BIGNONIA CAPREOLATA. — This plant, known also as the
tendrilled trumpet-flower, strikes easily from cuttings. It requires plenty
of room to spread about, and if planted at the foot of a south wall and
covered with litter it will survive our winter.
BIRDLIME. — Boil the middle bark of the holly for seven or
eight hours, until it is tender, then drain off the water and put it in an
underground pit, in layers of fern, and surround it with stones. Leave it
to ferment for two or three weeks, until it forms a kind of mucilage ; then
pound it in a mortar till it becomes a mass, and rub it well between the
hands in running water ; when all the refuse is worked out, place it in an
earthen vessel and leave it for four or five days to purify itself. Should any
of it stick to the hands it may be removed by means of a little turpentine
or oil of lemon bottoms.
BIRDS’ EGGS, To Preserve. — Clean away, by means of soap and
water, any dirt which may be upon the shell, using for the purpose a
soft brush ; then make a medium-sized hole at the sharp end of the egg,
and prick a small hole with a needle at the thick end ; apply the mouth to
the latter and blow out the contents. If the yolk is hard to get out, run
a thin wire into it and stir it about ; it may then be blown out with ease.
Immerse the thin end in a glass of water, suck some into the shell, and
shake it about so as to thoroughly cleanse the inside. To preserve the
thin white membrane inside, fill the shell with a solution of corrosive subli-
mate of alcohol, and shake it about so as to ensure its coming in contact
with every particle of the membrane ; blow the solution out, and give it
a very thin coat of gum arabic.
BIRDS, QUADRUPEDS, &c., To Stuff. — Remove the skin
carefully, leaving entire the skull, horns, hoofs, tail, &c., of large animals,
and the skull and beaks of birds ; remove the brains through a cavity
made in the mouth : rub the inside of the skin thoroughly with a mixture
of alum, pepper, and salt, and stretch it out evenly in a cool, airy place.
When perfectly dry proceed with the stuffing. For this purpose hay,
hemp, oakum, wool, or any suitable substance is used,
4
1 8
BIRDS, To Keep Insects from the Eyes of. — If a small bag of
sulphur be suspended in the cage it will have the effect of keeping insects
from the eyes of the birds, and will be generally beneficial to their health.
BIRDS, To Keep them Fresh. — Pluck off the feathers, remove the
crop, and draw the inside ; wash them well in a couple of waters and rub
them all over with salt ; then plunge them into a saucepan of boiling water
and draw them up and down a few times by the legs. Let them remain
in the pot for five minutes, and hang them in a cool place to drain ; when
dry well salt and pepper the insides and hang them up till required. Wash
them thoroughly in cold water before putting them to the fire to roast.
BIRTHWORT, To Propagate. — This climber, which bears large
heart-shaped leaves, is useful for covering trellis-work and walls. It is
most readily propagated by layers, half-divided behind an eye.
Page 19
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
BIGNONIA CAPREOLATA. — This plant, known also as the tendrilled trumpet-flower, strikes easily from cuttings. It requires plenty of room to spread about, and if planted at the foot of a south wall and covered with litter it will survive our winter.
BIRDLIME. — Boil the middle bark of the holly for seven or eight hours, until it is tender, then drain off the water and put it in an underground pit, in layers of fern, and surround it with stones. Leave it to ferment for two or three weeks, until it forms a kind of mucilage ; then pound it in a mortar till it becomes a mass, and rub it well between the hands in running water ; when all the refuse is worked out, place it in an earthen vessel and leave it for four or five days to purify itself. Should any of it stick to the hands it may be removed by means of a little turpentine or oil of lemon bottoms.
BIRDS’ EGGS, To Preserve. — Clean away, by means of soap and water, any dirt which may be upon the shell, using for the purpose a soft brush ; then make a medium-sized hole at the sharp end of the egg, and prick a small hole with a needle at the thick end ; apply the mouth to the latter and blow out the contents. If the yolk is hard to get out, run a thin wire into it and stir it about ; it may then be blown out with ease. Immerse the thin end in a glass of water, suck some into the shell, and shake it about so as to thoroughly cleanse the inside. To preserve the thin white membrane inside, fill the shell with a solution of corrosive sublimate of alcohol, and shake it about so as to ensure its coming in contact with every particle of the membrane ; blow the solution out, and give it a very thin coat of gum arabic.
BIRDS, QUADRUPEDS, &c., To Stuff. — Remove the skin carefully, leaving entire the skull, horns, hoofs, tail, &c., of large animals, and the skull and beaks of birds ; remove the brains through a cavity made in the mouth : rub the inside of the skin thoroughly with a mixture of alum, pepper, and salt, and stretch it out evenly in a cool, airy place. When perfectly dry proceed with the stuffing. For this purpose hay, hemp, oakum, wool, or any suitable substance is used,
1 8
BIRDS, To Keep Insects from the Eyes of. — If a small bag of sulphur be suspended in the cage it will have the effect of keeping insects from the eyes of the birds, and will be generally beneficial to their health.
BIRDS, To Keep them Fresh. — Pluck off the feathers, remove the crop, and draw the inside ; wash them well in a couple of waters and rub them all over with salt ; then plunge them into a saucepan of boiling water and draw them up and down a few times by the legs. Let them remain in the pot for five minutes, and hang them in a cool place to drain ; when dry well salt and pepper the insides and hang them up till required. Wash them thoroughly in cold water before putting them to the fire to roast.
BIRTHWORT, To Propagate. — This climber, which bears large heart-shaped leaves, is useful for covering trellis-work and walls. It is most readily propagated by layers, half-divided behind an eye.