Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 July 1880 — FARM NOTES. [ARTICLE]

FARM NOTES.

Several agricultural journals are recommending bitter aloes as a lice exterminator on cattle. It is to be applied in powdered form by dusting it into the hair on the animal. “I honestly believe,” says the New England Farmer , “ that the farmer who will work his brains until noon, and his hands the balance of the day, will outstrip him who rises at 5 and toils until 9 at night.” The Grocer thinks that if the dairy interest continues to increase as it-has been doing heretofore, in a few years hence no other country need make butter and cheese, as this country Avill be able to supply the requirements of the world at a lower rate and of a better quality than they can make it themselves.

Apple Bober.—According to a Avriter on horticultural and agricultural subjects, when borers have once gained possession of a tree the only way to get rid of them is to hunt for them carefully Avith a knife or Avire and destroy them. The eggs of the parent beetle are deposited during nights in June, and are placed in the bark of the tree at the surface of the ground, or Avhatever may surround the tree. These eggs hatch in our latitude during September, and it is soon after this that the youug grubs may be easily removed without the use of anything more than the point of a penknife. A few minutes spent in this Avay about the Ist of October each fall Avill keep the tree free from this peat.—Scientific American. Transplanting in the Night. A gentleman, anxious to ascertain the effect of transplanting at night, instead of by day, made an experiment Avitli the folloAving results : He transplanted ten cherry trees Avliile in bloom, commencing at 4 o’clock in tho afternoon. Those transplanted during the daylight shed their blossoms, producing little or no fruit, while those transplanted in the dark maintained their condition fully. He did the same with ten dAvarf trees, after the fruit was one-third groA\n. Those transplanted during the day shed their fruit; those transplanted during the night perfected the crop and showed no injury from having been removed. With each of these trees he removed some earth Avith the roots. The incident is fully vouched for, aud, if a feAv similar experiments produce a like result, it Avill be strong argument to horticulturists, etc., to do such Avork at night.— Floral Cabinet. How Animals Gboav Fat.—Fat in animals, like starch, sugar and oil in plants, contains no nitrogen, and Avlien an animal, is not fed this fat wastes away first —in other words, is consumed. If the animal be exposed to great cold without extra food it cannot fatten. The reason, therefore, that animals protected from tho cold of winter fatten much faster than Avlien exposed is that what would accumulate as fat is used in keeping the animal warm. The earthy or inorganic matter in plants is as necessary for animal groAvth as the organic matter. The bony skeleton consists chiefly of calcium phosphate, with a little calcium carbonate and other mineral substances derived from plants. While plants contain everything necessary for animal groAvth, some portions are richer in salts and nitrogenous material, and are, therefore, considered to be of more value, as the grain of Avheat, corn and oats. Foods differ greatly in value, as every farmer knoAvs. Many experiments have been made to determine the feeding poAvers of the various kinds of food, and elaborate tables haA r e been draAvn up to express their cbmpartive value. Every farmer practically constructs such a table for himself, at least, he sets a different value on different substances, and buys and sells acordingly.

Diarrhea in Fowls.—Recent scientific researches have proved that this disease is caused by a microscopic organism which is developed in the intestines, passes into the blood, and multiplies itself there with extraordinary rapidity. Tlio parasite is ejected from the bowels, and may be taken by birds who pick about among the dung-heap or eat the grains that have been soiled by contact Avitli it. If a fowl dies, and there is any cause to believe that diarrhea lias caused its death, the birds should lie immediately taken out of the poultryyard and isolated. The poultry-yard and poultry-house should be Avell cleansed, the dung removed, and the walls, perches, and soil Avashed Avitli plenty of Avater. The Avater used should contain five grammes per litre of sulphuric acid, and a stiff broom or brush should be employed. When ten days have passed Avithout a death occurring, the birds need no longer remain isolated, excepting those which slioav signs of prostration, depression, or sleepiness. These simple means will be found sufficient to stop the progress of the contagion, and to prevent its return. If they are employed as soon as the disease makes its appearance, they Avill reduce the losses to an insignificant figure.— L' Acclimatation.