Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 October 1879 — FARM NOTES. [ARTICLE]

FARM NOTES.

In the United Kingdom the average acreage of holdings is fifty-six acres. Of the tenant farmers, 560,000 in number, 70 per cent., occupy farms under fifty acres each; 12 per cent between fifty and 100 acres; 18 per cent, farms of more than 100 acres each. It is estimated that at least 80,000 tons of wheat will be shipped from Eastern Oregon and Washington Territory this year through Walla Walla alone. This estimate does not include a vast stretch of territory where farmers must seek another outlet. It is evident Eastern Oregon and Washington Territory will, in the future, contrioute largely to the grain exports of the Pacific coast. Industry, enterprise and intelligent observation are what make the good farmer. Such a man uses every means in his power to keep his land fertile, by clean cultivation, rotation of crops, and the application of such manures as may be adapted to the special wants of the crop he cultivates. He does more; he reads the best journals he can buy, having reference to their practicality in agricultural art. To prevent borers injuring young apple trees, take equal parts of blue clay, green cow-manure and soft soap, and make a wash so as to be put on with a brush or old corn-broom. Make the grotind dishing around the tree; then tie birch-bark or paper (such as carpenters use under clapboard); draw dirt around the bottom of the paper, and you need have no trouble so long as the paper lasts. If borers are already in, and you can’t get them out, bore in with a small bit slanting near where the destroyer is, fill the hole with kerosene and plug it, and he will die pretty soon. This plan worked well with me and did not injure the trees. — Cor. New York Tribune. Rye for Manure.—Until the West has become more thickly populated than it is at present, and land consequently more valuable, there will be but little effort made toward manuring the soil as it is done in the Eastern States. In fact, our soil does not require constant stimulating, if given an occasional rest; but constant cropping does cause a decrease in the value of crops grown. We know of no way in which soil that has been over cropped can be sooner or more cheaply recuperated than by giving it a crop of rye in the fall, and then plowing it under in the spring. In this way, if the spring should be unfavorable or any accident happen whereby the plans for plowing cannot be carried out, the rye will make a crop valuable in itself. This “ rye-manuring” is becoming quite popular, and we believe it is a good thing to invest in. During an open winter it will afford a great deal of. pasture, and thus return more than its cost, besides making a crop of grain, if desired.— Chicago Tribune. Cough in a Horse.—l have a horse that has had a very bad cough for several months. It is only occasionally that he coughs, but when he does it seems to be very straining. I do not think his condition is as good as it ought to be with the treatment I give him. His hair looks rough. It may be his lungs. He eats heartily, and I think he coughs more when he is eating than at any other time. W. E. B. E. [Your horse is troubled with a chronic cough, and, when such a cough occurs after eating, the seat of the disease is evidently in the substance of the lungs. The stomach, distended with food, presses up the diaphragm upon the lungs. In the violent effort to discharge their function, irritation is produced, aud the act of coughing is the consequence. Give a table-spoonful of the following twice a day for three weeks: Barbadoes tar, 12 ounces; digitalis, 1 ounce; sol nitro, 2 ounces; tincture of belladonna, 4 drachms; mix. Stir slightly when using. Rub the throat once a day, unless it is pretty well blistered, with the following: Spirits of turpentine, 4 ounces; raw linseed oil, 3 ounces; aqua ammonia, 2 drachms; powdered cantharides, | ounce. Mix.] —Country Gentleman.

How to Save Clover Seed.—One of our best clover-seed savers is just at our elbow, and he says: “ Tell them the second crop is for the seed, and is really fit for no other purpose, as it salivates the stock fed on it; that the best time to cut for seed is a very nice point to determine. It should be cut when a majority of the heads turn brown, and before any begin to shed off the little seed pods, each of which contains a seed. Cut the second crop of clover just as though it were for hay, rake it into windrows, and let it lie and take one or two showers; and put into very small cocks while damp, about one good pitchforkful in a place, and when jt is dry put into stacks and cap with something that will turn water; or what is still better, if you have a shed or barn, put it there and let it remain until you get a huller to take it out for you. There are hullers enough now in the State to hull all the seed needed for home use, and the owners of the hullers are willing and anxious to go to any section where work can be had. Let our farmers save all the clover seed they can, and thus help to make thousands of dollars for the State, now sent out each year for clover seed to sow.”— Rural Sun.