AURICULAS. — These old-established flowers are propagated by
off-sets taken during the autumn or early spring, and placed in a compost
of sandy loam, leaf mould, and thoroughly rotted cow-dung, or other light
manures. They delight in shade, and will not bear much moisture. Where
the atmosphere is naturally damp they require a light soil.
AZALEAS, The Cultivation of. — The Chinese azaleas, of which
there are numerous varieties, must all be treated as greenhouse plants.
The American are more hardy, and will flourish in the open if planted in
heath-mould mixed with sandy loam, and favoured with a sheltered posi-
tion where they will be neither very wet nor very dry. They may be pro-
pagated by off-sets, by layering, and by grafting, while numerous varieties
are obtainable by hybridized seed.
BACON, To Choose. — Select that which has a thin rind, firm fat
slightly tinged with red, and tender, good coloured lean adhering to the
bone. If yellow streaks are observed in it it should be rejected, as this is
indicative of its being rusty.
BACON, To Cure. — Remove the inside fat from a side of pork, rub
it on both sides with salt, and hang it up for a day or two, that the blood
may run from it. Then take a pound of bay-salt, six ounces of saltpetre,
two pounds of coarse sugar, and a pound of common salt ; rub them well
into the pork, turning it every day for a fortnight ; drain, smoke it over a
wood fire for ten days, and hang it in a cool, dry place.
BAKING POWDER, To Make. — Carbonate of soda, three-
quarters of a pound ; tartaric acid, half a pound ; caster sugar, a quarter
of a pound ; salt, two ounces. Mix well, and keep in well-corked bottles.
Quantity, one teaspoonful to each pound of flour.
Or, mix half a pound of white flour with a quarter of a pound of cream
of tartar, a quarter of a pound of tartaric acid, and six ounces of bi-
carbonate of soda ; pass through a sieve, and keep in a canister or bottle
well corked.
BAKING, To Prevent Burning while. — A cup of water set in the
oven while baking will prevent meat, bread, pies, &c., from burning.
10
BALM (COMMON). — This aromatic family herb is propagated
by oil-sets taken in spring and autumn. In taking off the slips be careful
to preserve some of the roots to each ; plant them in rich earth at a distance
of six or eight inches from each other.
BALM OF GILEAD, The Culture of. — Although the flowers of
this plant are small and not very ornamental, it is, nevertheless, worthy of
cultivation on account of the odoriferous fragrance which is emitted from
the leaves, which, if protected in winter, remain throughout the year. It
may be grown from seed sown in April on a moderate hot-bed or on
natural soil in a warm, sheltered situation. It may likewise be propagated
by cuttings about the middle of June. Cut off some of the strongest
stalks, divide them into lengths of six inches, plant several together in
large pots, and put them on a hot-bed to expedite their rooting ; or they
may be planted in a shady position in the open, four or five inches apart.
They will root freely and be ready to transplant in two months.
BALM, To Propagate. — This herb is propagated by parting the
roots or off-set slips in spring and autumn, and planting them six or eight
inches apart.
Page 10
Presented as published in 1891. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
AURICULAS. — These old-established flowers are propagated by off-sets taken during the autumn or early spring, and placed in a compost of sandy loam, leaf mould, and thoroughly rotted cow-dung, or other light manures. They delight in shade, and will not bear much moisture. Where the atmosphere is naturally damp they require a light soil.
AZALEAS, The Cultivation of. — The Chinese azaleas, of which there are numerous varieties, must all be treated as greenhouse plants. The American are more hardy, and will flourish in the open if planted in heath-mould mixed with sandy loam, and favoured with a sheltered position where they will be neither very wet nor very dry. They may be propagated by off-sets, by layering, and by grafting, while numerous varieties are obtainable by hybridized seed.
BACON, To Choose. — Select that which has a thin rind, firm fat slightly tinged with red, and tender, good coloured lean adhering to the bone. If yellow streaks are observed in it it should be rejected, as this is indicative of its being rusty.
BACON, To Cure. — Remove the inside fat from a side of pork, rub it on both sides with salt, and hang it up for a day or two, that the blood may run from it. Then take a pound of bay-salt, six ounces of saltpetre, two pounds of coarse sugar, and a pound of common salt ; rub them well into the pork, turning it every day for a fortnight ; drain, smoke it over a wood fire for ten days, and hang it in a cool, dry place.
BAKING POWDER, To Make. — Carbonate of soda, threequarters of a pound ; tartaric acid, half a pound ; caster sugar, a quarter of a pound ; salt, two ounces. Mix well, and keep in well-corked bottles. Quantity, one teaspoonful to each pound of flour.
Or, mix half a pound of white flour with a quarter of a pound of cream of tartar, a quarter of a pound of tartaric acid, and six ounces of bicarbonate of soda ; pass through a sieve, and keep in a canister or bottle well corked.
BAKING, To Prevent Burning while. — A cup of water set in the oven while baking will prevent meat, bread, pies, &c., from burning.
BALM (COMMON). — This aromatic family herb is propagated by oil-sets taken in spring and autumn. In taking off the slips be careful to preserve some of the roots to each ; plant them in rich earth at a distance of six or eight inches from each other.
BALM OF GILEAD, The Culture of. — Although the flowers of this plant are small and not very ornamental, it is, nevertheless, worthy of cultivation on account of the odoriferous fragrance which is emitted from the leaves, which, if protected in winter, remain throughout the year. It may be grown from seed sown in April on a moderate hot-bed or on natural soil in a warm, sheltered situation. It may likewise be propagated by cuttings about the middle of June. Cut off some of the strongest stalks, divide them into lengths of six inches, plant several together in large pots, and put them on a hot-bed to expedite their rooting ; or they may be planted in a shady position in the open, four or five inches apart. They will root freely and be ready to transplant in two months.
BALM, To Propagate. — This herb is propagated by parting the roots or off-set slips in spring and autumn, and planting them six or eight inches apart.