Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 May 1891 — HOME AND THE FARM. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HOME AND THE FARM.

A DEPARTMENT MADE UP FOR OUR RURAL FRIENDS. Earn* Mov Appliances for the FarmerWell Selected Suggestions lor the Housewife. the Stockman, the Dairyman, the Poulterer, and the Horticulturist—Motes. THE FARM. Corn-l,tating.

k E list the corn in rows threo feet npartr hills one foot apart; one kernel to the hill. This isquite thick, but some will get covered up in cull tivating, which Is I begun when the I corn gets woody. We use a common shoveled cultivator, somet im e s taking the inside shovels off and at other times using them. To keep from covering up the corn first tlmo through, wo use

an inverted V-trough attached as shown in the illustration herewith. To make it. take a 2x4 inch scantling six feet long, chamfer off one edge on each side until the boards lit snug, leaving about six Inches of the scantling unehamfored

by which to hitch it to the cultivator. Through the end of this bore a hole and fasten, crossways, by. bolt, 2xlß Inch piece of wood as Indicated so the Vtrough will stay in the ditch and not bob out. A small hole is bored in each end of the cross stick, through which wires, ropes or small chains are secured and left long enough to fasten to the insido shanks of the cultivator; thus holding the trough in the ditch, and the trough in turn keeping the shovels out of the ditch. Lengthen or shorten the wires, ropes or chains used, according to size of the corn and the amount ol dirt you want in the ditch. \Ve hold the shovels in the ground their full depth and throw dirt all over the trough, covering up as much or as little of the corn as desired; all weeds not extirpated by the shovels are buried under the overthrow. By this method the work is not hard; in fact, it is easier than plowing, planting, etc., by “old style;” and, it is much faster, for you can go pn the run if desired. Mako the trough strong but light. The second time through we use shields and four big shovels, for third time the same as for regularly planted corn—Orange Judd Farmer. Farm Gate Latch, A home-made latch for farm gates, ono that will never get out of order, is easily made and can be added to most gates now being used is worth having, especially if its construction takes but a few minutes and its operation is automatic and sure. About 1 ft. from the end of the gate nail K cleat on each side, so the latch can slide between these and on the upper edge of a board. Next cut off a ft. piece of furring and slide it in for a

latch. Drive a light staple in its upper edge and another in the top board and connect the two by a waste piece of bale wire, raising the inner end of the .latch an inch or two. The upper staple must be placed at least 1 ft. nearer the end of the gate than its mate in the latch. Then when the latch is forced toward the gate's hinges its inner end is lifted and its own weight forces it back into position. A smooth slot of sufficient size must be cut in the post to receive the latch. —Farm and Horne.

About Stock. Do not force the cows to stand in filth or to lie in.it. Keep the stable clean. The horse needs succulent food as well as the cow. A few roots do the horses great good. The man who breaks his colts and the politicians as they ought to be broken, is in th» right way. The time has come when there is scarcely an excuse for using scrub sires. Male animals of all kinds can be purchased cheap. Do not use a scrub stallion, if you can halp it, and remember that every horse that is represented as a thoroughbred is not one by a long shot. When the weather is pleasant, the horse Is better outside than inside the stable. Let him out to get the benefit of the sunshine, the pure air and exercise. A correspondent asks us why a certain brand of bacon is always quoted higher than other kinds. The answer to all such questions, as a rule, is because it is a better article. A han was pretty nearly kicked to deatb the other day by a vicious horse. He had bought the horse for $25 knowing it was vicious. Now the account stands about thus: Horse, $25; doctor’s bill, $165, loss of time, at least S6O; making a total of $2lO. That would buy a pretty good horse, eh?

LISTER CULTIVATOR DEVICE.