Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 March 1894 — OUR RURAL READERS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OUR RURAL READERS.

SOMETHING HERE THAT WILL INTEREST THEM. Fancy Farmers Have Done Much to ProAmo’.e Agriculture—lmproved Stable Floor New Variety of Summer Apples—Location of Farm Buildings. Grooved Stable Floors. It costs but a trifle more to fit open stalls with grooved, or channeled flooring, and this works so satisfactorily that it should come into more

general use. The plank used should not be over eight inches in width, and for a two-inch plank the groove should be cut seven-eighths of an inch wide and one Inch deep. This can be done with a groove plane. With a common plane a V-shaped

groove can be quickly made by taking a little from the upper edge of both planks where they join. Both grooves arc shown in Fig. 1, and a stable tool for cleaning the groove is shown in Fig. 2. Stable floors should have an incline of two Inches In six feet, and when the grooves are kept clean, there will be but little trouble with wet bedding. The grooves need not extend more than ha f the length of the stalls, and, in the morning when the coarse litter is removed, it takes but naif a moment to clean the channels in each stall. “Fancy Farmer*." Probably no other class of peop’o in an agricultural community has ever been so severely ridiculed as those who are known as “fancy farmers.” it is true that such men have made a good many mistakes. Of these some were very laughable, and others, though less ridiculous, showed a remarkable ignorance concerning the proper methods of farm management But it Is equally true that these fancy farmers have, in many cases, been of great help to the more practical agriculturists among whom they came to live. There arc various ways in which the fancy farmers have done much to promote the cause of progressive and profitable agriculture. These men have been enterprising and energetic, and have not only had the means for trying costly experiments, but have been willing to risk considerable sums of money in putting their theories into practice. They have been the pioneers who. at great cost to themselves, open in a new country the path of prosperity to all who choose to follow. They have been teachers who have given excellent instruction without expense to those who have profited thereby. Their successes have shown farmers how rich returns can be obtained, and their failures have warned others to avoid courses which can lead only to losses and disappointments. It is hardly necessary to specify the various ways in which fancy farmers have benefited their neighbors. The introduction of improved breeds of animals, of better kinds of grains and vegetables, of cheaper and yet more efficient methods of cultivating farm crops, and various other useful changes which might be named, have been greatly facilitated by the efforts of these men who farmed for pleasure more than they did to increase their incomes. But there is one way in which their example and influence have been very'helpful, which deserves special mention. This is In the improvement of the buildingsand yards, and the beautifying of the home surroundings. Though not of as direct pecuniary advantage as some other things which they have done, this part of their work has been of great benefit to individual farmers and to farm communities at large. It has led,to improvements, the value of which cannot be indicated in financial terms, but which have been both great and permanent. For this, even more than for the object lessons which have shown how more money can be made from the land, fancy farmers deserve the thanks and good will of all who till the so I.—John E. Read, in Agricultural EpitomisL Salt as a Fertilizer. This is a sub ect which has attracted a good deal of attention and been discussed quite freely by the farmers of this State. Recently a correspondent of the Mark Lane Express gave some Interesting information as to the benefits of salt as a fertilizer, and the best methods of using it upon land. He said that although it was an excellent practice to put salt regularly and freely on the manure head, this is not sufficient for dry and light soils, so that about two cwt. of salt should be applied with each cartload of manure; but it is generally agreed that the best time to apply salt is ;ust before the land is broken up, yyhen it gets plowed in and thoroughly incorporated with the soil and subsoil. For all produce, salt has been found to be more or less beneficial according to the conditions of the soil. If noxious insects, slugs, and weeds have been troublesome, and if the soil is light, friable, peaty, or marly, requiring moisture, salt is undoubtedly the best fertilizer to be got, and five cwt. per acre may be used to great advantage, but upon stiff, heavy, wet land, it should be used more moderately, and only when the land is broken up. It, has recently been proved that wheat, barley, oats, and rye have been considerably Improved by salt dressings, as it not only strengthens the straw ahd Increases the yield, but protects the grain from attacks of mildew, etc.— Michigan Faimer. True Economy of Time. A stock raiser often loses much by a mistaken idea concerning the use of his time. Ho continues to use

poor animals for breeding purp*«es because be thicks he has not the time to bunt up and select .better ones The females need culling. Those sold must be replaced by others wbich will only be profitable when selected with care The sire also must be of the or profitable results will not follow Ordinary work about the farm and bam often prevents a trip to some locality where better stock can lie procured. How much better would it lie to hire a man to look after the home affairs for a short time and attend to this important item. If a sls colt dies during your absence the time has still been well spent if the new si e produces progeny worth * 0 or more J Man farmers re juire more an I better I rood sows Others have not yet selected their boar. A good stallion, which Is profitable to any community, ha< not been urchased. The spare time now may well be spent in deciding these matters Also read this winter all the available literature relating to your business, and as much iiesidcs as possible. This information is as important as the regular feeding of the stock.—Orange Judd Farmer.

The Excess of Straw. On many farms the great excess of straw, above the real needs of the farm make It important that every possible method should be utilized for turning it to some profit. Burning straw simply to get t out of the way is too great a waste. If there is no market for it many ways can be found for employing it on the form that it will be of some advantage. Straw is vegetable mat rial, and it is this which much of our land most lacks. How to get it back to the land in the form of plant food is a matter to be cons dered. If all the stiaw cannot be used as bedding for stock, which is probably the easiest and best way of returning it to the soil, it is a good plan to spread some of it out in the yard where the animals stand during the daytime. Their sharp hoofs cut the stalks into small pieces and tramp them into a pulpy mass. When the straw gets pretty well trampled to pieces in the yard, a light layer of dark soli or leaf mold from the woods should be spread over it. The drt is rich in plant food, and by tramping the straw into it very fair manure is made. By successively repeiiting the operation every month through the winter, tho straw will decompose and be ready for use on the land in the spring.

Root Crops Mean Work. Many farmers havelearned that good crops of potatoes are profitable when they are grown near enough to market to bo disposed of without too long carriage, Tho same consideration must be regarded in growing crops of beets, turnips, carrots, parsnips, and other roots. They are all both bulky and heavy in proportion to their price. A good deal of hard work must be given for the money they bring. This is true also of potatoes. They are neither like tho cheaply and easily harvested grain crops. The roots are worse than potatoes In this, that after they arc out their tops have to be cut oil. Potatoes can be dug by machinery, and only need hand labor in picking up and conveying to the market wagon. Well-grown root crops, however, yield so much more heavily than do potatoes that for those not afraid of hard work they are apt to pay very well. If the land is good and tho season favorable they will, even at a very low price, return a good sum an acre.—Philadelphia In juirer. The Starr Apple. The accompanying engravings represent a new summer apple received from Win. Parry, Burlington Co., IN. J., who informs us that the original

tree was an a cidental seeding. It is a good, strong grower with rank, healthy foliages Budded trees come to bearing very youna, and bear every year, having no off years, though yielding heavier on the alternate years. The fruit attains a large size quickly, and will ship well and keep well in this unripes ondition, rendering it valuable for shipments to distant markets. The samples sent mcasdred from eleven to twelve inches around, were greenish yellow in color with handsome blush, sub-acid, of good eating quality, and would be excellent for cooking. Our engravings show a Starr apple and a crosssection reduced one- garter in diameter.—American Agriculturist O To Pickle Beef. As soon as the beef has become cool or the next day after killing, into a weak brine and leave it for three or four days to soak out the blood. Then for each 100 pounds of meat prepare a brine made of eight pounds of salt, two pounds of brown sugar, two ounces of saltpeter, two ounces of black pepper, and six gallons of water. Boil and skim the brine and pour it while warm over the meat after it is closely packed in the barrel. If the meat is to be kept over summer, in the spring draw off the brine, boil and skim and pour over the meat while hot.

Odds and End*. A large, soft sponge, slightly dampened, makes a good duster. For washing greasy kettles a little sal soda added to the water is a help. The best thing for cleaning old brass Is said to be solution of oxalio acid. A little flour dredged over a cake before icing it will keep the icing from spreading and running oft. Tinware may be brightened by dipping a damp cloth in common soda and then rubbing the tin with it thoroughly. Oilcloth, when soiled, should be washed with a soft cloth in lukewarm water, without soap, but| It should never be scrubbed. Spots and dirt may be removed from paintings and chromos by using a cup of warm water to which a few drops nf ammonia have been added.

FIG. 1. IMPROVED STABLE FLOOR.

FIG. 2. TOOL FOR CLEANING GROUND FLOOR.

STAR APPLE. CROSS SECTION.