Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1882 — FARM NOTES. [ARTICLE]

FARM NOTES.

Experienced fence-builders and others who use wood in the rough for posts, ties, etc., unite ia the opinion that timber cut in summer, while the bark will yet peel freely, is more durable than that felled during winter. There is less of soluble sap in the trunk and limbs to absorb moisture, ferment and induce decay. Sour apples are often fed to milch cows to good advantage;. but care should be taken not to feed them out until they are ripe: and when the cows are first fed on them only a small quantity should be given at one time, say onehalf peck per day, then gradually increase to a peck in a week’s time, and two pecks at the end of two weeks.

In California the Chinese are said to be fast becoming the chief manipulators of the fruit crop, and, by reason of the extent and boldness of their transactions, are driving the heavy fruit commission merchants of San Francisco out of the field. Their method of procedure is to visit the fruit districts as soon as a reasonable estimate of the extent of the crops can be made, and then contract for the fruit, paying so much per tree or acre, as the case may be — they taking all chances, and picking and boxing the fruit themselves. In this manner they buy up the products of entire districts. They peddle out all they can throughout the surrounding country, and either ship the remainder to the city markets or dry it. Their action is an advantage to many of the fruit-growers, as they realize as much as, or more, than formerly for their fruit crops, and are not subjected to the annoyance and trouble of picking and shipping.

Late experiments in the use of salt for domestic animals have been found to prevent diseases formerly quite prevalent, especially such as are of a direct blood and parasitic kind. It is said to destroy the minute organisms of those» maladies. By the proper use of salt in their food perhaps the hog cholera, so destructive at times in the West, might be completely rooted out. It certainly could be if aided by suitable food and the swine were not kept in too large herds, and always on pasture in summer, and in well ventilated, clean, dry sties or well-sheltered dry yards in winter. Salt duly administered might also prevent the Texas cattle lever. It would be a great task to feed it to the large herds roanrug there, or in other parts of the grjeat We d, but sacks or barrels of it might be transported on to the ranges, and then scattered over spots of a few acres each at consid' Table distances apart. These the cattle would soon find, and come to them as desired to tick at the salt and crop the grass growing there, which would be in some instances perhaps of a .saltish taste. If lirge rocks of the Liverpool salt could be scattered here and there on the feeding grounds it would be still better. As the elements have very little effect in dissolving this rock salt, it will not waste when thus exposed. I am so particular in the use of salt to my animals that I even give it to the poultry by dissolving it in pure water, ami then add about a gill of this brine to a gallon of the fresh water which is used to mix up tin ir pudding made of wheat, bran and meal of some kind— 1 corn, rye, barley, oats or buckwheat. I think it is in consequence of this, and | otherwise taking proper care of my ani- I mals and fowls that I am not troubled j with diseases of any sort am ng them. I —A. li. Allen. It is so easy to stock a farm with trees—both fruit and shade trees—that it is a wonder that more effort is not made in this direction. A little plat of ] ground should be inclosed, or a corner of the garden appropriated, where the little trees may be Set out and left to grow until they are large enough to be trans lanted into the orchard or the grove where they are to be permanent. A small effort v ill soon collect an extensive grove, and how many farms there are which can be ornamented and made more valuable by the judicious planting of tre s. It is one of the g eatest pleasures of our lives to visit the homestead and see the trees planted by our boy hands. Everybody says that they have added hundreds of dollars to the value of the farm, while observing their growth and development has abundantly com' ensated us. This pleasure is sufficient compensation to any one for planting trees. It is a selfi h idea a great many people have that planting t: ees don’t pay because some one else will have the benefit of them, and not themselves; it is also a mis*««ke. They develop so rapidly ur Aer favorable circumstances that any one may reasonably expect a reward for their labors. — Cor. Ohio Farmer.

Mr J. T. Rothrock, professor of botany in the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania, says that it was long ago noticed that wheat from France, when cultivated in Canada, needed to be acclimated .before it would yield a good crop. Climate also has an important influence on the proportion of gluten and starch found in wheat. That grown in a warm climate has more gluten in p oportion to the starch than in a cold climate. The gluten contains a large quantity of nitrogen which serves to build up the muscular portion of the system. Starch contains a large quantity of carbon, which, with oxygen, is a generator of heat, and is e pecially needed by man in a cold climate. If a kernel of wheat is divided by cutting it crosswise the outer coat will be cornposejl of the cellular tissue or brain; the next is the gluten and the central portion the starch, which constitutes a

large portion of the kernel. In grinding a large portion of the important element, gluten, is often lost with the bran. Wheat contains the largest amount of gluten in proportion to the starch when ripe. In an experiment with Narbonne wheat it was found that when but eighteen days before being ripe it contained only 6 per cent, of gluten, but 12 per cent, when fully ripe. Since gluten is not quite so white as starch it will follow that wheat cut a little before it is dead ripe will make a wh ter flour* than when cut at a later period, but it will be less nutritious and less in quantity. If a common cow has the marks of a good milker, it is wisdom to breed from her. Whether or not her ca 1 ! will inherit her good qualities, time alone can tell. It is right hera that the value of improved stock is greatest. Its characteristics are fixed and will be reproduced. It is here, too, where the value of a registered pedigree is apparent. The 1 act that a book contains the brief statement of the ancestors of

an animal is nothing of itself. But the fact that it tells that the animal has certainly come from a long line of ancestors, which have regularly transmitted their characteristics, is everything, for it not only shows that the animal itself possesses the family characteristics to a greater or less degree,* but that it in turn will be able to transmit them. The common cow may reproduce herself, aud she may not. Tho pureiy-bryd cow will reproduce herself, with possibA' slight variation, under proper breeding. It -is too often the ckse that tho owners of commou cows get an erroneous opinion when their attention has been called to the desirability of improving their herds. They are convinced, perhaps, that it would be to their interest Jo up, or, rather, to improve the character of their herds; blit thinking that tile only way to do this is to purchase outright, they may not feel like going to the expense. Some of the best cows in the country are crosses of our common stock with the improted breeds, and if a man owns a common now that has proved herself a valuable dairy qnimal, he has excellent encouragement to use her for crossing. It is every man’s duty to breed up. It is throwing away money to keep an inferior animal when we can just as well have a better one.— Western Hural.