Page:Husbandman and Housewife 1820.djvu/120

 Rye Coffee.

WASH Rye in several waters to free it from dust, blighted grain, &c. boil it in water until some of the grain cracks open, then drain it, and dry it in an oven, then burn it as other coffee. Barley is said by some to be superior to rye for making coffee, and is prepared in the same manner.

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SALT is highly recommended as a manure by most writers on husbandry. It may be applied either by itself, or mixed and dissolved in compost. But if it be applied directly to young and tender plants unmixed and undissolved it often destroys them. It is said to be highly beneficial to flax when spread over the ground at the time of sowing the seed, at the rate of about two bushels of salt to one of the seed. A little salt planted in the hill with Indian corn we are told will preserve it from worms.

When the English farmer intends to turn his land to tillage in autumn he sows a double quantity of salt, in order to destroy grass, rushes, weeds, fern, worms, snails, &c. The whole is, by that means converted into a rich manure, which supports three successive crops, and leaves the soil, after all in good condition. It is said to be an excellent practice to keep salt under cover, in such a situation that cattle or sheep may have recourse to it at pleasure. Those cattle however, which have not been accustomed to so free an use of salt should be brought to it by degrees.