Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 February 1878 — AGRICULTURAL. AND DOMESTIC. [ARTICLE]

AGRICULTURAL. AND DOMESTIC.

Around the Farm. A Western New York farmer is credited with the noteworthy remark that he oaoe carefully observed the effect of the application of stable manure which had been saved under shelter till needed for use, and he concluded that one load of it was worth about as much as two loads of that exposed in the usual wasteful way; which is scarcely stating the case too strongly. Ex-Presedent Hously, of the Kansas Horticultural Society, says he has for several years protected fruit trees against teeth of rabbits .by applying with a brush to the bark, say one ana one-half feet up from the ground, a mixture of one-third lime and two-thirds soft soap, with water enough 'Added to thin, the whole boiled, and while boiling a little flour stirred in to make the wash adhesive like paste. A Western writer dares, to maintain that to deprive a horse of nature’s coat when winter comes on—having let him run through summer’s heat with a full suit of hair-i-is not only absurd, but cruel, and “highly ,injurious.” That does lobk like a common-sense view of the clipping business, but then there are glib scientific gentlemen who can talk on the other aide of the subject for six hours at a tiihe. An Illinois cow, having turned up her dainty nose at a pail of slop, fresh from the mill, investigation revealed the fact that, instead of meal of maize, the slighted grist was nothing less or more than “the bran, or outer covering of com, which had been ground and then bolted, with an addition of two-thirds bulk of finely-ground cobs,” and we are assured that this is not by any means a new trick of the trade. So it appear that the “sawdust-pudding” philosophy of diet is not acceptable to the unty tored bovine, at least not in Illinoi s. n Pears in Missouri.—More thanso,ooo pear trees are annually set out in Missouri, not one in ten of which survives the ninth year in the orchard. They grow vigorously at first, and afterward gradually perish under acidification of the blight * Yet here anaroere a tree is found that has remained sound for more than half a century, yielding annually wagon loads of fruit. It would be worth a good "deal of investigation to find out the reason of the difference, so as to profit by it in planting.— Cor. Rural World.

Watering.—l wish to add my testimony as regards the necessity of watering horses sufficiently. For twenty years we have kept in our stables an average of ten horses. We have never known a day’s illness among them; several are over 30 years of age, and capable of any amount of work. I attribute this entirely to my daily visits to the stable, when ! always find either a trough or a pailful of water within reach of each horse. By this means I know that at least once a day they are able fully to quench their thirst. I never had dealings with a coachman who did net think it a risk to let his horses have more than a modicum of water.— Cor. English Journal. Coal ashes as a fertilizer are said to be very beneficial for tomatoes and potatoes, and to a less extent for peas and beans. Moreover, they improve the mechanical condition of the soil, and are therefore especially beneficial to clayey and rigid land generally. They should be worked in deeply and uniformly in the proportion of, say one part of ashes to two of mold. As it takes a long time to decompose them, their fertilizing properties are slow in action, but continuous. To obtain the best advantage from their use, some other kind of manure should be applied in conjunction with them. As there are seldom enough for field culture, the garden is the best place in which to use them, and, inasmuch as they are generally considered mere inconvenient refuse, all the advan tage secured from their use will be a clear gain.

Care of Young Dairy Stock. —We regard it necessary often to call the attention of dairymen to the necessity of giving the best attention and food to the heifer calves designed for dairy cows. This is just the season that these calves need the best care. As it is important that the heifer should be developed in muscle and frame, rather than in fat, not much corn or other highly fattening food should be given. Feed rather upon oats and bran, or middlings, with a little corn, beside early-cut hay. Calves should have shelter from all cold storms; in fact, they i squire for the best treatment a comt table stable. It is not only the heilct all that needs good attention, but tb< yearling heifer. She is now fast ffevel ping into a cow, and needs the best food and care. She does not need much grain; if the farmer has early-cut hay, and especially nicelycured clover, this, with a little bran or corn fed sparingly, will keep up. a steady growth. The yearling heifer should be bandied by the herdsmen daily, eo as to ccome familiar with attention, and she vill give no trouble in breaking to milk i ter coming in.— National Live Stock Journal. z