieces, steep them forty-eight hours in fresh water, and dry them in an oven. One hundred parts of fresh potatoes, will give thirty so prepared and dried. In this state they may be kept for years, or ground into flour, which mixed with one third rye will make excellent bread.

Paper to resist Humidity.-Dip unsized paper once or twice into a clean solution of mastick in oil of turpentine, and dry it by a gentle heat. The paper does not become transparent, and has all the properties of writing paper; and when preserved for years, it is free from injury by humidity, insects, or mice. If dipped into a solution of caoutchouck, the effect will be still better.

LITERARY NOTICES.

The Boy's and Girl's Library of Useful and Entertaining Knowledge. In their prospectus, the brothers Harper assign as the principal reason for the publication of the Boy's and Girl's library, the wish to create a channel through which the products of the many able pens enlisted in the service of the young, may be advantageously conveyed to the publick. They remark, "the contemplated course of publications will more especially embrace such works as are adapted, not to the extremes of early childhood or of advanced youth, but to that intermediate space which lies between childhood and the opening of maturity, when the trifles of the nursery and the simple lessons of the schoolroom have ceased to exercise their beneficial influence, but before the taste for a higher order of mental pleasures has established a fixed ascendency in their stead. In the selection of works intended for the rising generation in this plastick period of their existence, when the elements of future character are receiving their moulding impress, the publishers pledge them selves that the utmost care and scrupulosity shall be exercised. They are fixed in their determination that nothing of a questionable tendency on the score of sentiment shall find admission into pages consecrated to the holy purpose of instructing the thoughts, regulating the passions, and settling the principles of

the young."

this country, has been reprinted in England; where it is edited by the celebrated Dr. Macnish.

Four Years in Great Britain, by CALVIN COLTON, new and improved edition, Harper and Brothers. A large edition of this popular and interesting narrative having been exhausted, the second edition is now submitted in a more economical form, with corrections of discovered faults, and some additions. It is now better adapted than before for a wide circulation, and the price of it is much reduced.

Mr Colton's "Thoughts on the religious state of the Country, with reasons for preferring Episcopacy," a neat duodecimo of two hundred pages, has also been published by the Messrs. Harper. Of course it is a work of a controversial character, but is much read even by those whose sentiments differ entirely from the opinions advanced by Mr. Colton.

The fifth and sixth numbers of the Christian Library contain a portion of Travels on the Continent of Europe through parts of the Netherlands, Switzerlands, Northern Italy, and France, by DANIEL WILSON, Bishop of Calcutta. These travels will be embraced in about four numbers of the Christian Library, price twenty-five cents!

The Doctor, &c. Harper & Brothers. One of Harpers' fifty cent scries of popular books, reprinted from the English

put together, from every book that ever has been or ever will be published, and yet the whole is extremely entertaining, while it thor is unknown, and he remarks in his Postscript, which here is at the same time a truly philosophical performance. Its autakes the place of a preface (although the book contains an antepreface, preface, and initial chapter,) that he intends to reHad the book been published originally in this country we should ascribe it without hesitation, to Professor J. W.

main so.

editions. A most singular and amusing production, exhibiting The numbers now before us form the twenty-sixth and twen- great talent and learning, a powerful imagination and extensive ty-seventh volumes of the series, and are devoted to the whale-reading, differing in its construction, and the mode in which it is fishery, the important details in regard to which, are presented by Uncle Philip, in as clear and perspicuous a manner as that adopted by Peter Parley, and of the two, we prefer Uncle Philip To meet the expectations of the admirers of Bulwer, the brothers Harper have been prevailed upon to issue an uniform series of his works; each novel is comprised in one volume, with an engraved vignette and picture. They have already published in this uniform series, the celebrated novels of Pelham, the Disowned, the last days of Pompeii, and Rienzi; the designs of the last named are very fine, and are from pictures by Chapman. The sixth and seventh volumes now before us embrace the affecting tale of Eugene Aram, and Devereux, which is admitted by all to be an admirable picture of men and manners. The typographical execution of these volumes is remarkably neat, and the enterprise cannot be profitable unless these works are extensively circulated.

Philip's Ladies Closet Library.-THIS series of works so well known, and so extremely popular abroad, are now in course

of publication in this country, by D. Appleton & Co., 200 Broadway, N. Y. "The Marys," and "the Marthas," have

been sometime before the publick. The style in which they are "got up" is equal to any of the Annuals.

The History of Texas; or, the Emigrant's, Farmer's and Politician's Guide, &c., &c. BY DAVID B. EDWARD, Preceptor of Gonzales Seminary, TEXAS. Cincinnati, J, A. James & Co.; New York, Howe & Bates. This is the title of an exceedingly interesting work, and the best we should think that has been published on Texas. The emigrant can here find all the information he may require as to the geography, climate, political history, &c., &c., of this fertile country.

Tales of the Wood and Fields. Complete in one volume. Retail price, fifty cents: Harper and Brothers. Another interesting work by the author of "Two Old men's tales," which were received with great favour. The story of Louisa Mildmay fully sustains the author's well-merited reputation. The price of the book is extremely low, and puts it within the reach of every one.

The Influence of Mental Cultivation upon Health, by DR. A. BRIGHAM, of Hartford, which has been much commended in

Francis of New York.

The June number of the Knickerbocker, contains its usual assortment of choice morsels for every palate. We are much pleased with the quiet humour of the Odds and Ends, from the Portfolio of a penny-a-liner; and by the classical scholar, the Knickerbocker prospers, and is still published by Messrs. Clark letters from Piso to Curtius will be extremely grateful. The

and Edson.

Frank, by MARIA EDGEWORTH-Harper and Brothers. The juvenile works of Maria Edgeworth are to be comprised in five volumes with illustrations, uniform with her novels and tales. Her juvenile books are allowed by all, to be admirably adapted

for the instruction and amusement of the young.

Harpers' Family Library, No. 78. The earth, its physical condition, and most remarkable phenomena, by W. M. HIGGINS. A popular treatise upon the philosophy of the earth: treating of its form, dimensions, and revolution, the formation of land and water, the interiour of the earth, the views taken of its structure by different geologists, &c. &c. ; the whole illustrated by numerous engravings on wood. We are glad to see books of this character introduced into the Family Library. They

contribute much to the advancement of science.

The Student, a series of papers, by the author of Eugene Aram. This book forms the eighth volume of Harpers' uniform edition of Bulwer's works. The Student consists of papers published originally in the New Monthly Magazine, where they attracted much favourable attention. They belong rather to the poetical than the logical philosophy, addressing the sentiment rather than the intellect. Like every thing from the pen of Bulwer, the book has been, and will be extensively read. The engravings in the Student are very fine.

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][subsumed]
« PreviousContinue »