Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1877 — AGRICULTURAL AND DOMESTIC. [ARTICLE]

AGRICULTURAL AND DOMESTIC.

Around the Farm. Coffee fob Tired Houses.— A veterinary surgeon of Prague is said to have discovered that strong coffee has a won-derfully-reviving effect upon decrepit and overworked horses. In a very short time it renews their vigor, smooths their skin, and restores their full capacity for work. No stock should be allowed to wander over the meadows. This is doubly injurious. It destroys the grass and spoils the appetite of the animals for dry feed. Nothing is gained, but much is lost by this practice. The ground is also “ poached,” and quagmires are formed in low, springy spots where the first grass appears. Protecting Young Trees. The cheapest and best way I have found to protect the trunks of trees from sheep, etc., is to cut bass-wood when it will peel freely, and Cttt the bark in strips long and wide enough to go around the tree. It will curl round in drying and be a sure protection. Cor. Country Gentleman. Screens. —Mr. E. Moody said at the Rochester horticultural meeting that he found screens of trees of much value to some of his plantations. In his garden he gets abundant crops of the Franconia raspberry, except where there is an opening in the screen wliicli surrounded it. He has known peaches to be killed on the windward side of a screen and to escape on the other suite Hukfep As EteitTiLizEits, r—Mpringel allowed that the manure of 1,400 sheep for ono day is equal to manuring highly one acre of land, which is about four sheep per year. Mechi, a still more recent authority, estimates that 1,500 sheep, folded on an acre of land twentyfour hours, or 100 sheep for fifteen days, would manure the land sufficiently to carry it through four years’ rotation.— Semi- Tropical. Harness in Stables.— Harness should lieVei' be kept in the Stable Where manure is constantly generating large quantities of ammonia. This ammonia is rapidly absorbed by the leather, and the effect upon the leather is about the same as would result from saturating it with strong lye. In a word, ammonia rots leather, and hence keeping harness in the stable is sure to result in its damage, more or less.— Exchange. Watering Gardens.— When the warm, sunny days come, and our gn rdens look dry. aud parched, we are so strongly tempted to use tlie watering pot that we frequently yield, and so injure the plants that we are striving to benefit. If we attempt to water our flower beds at all, we must do it thoroughly. Wait until after sunset, and then pour on water until it seems ready to run off. Let this soak into the ground aud then water again. Finally, spread freshly-cut grass over tlie lied a ; this covering will tend to keep the ground soft and moist. The usual method of sprinkling the flower beds slightly only tends to make the surface of the groiuid hard and dry, thus excluding ail- and moisture.— Globe-Dem ocra l.

Motherless Young Animals. —How to mother motherless young animals—foal, calves, or/ambs. Rub tlie palm of the hand full of giu on the nose and mouth of the dam; rub a little of the same bottle along the back of the young animal to be adopted, place them together and the relationship is complete. The advantage of this simple prow ss will be complete to those who have to do with long wool sheep, where, ns is frequently the case, a ewe leaves a pair of fine lambs, while probably another ewe loses her lambs, when exchange of maternal affection is instantly brought about by the giu, to the saving and successful raising of what otherwise would bo two troublesome pets at best. When a ewe has three lambs, and another ewe one. the disparity can be effectually remedied in the same manner. Regularity in Feeding. —Nothing is more important than regularity in feeding. If the usual time be allowed to pass the animals become uneasy and worried, and every feeder knows a fretting animal will not fatten. A supply of good, pure water is absolutely necessary, and especially if dry food is used exclusively. Rock salt should be kept constantly in the feediug-troughs. In judicious feeding is generally followed by scouring, and the nature and conditions of the secretions form infallible guides to the careful feeder. All cattle should be carded daily ; it is well known to the groom that nothing will so improve the horse’s condition, and in all animals it induces warmth and cleanliness, and promotes the healthy action of the skin. Very poor cattlo will sometimes be found to be lousy, a remedy lor which is a good wash with tobacco water. Animals of restless disposition do not, thrive so well as those of quiet temper, and kind wordß and gentle actions on the part of the feeder will be well repaid in tlieir peaceful conteutment aud certain improvemeut. —American Cultii > ator.