Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 December 1890 — RURAL TOPICS. [ARTICLE]

RURAL TOPICS.

INFORMATION FOR THE HUSBANDMAN AND HOUSEWIFE. Rome Practical Sock**" l Inns for th« Farmer, Stock-Brooder, Poulterer, Nurseryman, and Housekeepers. THE FARM. Fences. The mak ng and keeping up of the fences on the average farm is a very considerable item of expense. On many farms much more so than is really necessary or economical. But the item of keeping up the fences is not all the expense. They occupy more or less ground, depeudlng on the character of the fence. Generally this strip is allowed to grow up in weeds, sprouts or briars; this adds more or less to the work wit! the crops, but in addition affords a good harboring place for vermin. With a littlo planning, a considerable part of the fencing can readily be dispensed with, and to a good advantage. Where there Is no stock law, and where soiling is not followed, outside fencing along the roads and lines between farms must be kept up, with sufficient inside feuces, to provide good pasturage. Outside of this, all the nwt of the fencing should be dispensed with, as it adds to the expense of the farm with no corresponding benefit. With a good system of rotation planned and carried out, there is but little benefit to be derived in pasturing the cultivated fields. Taking the benefit of plowing under the green growth, and the expense of making and keeping up the fences, the bettor plan will be, In a majority of cases, to keep the stock off the cultivated land. My plan is to take considerable pains to have good pastures. I prefer two, as more stock can be kept in proportion to the acrage, with better results, than is possible with only 011 c pasture. Have It seeded with a good variety of grasses, and keep down the weeds and sprouts. Have the balance of the farm into just as few fields as the condition in which the farm lies will permit. It can bo divided into plots or fields for cultivation, numbering each one so as to be able to plan better, both in keeping up the system of rotation and of manuring. Much of the inside fencing can be readily dispensed with by this plan, and the farm work bo carried on to better advantage. A supply of rails or panels of plank fence can be kept for making temporary fences when needed, as It will sometimes happen that it will be advisable to pasture the cultivated land a short time. As with a field of oats, that have fallen down so bad as to be difficult to harvest; or wheat and rye can often have sheep or calves, even the hogs, pastured on them during the fall, and occasionally during the winter. Have enough of the necessary fencing, of posts, plank and wire, so as to take up as little land as possible, lessening the cost In the waste land and also in the work of keeping clean. By taking pains to do thorough work and by using good material,a fence can be made that will cost but little to keep in repair each year. And at the same time prove fully more effective than any other. — N. J. Shepherd, In Practical Farmer.

THE HAIRY, Dairy Note*. If one wishes to please his cows and earn their gratitude aud Increase the yield of butter lot him give the cows a peck of ripe apples sliced and mixed with two quarts of fine corn meal every day at noon. Whatever may be tho low condition of the general market the best quality of butter is always 111 demand. Market prices In their variations never affect tho highest quality. It is only the second rate kinds that are drawn down by the always excessive supply of the poorest qualities. We have got to reach the keeping of ono cow to every acre of cultivated land before we reach the greatest possible profit. The sooner we reach this the better it will be, and then wji may try to do better if we can. And with this economy of feeding we must be ever striving for increased yield by the improvement of the dairy stock. Much feed can be saved through the winter by a liberal use of it now. Although the fine weather has kept up tho pasture, it is not nearly so nutritious as In the summer, so that some extra food should be given now. A bit of hay at milking time with a quart or two of meal will keep up the flow of milk. Dehorning cattle is not supposed to wholly change the nature of the animals. There are vicious beasts which still retain their natural vices, which however are rendered less dangerous when tho horns are removed. That one bull out of many thousands may kill Its owner even after its horns are removed Is no argument against a practice which renders ninty out of 100 practically harmless. Don’t put any faith In methods of Improving bad butter or cheese after It is made. The right way Is not to make a bad quality of either. It is better to keep out the imperfections than to take them out, even if it were possible. But It is not. The badness is in grain. It may be covered up for a short time, by various arts, but like the rottenness at the core of a fair-looking fruit, it will very soon become apparent, and worse than at the beginning. Much harm is done by the prevailing unwise excitement in regard to diseased milk. One of the Ohio inspectors, and a doctor (?) goes so far as to say that the Jersey milk is made unfit for use, by the pampering—-as he calls it—of the cows; the carding and brushing and the blanketing of them, which he says makes them subject to disease. This is strange talk for a physician who would, or should at least, encourage the most perfect cleanliness and protection against cold and chills, which really are the most frequent causes of diseases in cows.

THIS rOtLTKV-VAKD. Artificial Hatching. When once the farmer fully comprehends the value of an incubator for raising chickens for the market, few will be without them. Properly handled, broiler raising is very profitable, requiring a moderate amount of space within a brooding-house and a few modest runs to successfully bring them up to that age when you can ship to market. Success depends upon the care bestowed every time—neglect is certain of failure; mark this, and don’t be foolish and think all will be sunshine, for it won’t. A wise head, methodical and economical, should mean abundant success, and it will come if you only say that it must. Determination is a wonderful hoisting-jack in up-

holding this busy world of ours, and Its meaning must be well understood by even the farmer among his flock of fowls. Those who raise broilers must keep away stray cats, rats and wandering dogs; they all do sad work at times among your chicks. Plenty of wire fencing will be needed and all avenues of ingress from marauders closed up reeurely. Those who do not wish to raise broilers can keep a flock or hens for eggs profitably in a house 10x12 feet, and with good handling find both profit and pleasure the result of his labor, with but little expense. If you do either, be in earnest, waste no time, but do everything up well, and you can’t say poultry-keeping is a failure, for it’s false and can be proven a success In a multitude of cases every where. — Correspondence Fa rm, Field and Stockman. Poultry Note*. Sawdust is an excellent litter for duck coops. Overcrowding is a fertile cause of the breeder’s worst enemy—roup. Choose, if possible, for a poultry ranch a slope to the south or southeast. The dally consumption of eggs in the United States Is estimated at 45,000,000. Cooi., sweet water Is one of the most important factors in the health of the flock. There is nothing better for your turkeys than curds squeezed dry aud crumbled. A smai.i, lump of pine tar in the. drinking water supplied to the fowls will bo found beneficial. Better throw the grain food among straw or leaves and make the fowls scratch for a living. It Is a bad plan to clean out the poultry houses and throw the ref use Just outside the door. Barrel at once and put under cover. Eggs aro the most marketable product that the farm yields. They are ready for the market the minute they are laid, and the sooner they are gotten to market the better. Commencing to breed high class fowls, solely with the object of making money from them, Is the rock on which many an enthusiastic bcglnuer has split. Profit must always bo a secondary consideration at the outset. It means hard work and plenty of it for a year or more; tho profit comes later if you only stick. Small potatoes make excellent chicken feed If properly fed. 8011, and while hot, mash with cornmeal and bran and feed warm. Give only what they will eat up clean and not oftenor than every other day. The trouble which follows from feeding potatoes is due to over feeding when tho birds aro hungry and without mixing the potatoes with meal and bran. You cannot keep the chicken coops too clean, and oven after they leave the hens and cluster nightly by themselves see that their shelter Is dry and clean and avoid crowding. Divide the flock In lots of a dozen, they will bo healthier and grow faster for this attention. Every day clean up the droppings and scatter sand about the floor, consequently tho air is pure at night.

THE BTOCK RANCH. When to Hreetl Fllllei. There Is quite a difference in opinion among breeders as to tho proper time to commence breeding fillies. We have had considerable experience during the past fifteen years In breeding mares, having bred large numbers during that time, both for ourselves and those who patronized the stallions wo kept for public service. r~ We have always advocated breeding the fillies at two years, if It is the Intention to breed at all, as In our opinion they will foal their first colt when throe years old with less danger to themselves than when four or five years old, for the following reasons: the mare not having so fully matured as at four or five years old her bones and muscles are not so firmly knit, hence will give more readily, also the foal of the 3-year-old mare will generally be smaller at birth, thereby lessening the danger of the mare having trouble. Wo have never known a 3-year-old mare to have trouble In foaling, although we have known quite a number of fine mares being lost by not being able to foal their first colt when live to seven years old. Two-year-old fillies should not be bred too early in the season; It would be better to have them foal In July than beforo the grass comes In the spring, as they will do far better If they can have a run on grass a month beforo foaling. We believe that mares that have their first colts at three years make better and more regular breeders, and In our opinion the breeder who allows a good 2-year-old to run over without being stinted to a well bred, matured stallion is losing valuable time. We say breed the fillies to matured stallions, for in breeding horses, as with all other kinds of stock, if young, Immature females the stock will rapidly degenerate into mere scrubs.— National Horse Breeder. , Live Stock Notes. If you have not feed sufficient to keep the pigs growing, some of them should be sold. Do you believe the health of a horse largely depends upon the cleanliness of his skin? In purchasing a horse, always reject one that Is not a good walker. It is an important quality. The failure to make sheep pay can, to a considerable extent, be traced to failure to give proper care. In many cases It will pay to purchase and feed bran, shipstuff and oil meal to the growing pigs. It will be better and cheaper than corn. Blemishes, as well as diseases, are often transmitted to offspring, and for this reason it is very important to have the sire, at least, as perfect as possible. Raising plug horses, for market rarely pays. They cost as i£lich to raise as the better class and sell for much less. Remember this this fall when engaging a horse for service. It is when prices are low and the margin of profit is small, that ft is important to keep a close account with each class of stock in order to determine which is the most profitable.

THE HOUSEHOLD. Pretty Things for the Hood*. I have a table which I would not part with for any mahogany cabinet table in the land, and you will wonder why when I tell you it did not cost me as much as my kitchen table. I obtained from one of our dealers three, slender canes, fcfr which I paid 10 cents each. I crossed them in the middle and on top placed a piece of pine wood twenty-two inches square and one inch thick, nail-

ing lfc-securely to each cane. I purchased' a pint can of Inside white paint for 15 cents, at the hardware store, and treated the canes to three coats thereof. I then obtained some white French enamel at 25 cents a pint, and gavo it three coats of that, allowing plenty of time for drying. I placed on the wood a layer of cotton batting, over which I tacked a piece of coarse muslin. It was then ready for the plush. I purchased five-eights of a yard of white plush, which I tacked tightly over the muslin. Then around tne table I suspended twenty-four plush ornaments, three white and three yellow, and on each of the four sides, placing them alternately, After that I nailed some brass-headed nails straight around the table, and after tying a yellow ribbon bow where the canes cross, my table was completed, and a daintier one it would be hard to find. A portiere Is a great furnisher, and may bo obtalnud now at reasonable prices. Still cheaper is a very pretty portiere that can bo made of common blue jean, which is usod for overalls. As you all know, it is very low in price, and is of a color which now-a-days Is often sought for. Make the curtain of the depth of your door, and finish with a deep hem. Then across the bottom, aborft four Inches from the lower edge of tho hem, place a band of plush, either dark mahogany or cinnamon brown in color, and about ten or twelve inches deep. If the poles aro too costly, a very odd and pretty pole may be made of a branch of a tree, cut even on each end, and the branch itself being left rough. Give It a coat of mahogany stain, and fasten up at each end by means of small pieces of leather tacked under and over the pole. Sew the curtains on small brass screw oyes, which should bo rivlted In the pole. If attempted, I can assure you It will bo a gratifying success.— American Agriculturist, Hint* to Housekeeper*. To clean knives, cut a small potatoe, dip it in brlckdust and rub them. Grease may bo removed from silk by applying magnesia to the wrong side. Keep the back, especially between tho shoulder blades, well covered; also the chest well protected. In sleeping In a cold room, establish tho habit of breathing through the nose, and never with the mouth open. Lamp burners that have be conn dim and sticky can be renovated by boiling them In strong soda water, using a tin toinatoe can for this purpose; then scour tho burners with sapollo and they will be as good as now. Keep your combs and brushes sweet and clean. Wash them In tepid water containing a few drops of ammonia. The grease and soil will disappear as If by magic. Place the brushos bristles down to dry, and delicate celluloid handles will not bo Injured. For washing lace curtains and fine laces, allow the articles to lie in borax water for twenty-four hours, then squeeze out, not rub, through several clear waters. Black cashmere, washed ti hot suds, with a little borax added, rinsed In very blue water, and ironed while wot on the wrong side, look “aa good as now.”

THU KITCHEN. Apple and Hugo Padding. Paro and core six large, tart apples; fill the holes in those cored apples with sugar and a little cinnamon, and stick two cloves in each apple, placing them in a large pudding dish. Take six large spoonfuls of sago; pour over it two cups of boiling water, stirring until it begins to thicken; then cover it up and let it stand about two hours; pour this Into the dish containing the apples, and bake in a moderate oven for two hours. Eat hot with sugar and cream, or a plain butter and sugar sauce. ■ Apple Omelet. Pare, coro and stew six large, tart apples as for sauce; beat them very smooth while hot, adding one tablespoon of butter, six tablespoons of white sugar, nutmeg to the taste, and one teaspoon of rosewater; when quite cold, add three eggs, beaten separately very light, putting in the whites last; pour into a deep pudding dish, previously warmed and well buttered. Bake in a moderate oven until it is delicately browned. Eat warm, not hot. Ribbon Cake. One cup butter,i two and one-half cups sugar, four eggs, one cup sweet milk, three cups of flour, two heaping teaspoons baking-powder. Divide into three parts. To one part add one cup raisins and one cup currants, spice to taste. Bake the three partfe in three separate tins. Put the part with the fruit between the other two, spreading a thin layer of frosting between, and cover the top with f resting. Jumbles. One and a quarter pounds of flour, one pound of sugar,three-quarters of a pound of butter, five eggs, a gill of milk, a teaspoonful of baking powder; bake onehalf of this in small tins in a quick oven; in the remainder put a quarter of a pound of currants, and bake the same. Frost or not at pleasure by leaving but the whites of one or two eggs. brM Pea*. Let them stand over night in water; the next day boll until tender; drain off the water, and for every quart add two tablespoonfuls of butter, half a tablespoonful of flour rubbed into the butter, half a teaspoonful of sugaa? fuid one of salt. Mix thoroughly, simmer a few minutes, add a cup of cream or rich milk to each quart, heat and serve. Cottage Pudding. * One egg, one tablespoonful of melted butter, one-half cup of milk, one-half cup of sugar, one-half of a tcaspoonful of soda, one teaspoonful of cream of tartar, flour enough to make a cake batter.

Pierolng Ears No Longer Fashionable. To pierce a child’s ears is now regarded as execrably bad form, Of old no sooner was the little one christened and vaccinated than straightway the careful mother whisked her daughter off to he punctured at the jeweler’s. Fashion has completely reversed these ideas, and to-day even the school girl, whose pretty pink lobes have been preserved intact looks with commiseration upon the mutilated ears of her les B . fortunate companion. Pins and earrings are now rarely sold in seti for young people, and it begins to look ay though ono relic of barbarism had been definitely laid aside.— Exchange. “That armless girl in the mnsemn will be safe from marriage proposals.* “Why, so?” “Because nobody will ask for her hand.”