Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 January 1880 — FARM NOTES. [ARTICLE]

FARM NOTES.

A Canada farmer’s wife was lately batted to death by a ram. Chopped onions, with a little ginger mixed in, is said to be a sore cure for chicken cholera. American honey in the comb has become a popular article of diet in England, and very large shipments are made. It is announced that the leaves of the elder strewed among grain will effectually preserve it from the ravages of the weevil; the juice will also kill maggots. The leaves scattered over cabbages, cucumbers and other plants subject to weevil ravages effectually shield them. Fowls of all kinds are very fond of charcoal, qpd will eat it with relish when properly prepared. Pounded charcoal is not in the shape in which fowls usually find their food, and consequently is not very enticing to them. To please their palates the charcoal should be in pieces about the size of a grain of corn, and if these are strewed about their quarters they will readily eat thereof. Corn burnt on the cob and the refuse, which consists almost entirely of the grains reduced to charcoal and retaining their perfect shape, placed before them make a marked improvement in their health; as is shown by the higher color of their combs and their sooner producing a greater average of eggs to a flock than before. From tlic discussions of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and from information through other sources, the fact is becoming established that the bearing year of old apple trees can not be permanently changed by removing or shearing off the blossoms in the bearing year. They are found to return to their old habit in a short time. But when the work is performed on young bearing trees, and repeated if necessary, the chaDge has become permanent. It will be observed that the labor is far less on the young and smaller trees. In connection with this treatment, topdressing with manure and good cultivation, as may be necessary t« maintain a good healthy growth, will be quite sure to result in the best success.

The harvesting of the carrot crops can be lacilitated by running a plow on one side of the rows, when the roots are easily removed by hand. Tho tops are then cut off, and surface moisture from the roots dried by exposure to the sun a day or two, when they may be stored in a cellar, out of doors, or in pits, like turnips and potatoes. Carrots, having a greater tendency to decay than many roots, should never be stored in great bulk, but placed in small heaps only, and kept at as low a temperature as poisible above the freezing point. On the approach of warm weather they incline to sprout, if left in bulk, hence, when it is desired to preserve them longer, the crown ought to be cut off and the roots spread in a cool, dry place. Horses thrive on carrots given judiciously with other feed; they are also excellent for working cattle. A New Cow-Fastener.— A humane man, says the Kansas Tim es, has invented an improved mode of confining cows without stanchions or stalls, He uses small posts, 4x6 inches, set up where the stanchion would be, 3 feet 2 inches from center to center. On theinsidoof these posts, 14 inches above the floor, a | staple, 12 inches long, is driven into each post, A 1-inch cable chain, stretching from staple to staple with a ring on each end, slides up and down on the staples, has a ring in the middle into which the cow is to be fastened. A leather strap 1 finches wide, with a strong breast-strap slipped on, is placed around the COW*» ucck aud rivetedun witlr tlixeo small copper rivets. The cow is brought between the two posts and the snap fastened to the ring in the middle of the chain, which holds the cow in the center between the two posts, bat tho slack of tho chain and the chain slipping back and forth upon the neck enables the cow to move forward and backward, to turn ber head, and she may lick or scratch herself from shoulder to rump. And when she lays down, it may be in the natural position with her head upon her shoulder. The cow carries the strap upon her neck, and it is not as much work to fasten her as with a rope.

Raising Calves.— A writer in the Waverly (Iowa) Republican says he has been raising a number of calves the past season, and gives his experience with them: “Out of sixteen head owned by us, twelve w r ero fed from a pail, they learning to drink readily when only a few days old; their feed consisted of new milk for the first Jtwo w eeks, then skim-milk was substituted. They were turned into a small pasture at the end of a month, and as soon as corn was fit, ears of green corn were chopped fine with an ax, and given them twice a day, and soon thereafter pumpkins were added, all of which they much relished. At present writing thev are fed shelled corn and allowed the run of the stalk-field, and are looking thrifty and growing finely, The other four were left with the cows during the summer months, and were in good condition when removed this fall. Bnt they did not relish the change of feed, and although great pains was taken they did not eat well, and grew thin in flesh. At present writing they are looking unthrifty, and will hardly reach a satisfactory condition before turning out to grass another year. Thus it would seem by our experience that calves do much better raised by hand and accustomed gradually to dry feed, rather then left with cow several months and then removed.”