Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 December 1882 — FARM NOTES. [ARTICLE]

FARM NOTES.

Burnt Corn for Fowls.—An occasional meal of corn, bnr J on the c b until each kernel is black, or i's long as it can be burned and have the corn retain its shape, is greedily eaten by fowl - *, and results in a general improvement in their health, and a greater average number of eggs is produced. A Hasty Conclusion. —When Mr. Edmund Hersey hears a man proclaim a new departure in agriculture o su> ce s, after onl.’ one or two years’ trial, it is always evident to him that the speaker has formed a hasty conclusion, which time may prove So he ex] resses himself in the Massachusetts Ploughman. Shrinkage of Corn. —Corn will shrink from the time it is husked from ike field or shock, in the autumn, n well p elected cribs, from 20 to 30 per cent, by spring. That is, 100 bushels will shrink to 70 or 80, according to how dry it was when gathered. Sound corn will shrink 20 per cent. £ so that 40 cents per bushel as it comes from the field is as good as 50 cents in the spring. Salt for Vegetables.—The Michigan Farmer says the plants most benefited by an application of salt are cabbage, ce'ery, asparagus, tomatoes, onions and radishes. Salt on land renders it more friable, as it po sesses the property of attracting moisture from the atmosphere. Grasses are most readily affected by salt; it is generally of advantage to bulbous plants and those with succulent leaves. Science and Agriculture.—George B. Loring, Commissioner of Agriculture, in an address, said: Let our scientific teachers learn to respect the practical knowledge of the farmer, and let the farmer lay aside his jealousy of the learning of the schools. To this just proper combination of mental forces how would the earth unfold her secrets; how would the fields rejoice under well-directed cultivation; how would the whole animal economy of the farm be developed and improved; how would the whole business of agriculture be brought into subjection to systematic laws. Without this combination, deprived of this accumulation pf facts, science in agriculture becomes powerless; with it, it becomes a most important ally to the farmer; in fact,it is 1 educed to one mode of practice itself and meets with the highest success. For, in whatever the farmer does, he is obliged to recognize an influence which the hand of man cannot reach, which no investigation can fathom, no human poxver guide. Agriculture obeys the laws of nature; science endeavors to ascertain and explain them. Science may attend upon agriculture as a guide and stimulus to the best exertion; but it is the patient and prudent and experienced farmer who knows what land he needs, what crops he can raise, wh it fertilizers he requires, and what lai. or he can best apply. It is the union of practice and science which makes fanning perfect. Sand for Packing Fruit.—The Fural New Yorker has the folloxving: The citrus men of Los Angeles, Cal., have made a discovery of great value, ta Florida. Dry sand is the best packing for oranges and lemons. It must be quite dry, and no paper must be usedThe fruit must touch the sand. Experience waif ants keeping for five months at least. The dry sand has absorbing power that apparently takes up all exudations subject to decomposition, the rind being very porous. Naturally the thoughtful mind suggests that, on the same principle, dry sand must have a similar preservative effect on other fruits, such as pears, plums, nectarines, apples and other smooth-skinned varieties. Keeping Apples.—A farmer wants to know how to keep a hundred barrels of apples until late in the fall without putting them in a barn hr out-house, and the Country Gentleman suggests the following method: You may place the barrels of apples on their sides, and leave them in a sheltered and shaded place in the orchard, or in any other suitable spot. Place two rails or large poles on the ground, so as to raise the barrels a few inches above it. Item will not be likely to injure them, but it will be better to make a temporary roof of boards. There will be no danger of their freezing till late in November. If you cannot barrel them, place half a foot of straw cn a dry spot of ground, and pile the apples carefully in a long heap, and cover them with two or three inches of straw. The object of placing them in art out-house, opening to the north, is to secure a cool place, a dry floor and shelter from rains. They are to be removed to the cellar or fruit-room before freezing w. ather. Small Grain for Pigs.—Western farmers have bee me so accustomed to making pork from corn that they scarcely know what to do when a corn crop fai's. Many farmers hesitate to settle north of the line where large crops of corn are raised, because they think they can not produce pork to a - vantage. Now no one will deny that corn is a most excellent fool for fattening hogs, and where it can be cheaply produced it is generally the most economical article that can be employed for that purpose. It is true, however, that pork is economically produced in places where corn cau not be ripened, and the fanners there find as much profit in raising beef and mutton. In Great Britain barley is chiefly used far fattening hogs. In Canada all the s nail grains except wheat, peas and roots largely take the place of corn. In the New England States a little corn is used in connection with potatoes, apples, pumpkins and mill feed. A variety of the food given to hogs appears to promote health and to produce meat of fine flavor. As prices range this season it is likely that oats will prove to be a chea er food for hogs in many parts of the West w ere but little corn is raised. Experiments tried by several seem to show that two bushels of oats are worth as much as one bushel of corn for making pork. In many parts of the country it is easier to raise two bushel* of oats than one bushel of corn. The cost of thrashing the oats is less than that of husking the corn. To produce the best results the oats should be ground be ore they are fed. They will be readily eaten and digested, however if they are soaked in milk or xvater. Barley which has been discolored by exposure is an excellent food for pigs. The like is true of rye and peas.