Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 August 1879 — FARM NOTES. [ARTICLE]

FARM NOTES.

During the heat of summer commence work early and continue it late — but take a good, wholesome rest in the middle of the day. “And so,” says the New England Farmer, “the * farmers’ fairs ’ have, in too many instances, been given over into the hands of those who have very little interest in the welfare of the farming community.” In plowing it is never a good plan to tnm up a mass of crude earth of several inches in depth, never before exposed to the sunlight and air. It will, unless heavy manuring is given as a top dressing, result in loss. In deepening a soil it is better to plow up an additional iuek each year. It is reported that boulders may lie broken up by drilling a deep hole in the rock at the proper point, and then fit into tho lower portion of tho hole a cylindrical ingot of load of corresponding diameter. Then drive a mandrel, or rod. down upon the lead. By repeated blows of a hammer, the lead will be expanded laterally, and, being inelastic, the pressure will accumulate, and at length rupture tho rock. Fresh manure produces but little effect when applied to crops, but when it is well rotted it then contains much valuable soluble matter, absorbable by plants. In fresh manure tho most important constituent of its soluble portion is potash, and it contains but small proportions of ammonia and phosphoric acid, llotten manure, on tho contrary, to the solvent action of water largo amounts of nitrogi n and phosphoric acid. The health and comfort of horses have of late years been greatly improved by the better construction of htables. They are made moro roomy and lofty, and provided with means of thorough ventilation. In many new stables lofts are done away with, or the floor of the loft is kept well above horses’ heads, and ample shafts are introduced to convey away foul air. By perforated bricks and gratings under the mangers, and elsewhere around the walls, and only by windows aud ventilators, abundance of pure air is secured for the horses; while being introduced in moderate amount, and from various directions, it comes iii without draught. Too much draught is almost an unknown stable luxury. To secure a constant supply of pure air, horses require more cubic space than they generally enjoy. Even when animals are stabled only at night, a minmum of 1,200 cubic feet should be allowed. In England the newer cavalry barracks give i\ minimum of 1,500 cubic feet, with a ground area of fully ninety square feet per horse; and the best hunting and carriage horse-stables have more room. —Journal of Chemistry. Small groups of trees aud shrubs may be rendered very effective if due care is taken in planting them. Have a care that the general effect will be a good one, and to this end let the trees forming a group be of one general character. Thus, if conical trees be distributed equally or injudiciously over the grounds along with roundheaded trees they will produce great sameness; but if- conical trees prevail in one place, drooping or weeping trees in another, round-headed trees in a* third, and low-spreading varieties occupy another side, many distinct characters will be produced, and this will be much more interesting to the beholder than one continuous group of mixed trees of various habits. The same general rules apply with equal force to ornamental shrubs. In planting single trees care should be had to proper soil; they should always be planted in prepared soil raised in heaps a foot or more above the general surface, so that after a year or two, when the earth settles, as it will to a certain degree, the tree may stand on a little hillock. The trees, before planting, should be ten or twelve feet in height, with trunks three or four inches in diameter at the surface of the ground.