Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1880 — FARM NOTES. [ARTICLE]

FARM NOTES.

Pruning of small branch be done at any time when the weather is pleasant, A very little tiujo spent on young trees will bring them into good shape and determine their future form. The application of manure to the orchard is too often neglected. TTie well-rotted stable manure. It may be drawn on at any time daring the witter, most easily when the ground is frosen. When spread, it should cover the whole ground, and not be heaped just about the trunks of the trees, where there are no small roots.

A cow that is milked three times a day will give more milk and yield more cream than one that is milked at intervals of twelve hours. When the udder is filled a process of absorption goes on and part es the milk secreted is thus lost. It will pay to take the mis from copious milkers at intervals cf eight hours as nearly as possible. A cow that is milked at 5 in the morning, 1 in the afternoon, and 9 at night will yield from 10 to 20 per cent, more milk and more cream than if milked twice a day. Wooden vessels for containing articles of food, wine, etc., also wooden vessels for culinary purposes, can be rendered fit for immediate us« by the removal of the unpleasant eitractive matters by treatment with a solution of washing soda. Thus, an ordinary barrel should be filled half full of water, and a solution of about two pounds of soda in as much water as will dissolve it poured in, and the liquids thoroughly mixed by shaking the barrel, which Bhould then be filled to the bung with water, and allowed to remain from twelve to fourteen hours; then, after withdrawing the discolored liquid, it should bo well rinsed and filled with pure water, and should remain a few hours more, when it will be fit for use. Other wooden utensils may be similarly treated.- Journal of Chemistry. In choosing feed for animals, it is not safe to be guided altogether by the chemical constituents. An analysis may be useful in comparing one wellknown food with another, and may help us in making up a judgment as to proportions and values. But with feeding stuffs not well knowD, a mere analysis may be delusive; for instance, spent hops are shown to contain 11.7 percent, of fat, 9.9 per cent, of ash, and 14.7 per cent, of albuminoids. From this they would appear to surpass in value the best clover hay, or even to equal cottonseed meal, in nutritive qualities; but as a food for cows, few would care to experiment with them. This is a broad example, but it shows the necessity for discretion in forming opinions of the value of such crude food as sedges, rushes and eoarse, wild grasses. Diir.Yr -Jo r\4 -a J-—x 1 » and must bo take l into account in estimating the values of food.

At the last session of the American Agricultural Society, in New York city, Dr. A. S. Heath, President of the Farmers’ Club of the American Institute, read a paper entitled “ How Shall We Increase the Value of Our Dairy Cows and Beef Stock?” The object, he said, could best be accomplished by care in breeding. If milch cows were desired, farmers should breed for milk; if butter was required, they should breed together those animals whose special excellence strongly indicated that product in large quantities, and also in superior quality. If cheese was the aim of the farmer, then he should strive to secure the best results, and use every effort to secure animals whose milk is rich in the elements of cheese. The Ayrshire cow was one of the most valuable cows brought to this country. Although as a milker she was second to Jersey, as a cheese-maker she was unsurpassed, and in general excellence was undoubtedly tho best cow in America.

It is a popular idea that every portion of the globe furnishes in some tree, shrub, plant or mineral a remedy for the diseases prevalent in that section. It is also very generally believed that the seedlings produced in any part of the country will be found specially adapted to the soil and climate of that region—very hardy and productive. Many persons who raise promising seedling fruit trees, and who find that they fail in the region where they are produced, make no effort to test theirvalue in other localities. It would be the part of wisdom, however, to send specimens to remote portions of the country for the purpose of allowing local horticulturists to test their merits. The fruit prod .iced on a seedling apple tree originated in Kentucky may rot on the branches and be declared worthless. But a tree of this variety planted in Michigan might mature its fruit in prime condition. The Maiden’s Blush, which is a summer apple along the Ohio river, is an excellent late fall apple in this vicinity, and a late keeper in Northern Wisconsin. The Roxbnry russet and Rhode Island Greening, which keep well till April and May in the New England States, not infrequently rot on the trees in Kentucky and Tennessee. A gentleman near this city raises some apples which he is able to keep nine months. They are the product of trees procured in Georgia, where, singularly enough, the fruit ripens in June and decays before autumn commences.— Chicago Times.