regular article of commerce and consump-hill-sides, gently sloping to meadows tion, not only will the market price be of surpassing verdure. considerably less than threepence a pound, but that the mode of preparation and packing will be greatly improved. During the Exhibition The Times frequently referred to the products of Uruguay. We give an extract from its issue of August 23rd, 1862:

cotton and tobacco.

The leading governments of Europe have lately manifested an active interest in the affairs of La Plata, and are convinced of its immense resources for commerce and emigration. M. Thiers, in a speech delivered in 1850, says of its brilliant future :--"The trade of Brazil has advanced, in ten years, from a little "The River Plate authorities are doing less than thirty to sixty millions; and the much to attract capital and labour thither, trade of La Plata from between four and than which no country offers greater facilities for sheep and cattle farming and for the five to forty millions." And in a memogrowth of cereals, while it has also capabi- rial addressed to the King of Prussia the lities for the production of any quantity of writers say: "After Brazil the states of Monte Video the Rio de la Plata merit the greatest is the seat of government and the capital of attention among the countries of South the Republic of Uruguay, otherwise called America. The vast territories which form the Banda Oriental, and is seated on the the basin of the Parana, the Paraguay, left bank of the River Plate. Its eastern and the Uruguay, and their tributaries, boundary is the South Atlantic; its north-contain the elements of a prosperity and ern, the Brazilian empire; and its western, wealth the most varied. What a future the River Uruguay, which separates it from the Argentine province of Entre Rios. do these countries not offer!' The Monte-Videan territory-for it is better known by the name of its capital - is limited, but extremely fertile, well watered, possesses excellent pastures, and abundance of minerals as yet unexplored. This rich and healthy territory, which would maintain a population of two millions, probably does not contain two hundred thousand."

Thus wrote The Times in 1862, and in a correspondent's letter from Monte Video (Dec. 11, 1864), published in its issue of January 21, 1865, it is stated that 100,000 labouring men would find immediate employment at ample wages.

When it is known that such a market is opening in Europe for these South American products, surely some effort will be made not only to bring them, but also to send men out to send them-and to send them in the best manner.

Our engraving represents a dairy in the environs of the capital; and the British dairy farmer will be surprised, if not envious, to learn that in these fertile regions the land is covered with a luxuriance of grass throughout the year, capable of supplying food to a thousand times the number of animals that now graze upon it. No need here to store up hay, or turnips, or mangel-wurzel for winter supply.

It will, indeed, be a great boon to the poorer classes, if the simple cry of "Beef at threepence a pound” should attract such attention to these fertile lands, that a judicious emigration and liberal enterprise shall make these exhaustless regions the grazing-grounds of over-worked and overpopulated Europe.

Considerable discussion and much additional information may be expected on We may here remark, as an illustration this highly interesting topic, which we of the little that was known of the pro- shall carefully sift, and return to the subvinces of the River Plate even up to a ject in a future number. Meanwhile we very recent date, that an exploration of it give methods of curing and cooking as was ordered by the United States govern-issued by the Commission, which has done ment in 1853, and was, under the com- so much to encourage the introduction mand of Lieutenant Page, of the United of this beef into Great Britian, premising States navy, conducted through the years that both processes are said to be open to 1853-4-5, and 6. He describes the country improvements, and that experiments are as beautiful throughout, the land high and being made under the auspices of gentlebounding with wooded ranges and grassy men connected with the Society of Arts

and other institutions, which cannot fail to result in beneficial discoveries.

HENRY ANGEL.

STATEMENT OF PROCESS OF CURING SOUTH
AMERICAN BEEF, BY MR. DANIEL WIL-
LIAMS, LATELY AN EXTENSIVE CURER
OF THE ARTICLE.

1st. The cattle are selected on the estancies or farms, where they are grass-fed! when fat, they are brought to the killing establishments, where they are slaughtered by being pithed and bled.

2nd. The hide is taken off, and the carcase hung up in the shambles, and the beef stripped off the bones and allowed to cool, when it is placed on a table, and jerked or cut up into thin flitches, so as to allow it to dry and cure properly.

3rd. Good Cadiz or Lisbon salt is then brought to the salting floor, which is

boarded and channelled to allow the brine to run off into small cisterns made to receive it. The beef is then salted in a pile, the flitches being carefully spread out. In this state it remains twelve hours, when it

is turned over, and again carefully spread out (turned over), and a little fresh salt added where required, and allowed to remain twelve hours longer.

4th. The next day the beef is put out in the sun on rails to dry-an operation of two days-each day taken in at night and put out again in the morning; the greatest care being taken to keep it from getting wet. The third day it is left in pile, and in a few days again spread out, for about six hours, on a very fine day; and as soon as the moisture is dried off it, the beef is ready to be shipped, or put into pile or stacks.

DIRECTIONS FOR COOKING SOUTH AMERI-
CAN DRIED BEEF.

Steep the beef for three or four hours, or wash it well in hot water.

1st. Cut it in small pieces, about an inch square; simmer it by the fire for one and a half hours; add potatoes. pepper, and onions; and again cook slowly until ready. It will then be found a very good Irish stew.

2nd. Mince, in the form of mince collops; cook it slowly, and when ready mix it up with mashed potatoes. It may then be put in a dish and browned in the oven.

4th. It will also make very good peasoup; and is also used in first-class hotels for giving a delightful flavour to all kinds of soup, particularly to kidney and other similar classes. In short, a good housewife will find a hundred ways of making it available and agreeable.

5th. It can be used as mince collops, without potatoes; and a flitch is sometimes taken, rolled up and spiced in the form of a beef ham, which must be cooked slowly.

Mr. Warriner, Instructor of Cookery to the Army, gives the following instructions for cooking:-"Wash well and steep in water for three hours; beat well with a mallet or rolling pin; place in boiling water and boil for five minutes, and throw away the water; then cut into small pieces. For stock or gravy, it should be cut very thin, and a piece of fat salt pork boiled

with it.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

QUERY.

CAN anyone tell me the exact situation of "Camelot," so renowned in legendary lore, especially that referring to the wondercities are mentioned as being famous at that ful Arthur-Uther's mythic son." Three era, "Carlisle, Caerleon, and Camelot," the two first everybody knows on the map, at least; but not one among my friends lot." Will you, Mrs. Editor, be good enough can tell me anything reliable about "Came to put the question for me in the pages of your valuable magazine?-QUEEN MAB.

ANSWERS.

THE lines referred to by "M. A. H." are to be found in Moore's "Paradise and the Peri" (Lalla Rookh). They run thus:

"Go wing thy flight from star to star,
From world to luminous world, as far

As the universe spreads her flaming wall:
Take all the pleasures of all the spheres,
And multiply each through endless years,

One minute of heaven is worth them all."

OUR word "book" comes from the Danish bok, or bog; the inner bark of the beech-tree being used for literary purposes before the discovery of paper. The Latin liber (whence the French livre, and the Italian libro, and our English words library, librarian, &c.) has its existence from a similar source, the inner bark of 3rd. Cut into pieces, and after simmer-trees generally being called to this day ing an hour and a half add turnips, carrots, liber, as the outer is cortex. And on this or other vegetables, such as used in a liber or soft inner bark books were haricot. anciently written.-[ED.]

THE HOUSEWIFE'S MISCELLANY.

5. STEWED BEEF STEAK.-Choose a good tender" Family Herald" that recommends a table-spoon-
rump steak, not too fat; see that it is cut of a
proper thickness (about three-quarters of an inch),
trim it if necessary, and beat it flat with the roll-
ing pin. Peel and chop onions in proportion to
the quantity of your meat, and according to your
taste; mash up two pickled walnuts with a dessert-
spoonful of the catsup, and place at the bottom of
your stewpan; then add a teacupful of mushroom-
catsup and a teaspoonful of Cayenne vinegar.
Flour your steak lightly on both sides, and lay it
on the onions: cover your pan, and let it stew for
at least an hour and a half-say an hour and a
half from the time it seems warm through; turn
the steak every half hour. If you wish a more
tasty dish than usual, throw in half a score of
oysters-such as you buy for sauce-a quarter of
an hour before serving up; add, of course, the
liquor of the oysters, first straining it through a
fine sieve. For a plain dinner, a dessert spoonful
of "Lea and Perrin's Worcestershire Sauce" may
be substituted for the catsup, though even then a
supeon of the mushroom is a great improvement.
Spanish onions are milder and richer of taste than
our own; those who dislike the strong onion flavour
in their cookery should either use the Spanish bulb,
or boil their English onions half tender before they
are put into the stew, hash or mince, as the case
may be.

ful of finely-powdered loaf-sugar, to be beaten up
with the vegetable, as a decided improvement to the
flavour. I have not tried it. It is better for each
person to add pepper and salt to his own liking;
for my own part, I would never go beyond a mere
pinch of salt, and the least sprinkle of pepper in
the dressing, remembering that, in the article of
"seasoning," more particularly apples, the good
old French proverb-" Chacun à son gout."

6. To MASH TURNIPS TO PERFECTION. A boiled neck of tender, well-fed mutton, served with mashed turnips and caper-sauce, is certainly a delicate and wholesome, though not very imposing, dish; but the turnips are frequently spoiled by being sent to table half drained and nearly cold, by reason of the time which has elapsed since they were taken from the fire. Choose your turnips clear and sound, and not stringy; pare well, and wash in clean, cold water; let them soak a little, and if very large divide into two or more parts. Boil them till quite tender with the mutton; take up and drain by pressing them between two plates till not a drop of moisture can be exuded; turn them into a large basin, and beat quite fine; have ready a hot saucepan (this is easily managed by filling a saucepan with water, and letting it boil till wanted, then emptying it, and drying it for a moment or two at the fire); put in your mashed turnips, with a pinch of salt, a piece of butter the size of a walnut, and as much cream as will amalgamate with the turnips without making them too moist. Stir well together till they are quite hot; have in readiness a thoroughly-heated vegetabledish; pour them in, and serve immediately. But do not have the turnips dished before the mutton 18 taken up; boiled meat may be kept warm by placing a dish over the pot in which it has been cooked, and covering it closely on the hob, and partly over the fire. It should always be borne in mind that the most sumptuous dinner is spoiled if brought to table half cold, or if it be served with slovenly inattention to those so-called trifles, upon which the comfort as well as the aspect of the table depends. N.B. There is a receipt in the

7. AN EXCELLENT FAMILY PLUM-PUDDINGGrate three-quarters of a pound of a stale leaf, leaving out the crusts: chop very fine threequarters of a pound of firm beef suet (if you wish your pudding less rich half a pound will do); mix well together with a quarter of a pound of flour; then add a pound of currants, well washed, and well dried; half a pound of raisins, stoned, and the peel of a lemon, very finely shred and cut; four ounces of candied peel, either lemon, orange, or citron, or all mingled (do not cut your peel too small or its flavour is lost); six ounces of sugar, a small teaspoonful of salt, three eggs, well beaten; mix all thoroughly together with as much milk as suffices to bring the pudding to a proper consistency; grate in a small nutmeg, and again stir the mixture vigorously. If you choose, add a small glass of brandy. Butter your mould or basin, water will get in and spoil your handiwork; have which you must be sure to fill quite full, or the your pudding-cloth scrupulously clean and sweet. and of a proper thickness; tie down securely, and boil for seven or even eight hours.

8. NURSERY PUDDING-To use up the crusts left from No. 7: Put your crusts into a large basin, with any other pieces of stale bread you may happen to have; pour over them as much hot milk as you think they will absorb; cover close, and let them soak all night. Beat thoroughly one or two eggs, according to your quantity of bread; add, on the same principle, raisins, stoned, and sweeten to discretion. Then work in a little flour to solidify the materials; butter your basin well, and boil for an hour and a half to two hours, as your pudding is larger or smaller. (Will some of our kind friends who have eight or ten children try this receipt, and favour us with the result?)

9. A VERY CHEAP FAMILY PUDDING.-A pound of flour, a pound of suet, chopped fiue, three-quarters of a pound of treacle or sugar, a pound each of carrots and potatoes, well boiled and mashed together; half a pound of raisins; three-quarters of a pound of soft bread-crumbs; spice flavouring and peel, optional. Mix the whole well together with a little water; it must not be too stiff and certainly not too moist; rub a basin well with dripping, and boil for eight hours. N.B. This receipt is sent to us by a friend, who declares that it costs 1s. 6d., and suffices for twelve people, and is also an excellent and very popular pudding.

10. RICE CREAM--An economical and agreeable substitute for custards or blanc-mange: ingredients

vent surface scum, and when nearly cold, cover,
and set it in a cellar, or cool place, until wanted.
Serve in cups or glasses.-HEATHER BELL.
11. AMMONIA ČAKE-Very light and nice. Rub
three ounces of loaf-sugar; three-quarters of a
pound of currants, well dried after washing; a
little candied peel, and four eggs, leaving out two
whites; mix with half a pint of cold milk, and
stir in a large teaspoonful of powdered carbonate
of ammonia just before putting in the oven. Bake
about an hour and a half. This cake is very
quickly made, eats well, and is perfectly digestible.

-One pint and a half of new milk; two eggs; four large table-spoonsful of ground rice; a small wineglass of brandy; a few drops of essence of almonds, half a teaspoonful of cinnamon-of course the cinnamon is optional, some people dis-six ounces of butter into a pound of flour; add liking it extremely-and moist sugar to taste. Mix the cinnamon thoroughly with the rice, and add, first the eggs, well beaten, then the milk, and, lastly, the sugar, brandy, and almond flavouring. Pour the mixture into a pan, and let it remain on the fire till it has boiled about half a minute stirring all the time, or it will lump and burn; then pour into a basin; stir occasionally to pre

FAMILY PASTIME.

DEFINITIONS.

HAPPINESS.

The soul's ignis fatuus.-CARACTACUS.

The fruition of hope.

To all who seek for worldly bliss
The voice of Wisdom cries-

"True happiness but buds on earth,
It blossoms in the skies."

GILBERT ASHTON.

The highest prize in the lottery of life.-To have a conscience void of offence.-To be prepared when summoned hence.-C. T. RYE.

The innocence of childhood.-To feel at peace with all, and to live in hope of a blessed hereafter. -To be found where contentment reigns, with Peace and Charity for companions.-The home of a Christian family, where true devotion and piety enliven each passing hour.-SPECTATOR.

A phantom all are seeking, and few can find. ANNIE LAURIE. Inborn harmony of soul.-A visionary's goal.This heart's content.-The golden moments in time's travelling hour-glass. - Golden treasures found in fancy's rich mine.-The life given to Adam and Eve before they were driven from Paradise.-A mother's feeling on hearing the cry of her newlyborn infant.-What the heaven-born joys of immortality promise us.-MIGNONETte.

The sunshine of the heart.-HEATHERBELL.

A contented mind.-A moonlight walk with one we love.-DE LA SAUX.

To be in possession of the "pearl of great price."

LEONA.

A tranquil joy.-The offspring of contentment and joy-ZANONI.

The "perfect love which casteth out fear."-The roseate hue of life.-The atmosphere most conducive to mental culture.-CALLER Herrin'.

A firm and practical belief in Psalm xxxvii. 5, 7, and 1 Peter v. 7.-MILDRED HEATHCOTE.

head of others, find resting on their own.
A crown, which they who strive to place upon the
STONEY.

The result of true piety.-The superlative degree of joy.-ZINGARA.

That which is coveted in this world and obtained in the next.-WINIFRED.

One of the cardinal points in the compass of life.
A costly gem, which wealth cannot purchase.-

Trust in God.-The possession of that peace and a good hope of everlasting life.-Hors G. which the world can neither give nor take away,

TRIFLES.

Generally speaking, things of little consequence; but hardly of little consequence when they afford gratification.-STANTONVILLE.

The companion of Holiness, the witness of Faith.
CARACTACUS.

The Christian's watchword.-A word associated with Nelson's dying order: "England expects that Little things-oft of great moment-"light as every man this day will do his duty.” air," yet often "proofs strong as holy writ."

Actionaiming at excellence for excellence's sake. A grain of sand.-A drop of rain.-A little deed A stern taskmaster when adverse to inclinatione of kindness.-HOPE G.