Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 April 1891 — DOMESTIC ECONOMY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DOMESTIC ECONOMY.

TOPICS OF INTEREST TO THE FARMER AND HOUSEWIFE. Some Valuable Information for the Plowman, Stockman, Poulterer, Nureeryand Everybody Connected with the Farm. _ THE FARM., Beautifying the Farm Homo.

IT is too often said farmers have no time for ornamental work. This is a mistake more of the understand- \ ing than of the \ judgment. Orna- \ mental work ® 1 should not be useI less, although so £ much useless work » is unornamental, gz The. true principle z is to have our use- > ful everyday g things beautiful, t Have them so good r that their use will k be a pleasure. It does not lessen the

usefulness of a horse or ox to have him handsome and well eared for; neither will it detract from the yards about our houses to have them neat. Wonderful improvements have taken place in all parts of the United States in this respect during the last ten years, but there are many places still in need of ‘’toning up.” The first province of the art is to “remove nuisances,” and this should be tho keynote of our work. Better have the surroundings of our homes neat and fresh, by such common means as we have it in our power to use, than attempt an elaboration that must fall into neglect. The elaborate bedding arrangements, some of our wealthy people delight to spend their money on, should not be desired by farmers’ families, but better things are to be had. A good green turf and some good trees are better for everyday use than a map of the continent done in plants with colored foilage. Better a green piece of sward about our houses, even if we cannot keep it as short and thick as we wish. It is always ready to respond to our efforts when we have time to attend to it, and will not suffer from a little neglect as much as exotics do. It is easier to “clean up” and plant new things than to keep the place in order afterward. Therefore we should work to this end. Let us think out what we want the place to be, and have all our efforts directed to the end in view. We may not be able at once to get the things we want, but if we arrange what we have with reference to future improvement we will be much better satisfied with ourselves and the place when the time for further improvement comes. The best selection of trees and rhrubs that can be made is of those kinds that do well with us; better have some thrifty, fresh specimens of the commonest trees and shrubs than rare exotics that will not flourish in our soil and climate, but only struggle out a miserable existance without beauty or fruit. By no means give up trying new things if there is an opportunity, but let us experiment in the garden, or somewhere else, that indifferent success may not always be before us. Let us plant about the house, where we will see them every time we go out of doors, plants that we know how to grow, or those that do well in similar situations. In planning our ground, few designs are more generally satisfactory than an irregular border running around the yard with tall shrubs behind and low growing plants in front, with the middle left open for a good space of grass. Avoid dotting things about. They will not do as well and are more difficult to care for, and so is the grass. This principle holds good everywhere, but can be subjected to endless modifications in detail, and gives great scope for taste in arrangement and display of knowledge of plant growth and characteristics. The “best soil” is that which we have, for it is what we must use. Perhaps it is too poor to raise many things, and we must modify and improve it by the means in our power, but rarely can we change its permanent character. If our house is on a rocky hilltop let us chocwe shrubby evergreens and things that will live without constant care. However much we may desire plants from the lowlands, it is unwise to attempt their growth in unfavorable situations. If we live on sand or bottom land let us plant accordingly. We can drain and fertilize to a certain extent, and if there is a good supply of water can do wonders with its nse, but above all let us plan to suit our conditions, personal, financial, and those of soil and climate, and not lay out more than we can attend to in the Flap to keep the surroundings of the home neat even if there are no shrubs but an old lilac bush, or trees but a moss grown apple or pear tree. — Walter Dalton, In American Agriculturist. An Adjustable Eaddcr-Foot. Every one who has had to pick apples in a side-hill orchard will understand the value of the device illustrated herewith

after a sketch and description furnished by George E. Hull, Westchester County, N. Y. It is an adjustable extension for the foot of a ladder, and

LADDER FOR HILLY LAND. Consists Of a piece of wood about two feet long and the same width and thickness as the foot of the ladder. It is held in place by two iron straps which are firmly bolted or screwed to the ladder, but large enough, especially the upper one, to give the extension piece plenty of space. When the ladder is set in place, the loose piece drops of its own accord to the ground, as shown in the right hand side of the engraving. It is tirmlv fastened there by a wedge of hard wood or, still better, of iron. Winter is the most convenient season for making such contrivances. — American Affriculturixt. . .... Killing Hogs. A subscriber asks if there can be described apian by which it may be known how to properly stick a hog. It is not altogether easy to describe the operation, but with the help of the wood cut we have had made, it may be understood. To begin right, get the hog securely in a pen that will just hold him. Stun by a sharp blow in the forehead with a pole axe or some similar weapon, half way between the eyes and top of the head, or shoot him in the forehead with a revolver. Then before

the animat begins to struggle torn him square on his back, place a foot oh each side of the head, facing the animal, hold the head down to the ground by placing the left hand on the snout Now place the point of the knife—a seven-inch blade is long enough for any hog—on the animal’s throat at the same time looking over the carcass, and push the knife In a straight line in the direction of the root of the tail, as

shown. Withdraw the knife quickly, and a gushing stream will follow it out The idea is to cut the aorta, the great artery rising from the left vertiele of the heart If you do not stick just right the first one, you will see why when the hog is opened. A little observation, however, will soon enable you to become expert.—. Exchange. A Late Farm Gate. Here is a sketch of a farm gate which I have used for several years and have never seen in use anywhere beyond my farm, writes John P. Tripp in Fann and Home, although I have been in many places where snow is a trouble. Its chief virtue lies in the fact that it can be raised to any height, and will maintain this altitude and swing as well as when close to the ground. There is no special plan for the gate. It only differs from other gates in being hung in a distinct

fashion. A back piece Is made of scantling three inches square. This is as high as the high post of' the gate. The top hinge must be put as high as the gate will allow, as shown. The bottom hinge must be placed as high as it will be necessary to raise the gate. The hinge is let into the back side of the back piece and one bolt passes through the hinge flush with the front side of this same piece. As will be seen In cut No. 3, the parts of the iron which are held together by a bolt in front of the back piece (just mentioned) hook

over, leaving a space, between which the slats of the gate can pass as the gate is lifted up or is let down. The high gate post and back piece next to the post set in the ground are so near together as to almost rub. To keep the gate In place on raising it up, a small iron pin is put through the gate over the lower hinge. This prevents the gate from slipping down. A bolt should be put through the corner of the gate to prevent its being lifted entirely out of the hinges In a hurry sometimes. A Cheap Clod Crusher. Funny, isn’t it? that an implement costing so little and so easily made and effective should be neglected by ninetenths of farmers. It it nothing but three poles from the woods, each six to eight feet long and four to six Inches in diameter at the butt, with bits of the tops placed between to hold them apart as the long bolts, running through the whole, are screwed tight These bolts

are the only part of the implement that costs. The chain? Any log chain will answer. It is best to draw ft a little “catering,” so it will have a slightly shaving action on the sods. For leveling knolls and filling hollows it has no equal. Is there a piece of land that is too wet to plant and so, although uneven, has never been plowed? Make one of these home clod-crushers and levelers, and during the next drouth just plow that ground, level it and seed it and see if you are not proud of the job ever after. On such wet, natural meadow manure applications pay well. The crop can be gathered enough quicker on one sipooth acre to leave time for the making of half a dozen such contrivances.— Hollister Sage, in Farm and Home.