Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 May 1880 — FARM NOTES. [ARTICLE]

FARM NOTES.

Mr. Erastus Baxley, Little Compton, R. L, has kept 1,000 to 1,200 hens during the past five years, and realized from each an annual profit of $1.75. For applying to wounds made by removing large limbs in pruning fruit trees nothing is better than gum shellac, dissolved in alcohol to the consistency of paint. French poultry fanciers are now feeding fowls designed for market with barley and steamed yellow carrots. This feed is remarkable for its rapid fattening qualities. Peabl millet, which has proved a failure in Massachusetts, is grown with success in Kansas. Some growers say that it is 50 per cent, better than corn fodder, and stands dry weather much better than corn, or any other kind of millet. Air-slacked lime will destroy currant worms. In the spring examine the bushes often, and when the lower leaves are perforated there the worms are to be found. If the bush is dry, first sprinkle with water, and then with lime. Two or three applications will be sufficient for the season. The lime will injure neither the bush nor the fruit.

Those who have soot, either of wood or bituminous coal, should carefully save it for use in the garden. It is valuable for the ammonia it contains, and also for its power of absorbing ammonia. It is simply charcoal (carbon) in an extremely divided state, but from the creosote it contains is useful in destroying insects, and is at the same time valuable as a fertilizer for all garden crops.

The first year a sheep’s front teeth are eight in number, and are of equal size ; the second year the two middle teeth are shed, and replaced by two much larger than the others ; the third year two very small ones appear on either side of the eight ; at the end of the fourth year there are six large teeth ; the fifth year all the front teeth are large ; the sixth year all begin to show signs of wear. Charcoal as Manure. —Although charcoal is nearly pure carbon, a large constituent of all vegetation, still it is not claimed that this substance furnishes direct food to plants. Its action is thus described by Liebig : “ Plants thrive in powdered charcoal, and may be brought to blossom and bear fruit if exposed to the influence of rain and atmosphere. Charcoal is the most unchangeable substance known. Ir may be kept for centuries without change. It possesses the power of condensing gases within its pores, and particularly carbonic acid; and it is by virtue of this power that the roots of plants are supplied with charcoal as is humus, with an atmosphere of carbonic acid, which is renewed as quickly as it is abstracted. Plants do not, however, attain maturity, under ordinary circumstances, in charcoal powder, unless moistened’with rain or rainwater. Rain-water contains one of the essentials of vegetable life, a compound of nitrogen, the exclusion of which entirely deprives humus and charcoal of their influence upon vegetation.”

Barley and Oats. —A fine condition of the soil is indispensable for the barley crop. Old barley-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 loom, 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 a half bushels per acre, but opinions vaiw in this respect, and from one and a half to two and a half bushels is the range. Early-sown oats in our hot climate are, as a rule, better than the late sown. 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

Beans as Food for Stock. —Chemical analysis and observation in feeding alike show the large amount of nutriment contained in beans. There is no more valuable food for forming muscle than beans. In the production of fat they are greatly inferior to corn and the small grains, but they are superior to them in the production of flesh. All young animals are benefited by an occasional ration of beans. Sheep are as fond of beans as boys are of watermelons, but they are not relished by most domestic animals when they are first given them to eat. Many animals need to Be educated to eat beaus, but, after a short time, they will acquire a taste for them. Hogs, cows and fowls will acquire a taste for beans as readily as human beings will for tomatoes, celery and ripe figs. If beans are ground with corn or any kind of small grain in the proportion of one bushel of the former to four of the latter, the meal will be eaten by all kinds of stock. Beans may be soaked till they are quite soft, or boiled and mixed with bran or cornmeal to excellent advantage.

To Cure Foot-Rot in Sheep.—The preparation of the foot is just as essential as the remedy, for if every part of the disease is not laid bare the remedy will not effect a cure. A solution of blue vitriol as strong as can be made and as hot as you can bear your hand in, even for a moment, having the liquid throe or four inches deep, or deep enough to cover all the affected parts ; then hold the diseased foot in this liquid ten minutes, or long enough to penetrate to all the diseased parts ; put the sheep on a dry barn floor for twenty hours to give it a chance to take effect. In every case where I have tried it, it has effected a cure, and I have never given a sheep medicine internally for foot-rot. This remedy I call a dead shot when the foot is thoroughly prepared, but a more, expeditious way, and where you don’t hardly hope to exterminate the disease, but keep it in subjection, is this : After preparing the feet as for the vitriol cure, take butter of antimony, pour oil of vitriol into it slowly until the heating and boiling process ceases, and apply with a swab. This remedy works quicker, is stronger than the vitriol, and is just as safe, but its mode of application renders it less sure.- Ohio Farmer.