Recipes for the million

HERRINGS (FRESH), To Pot. — Pick out about eighteen or twenty fine large fish, and rub them with a mixture of two ounces of salt, one ounce of saltpetre, and two ounces of allspice, each reduced to a fine powder, lay them by for about eight hours, then wipe off the spice, and put them into a buttered pan ; season with one ounce each of mace, nutmeg, white pepper, and salt, one clove, and a couple of bay leaves ; cover with butter, and bake slowly for three hours. Let them cool, drain off the liquor, put the fish in pots, and cover to the depth of half an inch in clarified butter, just warm enough to run. They will be ready for table in two or three days. HERRINGS (RED), To Dress. — Soak them for half an hour in cold water, then lay them in milk for a couple of hours ; when taken out, split them down the back, rub them with melted butter, to which has previously been added the yolk of an egg, a bay leaf, nutmeg, and pepper, and broil over a slow fire. Serve with lemon. HERRINGS, To Choose. — When fresh herrings are good the flesh is firm, the eyes full, the gills red, and the scales bright. Those with soft roes are the most delicate. In selecting red herrings choose those which are large and firm, with full roes, and having a yellow cast on the skin. HESPERIS, OR ROCKET, To Propagate. — This flower flourishes best in a deep, rich, strong loam, or clayey soil, and may be increased by dividing the stools annually, shifting the plant to a different position each season. It may also be multiplied by means of cuttings. HICCOUGH, To Relieve. — Hiccough may be relieved by the sudden application of cold, as by eating a piece of ice, or drinking cold water. Holding the breath will also cause this unpleasant convulsive sort of cough to pass off. Should it prove obstinate, put three drops of oil of cinnamon on a piece of sugar, hold it in the mouth till it dissolves, then gently swallow it. HOARSENESS (SUDDEN), To Remove. — Take a teaspoonful of sweet spirits of nitre in a wineglassful of water. Or a little salt prunella dissolved slowly in the mouth, or eating a piece of anchovy will generally remove it. The following will likewise be found very useful : — Spermaceti powder, half an ounce ; gum-arabic powder, half an ounce ; elixir paregoric, three drams ; honey, one tablespoonful. Mix, and take a teaspoonful dissolved in the mouth. HOLLY HEDGES. — Holly forms a very effectual and durable hedge, and is, moreover, very pleasing to the eye. It is raised from the berries, which are laid in a heap and allowed to rot during the winter. The young plants are set out in October, and kept free from weeds until they have attained strength. They will grow in any soil, but do best in a light loam. HOLLYHOCK. — This flower flourishes best on a deep, moist, rich loam, but will grow in any good garden soil. It may be multiplied by seed sown in March and the plants set out in October where they are intended to bloom, choosing a dry day for this operation, and placing them in an airy situation, fully exposed to the sun. The flower-stems should in all cases be secured to stakes, so as to prevent injury from strong winds, and, if the season be dry, the plants watered with weak liquid manure.