Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 April 1880 — FARM NOTES. [ARTICLE]

FARM NOTES.

[Tnm the Awrteu AgricuiturUt] Laying Out.—ln staking out the ground take care to have the trees in true rows. Put all of the same variety together, and if there are many kinds make a planting chart showing the position of each. Spring work comes without hurry to the farmer who is prepared. Much of the mischief laid to unfavorable seasons rightly belongs to a laggard beginning. A well-started crop rarely fails to be satisfactory in spite of weather, and a late one is rarely so. Machinery. —After the winter's rest an overhauling of the machines will be proper. Dust and rust should, be cleaned off, and oil and tallow used liberally. It should be understood that there is more wear from rust than from use, with farm machinery. Early Planting and Sowing.—With the soil well prepared, early sowing is most desirable with many crops. Some tender ones make a poor start unless the ground is warmed by the sun and air, and a late frost may do harm. But it is rarely wise to delay because of what may happen, when promptness promises the best results. The first crop to be sown is spring wheat, then oats; after these come beets and potatoes. Wherever spring wheat will succeed it is a desirable crop, even when sown in April. Out of its natural district, which is marked out by Deculiarity of climate more than any other condition, it is of no use to sow it, unless in a small ’way to experiment with new varieties ot unusual promise. j Preparing the Trees. —Evew&ndy wishes to get all he can for the«noney, and the nurserymen send much larger tops to the trees than the pruned roots in their new positions can support. It is safe te shorten the branches one-third or one-half, but it should be done with judgment and reference to the condition of the roots. At the same time pare smooth any broken or mangled roots. Oats. —Early-sown oats in our hot climate are, as a rule, better than latesown. Our climate is not so favorable for oats as the cooler northern and northeastern ones. There oats are heavy and plump, and seed from Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick will produce well for two or three years. By using seed from these northern localities, oats may be grown in the Middle States weighing from thirty-five to forty-five pounds per bushel. Live Stock. —The coat is now changed, and good brushing or carding helps the shedding of the hair by stimulating the skin. Medicines are to be avoided, As a rule, excepting in extreme cases. “Spring physicing” is an old notion which should rest with our ancestors. If due attention has been given to feeding and general care, stock will come out in good order after their season of dry feeding and confinement. Horses. —When hard work commences, dry food will be needed. It hardens the muscles prevents excessive perspiration. The skin, tender from long rest, is easily chafed and galled. Cold water and veterinary Cosmoline will keep galls in check and heal raw spots. Clean, soft harness prevents galls. Shoes that have been long on ought to be removed, and, in paring the hoof, let no knife touch the frog. It will wear away fast enough. The condition of the soil is always to be taken into account. Fields that are drained, either naturally or artificially, may be safely sown when a wet soil cannot be. Wet soils are cold. Some deny this, on the ground that the water is as warm as the soil, and has no refrigerating effect. But it is the circulation of air in the soil that warms it, and if it is so filled with water that ai» cannot enter, tit remains cold, until the water has evaporated. Barley. —A fine condition of the soil is indispensable for this crop. Old bar-ley-growers know all about this, but many want to grow barley because it is a profitable crop when successful. It will succeed in any good, well-prepared soil, but a mellow-clay loam which can be brought to good tilth is to be preferred. But good crops of bright grain may be grown on lighter loams if in good heart. It may be made an excellent soiling crop to follow clover, and as a change from oats. We prefer to sow thickly, say two and one-half bushels per acre, but opinions vary in this respect, and from one and one-half to two and one-half bushels is the range. The Trees. —lt is assumed that trees were ordered some time ago; they should be at hand ready for planting. It is the custom at nurseries to take up and heelin a large stock of the kind of trees most called for, this retards the growth/ and allows them to fill late orders. If there is a nursery near at hand it will pay to make a bargain, if possible, to help dig the trees yourself, and thus secure a larger share of the roots that belong to them. If trees, in a long journey, become dry and shriveled, bury them, root and branch, in mellow earth for a few days, when they become plump again. In unpacking the trees, look to the labels, as some may become detached and would otherwise be lost. Cows.—Garget and abortion trouble the dairymen. We believe in prevention. The former may surely be prevented by due care. As soon as the udder contains milk, it should be relieved by drawing off a part of it, if there is any tendency to hardness. When a cow’s time approaches and the feed is suddenly reduced, disturbance of the system is caused. Circulation becomes irregular, and congestion occurs in the most susceptible organs. The udder is the principal one of these at this period, and an attack of garget is very sure to occur. This may not always be so, but long experience and observation convinces us hat it generally is. The remedy is obvious.

Tbee Planting.—Whoever sets out an orchard of course does it with the expectation of a return in fruit. No one plants corn or potatoes without first considering if the land will give him a crop; if the soil is not in the proper condition he knows that he must make it so, or lose his seed and his labor. Much less than corn and potatoes can fruit trees make a crop on nothing. The trees will struggle along, do the best they can, but such orchards do not pay, and “ run out ”, early. Unless the land is sufficiently fertile for an ordinary farm crop, it should be made so; no soil too wet for such crops will answer for fruit trees, which, to succeed, need well-drained land. The plowing should be as deep as the character of the soil will allow, and the sub-soil plow may generally follow the other with benefit. Flax.—lt is supposed that flax is a “ hard ” crop on land. It is true in one sense, but it will not injure a cool, moist soil that holds a fair proportion of vegetable matter. It has been sown with oats and threshed for feeding, and there are few more profitable crops than this mixed one. A large demand is springing up for both seed and fiber. Mills are becoming numerous. But it should not be lost sight of that mills will not come until there is some material to be worked up, and if the fanners of any locality wish for a factory near them they must first grow the needed material. It is fortunate that flax can be grown for feed, and even the straw used for fodder, when mixed with oats, so that a good foundation may be laid for a supply for flax mills. The same is true of sugar beets. After many years of trial and failures the manufacture of beet sugar promises to beeome successful. It depends wholly on the farmers. To retain m our midst the millions of dollars sent abroad for sugar is desirable. The Portland (Me.) Sugar Factory Company,

after several seasons of work, still perseveres in inducing the Maine farmers to produce roots, and is sanguine of success. Beets can be grown profitably if a determined attempt is made. Let but one acre, or less, be planted and well tended, and as soon as that can be growr successfully ten acres may be.

Rice Griddle-Cakes.—One quart of milk, half a cup of rice, three eggs, one good cupful flour, one and a half teaspoonfuls baking powder. Gra£Lm Scones.—One pint Graham meal, one large table-spoonful butter, pinch of salt, one cupful cold water, chop together, and bake very thin. Waffles.—One pint milk, one pound flour, four eggs, one cupful yeast, quarter pound butter; let them rise three or four hours before baking. To Clean Jewklby.—Wash in soap suds; rinse in diluted alcohol, and lay in a box of dry sawdust to dry. As simple as this seems, it is the very nicest way possible to clean gold chains or ornaments of any kind. Simple and Delicious Muffins.— One quart flour, one teaspoonful salt, half gill yeast, one pint warmed milk, less two table-spoonfuls; mix at night, and beat until light; in the morning drop the well-risen dough in buttered cups. Calf’s Liver la Proving ale. —Heat some butter in the frying-pan, season the slices of liver with salt, pepper, hashed parsley, and a very small piece of mashed garlic. Fry for ten minutes, then add a few spoonfuls of soup stock. Serve very hot. Float a la Conserve (Dessert). — Take the whites of eight eggs, beat them to a stiff paste, adding as you beat a half pound of sugar. When well beaten, then stir into the mixture, beating briskly, currant jelly or strawberry jam to taste. Serve with rich cream. Damp Closets.—For a damp closet or cupboard, which is liable to cause mildew, place in a saucer full of quicklime, and it will not only absorb all apparent dampness, but sweeten and disinfect the place. Renew the lime once a fortnight, or as often as it becomes slacked.