Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1894 — DOMESTIC ECONOMY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DOMESTIC ECONOMY.

TOPICS OF INTEREST TO FARMER AND HOUSEWIFE. Farmers Hhodtd Not Neglect Opportunities for DUcus'lng Ways and Mesn« of Success—Clean and Contenlent Pump Platform—Low Yields of Corn. Convenient Pamp Platform. A correspondent of the American Agriculturist has Just fitted up his pump platform in a convenient wav, as seen in the engraving. Agalvanized Iron pan fifteen inches across and eight inches deep, of a semicircular shape so as to fit snugly against the pump, with an inch pipe to convey tic water, is placed directly under tho spout. Into this pan all tho drippings and water that slops over fall, and are conveyed by the pipe to a flower garden where tho

ground is irrigated, by filling a small trough into which the plpo empties to save tho supply for the altches. Bohind the pump a trap door, fitted with strap hinges and a hasp, staple and padlock, opens into a convenient receptacle In which butter, cream, vegetables to bo warmed over, and meaLs can be kept quite as well as In a refrigerator, and without tho expense for Ice. The platform is mado of a framework of two by six inch joists, with a floor of matched flooring nailed on both sides, tho interveiling space being filled with clean sawdust This keeps out frost in winter and heat In summer, and with the provision for currying off tho drippings, It is always clean and healthful. Keeping; Ten ms Busy. It Is one of the ehlof difficulties of farming on a smull acreage that tho necessary work to bo done In plowlng, cultivating, and marketing crops requires a Tull team part of the time, while there is not sufficient work to keep it ctiiployed all the time. Idle horses soon eat morotlmn their labor during a small part of the year Is worth. Yet the small farmer who relies on hiring team work done is alwa\s handicapped by finding It Impossible to hlro teams when he most needs them. The only other recourso is to change tho methods of farming. Put on nioro labor’ and capital por acre, and thus grow crops which will keep the teams busy most of tho year hauling thorn to maiket. If there aro days when no marketing is to be done, tho teams oan bo employed just as profitably In drawing manure. In most cases this on a small farm will make It necessary to buy most Ji not ail the food that the teamsoat This Is what market gardeners almost invariably do. They cannot afford to grow hay or grain on land that 'will prolnce live and perhaps ten times as valuable a crop in something, else. Buying all their feed they know just what It costs them, and are less likely to lose by keeping teams Idle. Tho chief difficulty with rnanw farmers In making their farming pay is not recognizing that the feed which they grow and feed Is worth its markot value, and that whatever eats such feed must return at least what It has cost, and can be sold for. Unless this Is attended to, the losses from non-paying itock will eat up profits that can bo iiade otherwise. Farnisr* 1 Mooting*. Even thpugh tho farmer has felt to some extent the general depression of business that has prevailed, he can find much consolation In the thought that “the farmer feeds them all,” and no matter how other kinds Df business may lie effected, the soil will still be called upon to yield of Its abundance to feed tho hungry and Indirectly clothe the naked. For this reason farmers should neglect none of the opportunities offered lor social intercourse and discussion of ways and means of success In the assemblages of all kinds that will occur during the winter months for the consideration and discussion of matters connected with different branches ot farm industry. It makes little dlfierence what thp meeting is, whether It Is one of fruit growers, stock raisers, of those interested in the breeding of horses, tho production of sheep, poultry raising, or housekeeping; there is an opportunity for gaining information at a small cost and at a season of the year when the farmer Is more at leisure than at any other time. Association of those whose lives aro spent upon tho farm is beneficial in its way of smoothing off the rough ways and manners that are said to adhere to those sometimes denominated “hayseeds.” Again every new idea, the reception of the thoughts of others, adds so much to the fund of knowledge ai d general intelligence which Is the true measure of the man or woman. Farmers do not neglect any opportunities.

IMPROVED PUMP PLATFORM.