Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 June 1894 — HOME AND THE FARM. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HOME AND THE FARM.

A DEPARTMENT MADE UP FOR OUR RURAL FRIENDS. One Weter Trough for Sr. era 1 Fields— Convenience of a Folding Feed Hack— A Tasteful Corner Sldeboar.l- The Farmer's Darden-Agricultural Notes. Unique Water Trough. Good, pure water Is one jf the essentials of health, and a thriving condition in farm stork. Often- a pump, w nd-mill. or the overflow from springs or running streams can be utilized and the accumulation

stored, or so distributed that stock from four fields may drink the water* from the same trough. This will prove a great saving in the construction and maintenance of several troughs, and as stock from one field can be watered just as readily as those pasturing in four, the advantage is quite apparent The manner of arranging the fences for a sixteen-foot trough is shown in Fig 1, engraved from a sketch by L. I). Snook. If thought best one or two slats may extend across the trough where the fences cross it at tne throe points, l In Fig. 2 is shown the plan of utilizing a caldron kettle tor the same purpose. It these arc used only dur-

ing summer, they will bo found vory durable, and will last many generations. If ice Is allowed in the kettle, there is danger of breaking it if possible, drill a hole m'tho bottom for rapid cleaning, leaving this open when not in uso. If a iargo circular cover is adjusted, but little rain will enter if exposed during the winter season. Both of these plans aie equally available for use under barn basements where stock is usually wintered in several flocks, in fact the same trough is available for both localities, as it is readily placed in position. This will be found moro practicable' than watering stock from a pail, as many farmers have done for years. As to the mai.ner or getting the water into the trough, many plans are feasible, adopting tho one*considered the most practical with the Immediate surroundings. - American Agriculturist. A Horner Sideboard. It is frequently the case that there Is not proper wall space near the center of the walls of one’s dlnbig room for a sideboard, and In such fin event one of these most serviceable articles may be fitted into a corner of the room. Tho accompanying illustration shows a homomade structure that any one at all handy with tools ought to be able to make very

readily. The wood used should be such as will harmonize with the other furniture of the room, or, if that,is a variety of woods, as Is frequently the case, more latitude may be taken in selecting a handsome wood for this purpose. Oak, ah, cherry, or whitewood may be used with good effect. Let the top and front be treated with s'mpll lty, placing the vfork of Mulshing In the direction of securing a handsome service, rather than an ornamentation of “filigree'* work, that is neither effective nor in good taste.

Bee Culture. We see a gpod deal said about keeping hogs, sheep, poultry, and other farm stock to consume what would otherwise be waste products, and so add to the profit of the farm. Why are not bees named in th s list more frequently? Surely there is no product which would be more wholly wasted, were it not for them, than that whi h they gather from the flowers and the fiuit. The farmer need not lie a bee keeper on a large scale any more than he need keep a large flock of poultry, but he should have sonic of each. Fifty colonies are perhaps enough for any ode who does not wish to make a specialty of the business. Begin small and work up.it you find that it suits you. A farmer of our acquaintance began with two colonies ten years ago to test the matter. He says that they never failed to pay expenses, including the value of his own time and labor, any single year. He sells both bees and honey, and so his colonies vary from twenty-five to flity. lie says that with himself there is less expense and worry in producing SIOO worth of honoy than in getting the 6ame amount from either hogs or poultry, and that he finds the chances of an unprofitable year much fewer. Honey is in steady demaua in all markets, and a really fine article does not. have to go begging for a purchaser. There is a great difference in the quality, and this does not depend wholly on the food, people imagine. The strain of bees has something to do with it, and ibe man who handles the* bees and the product has much more. Honey must be In attractive shape when put on the market if it is to sell well. —Ex. The F*rmer,i Garden. This should consist of not less than one acre of the best soil, 8 by 10 rods,

and if It runs over a knoll to as to tret north and south slope it wHI prolong the fruiting season. Fence It from the chickens and navo no shade trees in or about the garden; everything needs sunlight and culture. The ground sho >ld have from 10 to 2() loads of the best manure to the acre every year. All rows shoull run the entlfe length and be cultivated with the horse. If you don’t want 1« rods of any one vegetable fill it out with something else, and the same with fruit But you do want a whole row of grapes on the sunny side, for you can buy two-year-old Concord vines at $ I per dozen, and if you have more than you can eat, they are worth more to give away than to sell, but your grocer wilt give you 4 or 5 cents ncr pound for them, and after four years planted, ought to liear 20 to 40 pounds. Eight feet from the grapes plant a row of currants, gooseberry and pfe plants, so you can drive over this row to mulch, then 8 feet from this a row of blackberries, then a row of red raspberries, next black raspberries the entire length of tne garden, one row of pistillates, one row of perfect flowered varieties side’ by side, tiio rows 4 feet apart and the plants 2 to ;i feet- —G. J. Kellogg. Value or Half. These notes are greatly taken with the value and absolute necessity of salt. The Gleaner’s horses alwaya have a big lump in their n anger—that is, it is big when placed there, but it invariably and rapidly grows smaller; the heifer has a lump in her manger, beside a frequent sprinkle in her grain ration; twice a week or oftenor tho hens have a little mixed In their food. It’s tho nicest kind of a plan to havo a lump in scran protected place in the pasture, and be sure you’ll always find a well trodden path leading up to it when once tho cattle know where ti tlnd It A horse will almost invariably lick tho lump as soon as turned into the stall after a drive. It may be a cranky notion to gargle salt water in one’s mouth occasionally in the morning, letting the gargle run down well into the throat, but it is a very simple plan for cleansing the mouth and throat and a fairly strong mixture will relieve the tired, uncomfortable feeling that sometimes clings to overworked eyca— Hartford Courant

j: ■- . Folding F«»rt'4J»ck. If Is often convenient to feed a horse for a single mail In a place

where a perinancnt crib would bo in the way, suys Farm and Home. The illustration s ltaow a feed crib that can bo f>ut in po-

sttlon in a moment and when not in use cun be turned up agalast the wall. Less room still would be

taken by, leaving the lower part of tho slat work hinged dlioctly to the wall. Pieces of rope oi j snaps could take t he place of the i trains if desired. The benefits of

this rack are too apparent to need explanation further. The whole cost ot making and putting in position is slight and any man bandy with tools can put one together In half an hour.

The Culture of Squailimi. Squashes must have a warm soil which should incline to a rather stiff loam. High meadows grow luxuriant vines and large si ed squashe', but the quality is Inferior and thoy are extremely poor keepers. Squashes like all other garden tru k must be supplied with large amounts of plant food. A heavy manuring should he thoroughly incorporated into the soil at the time of plowing. The soil should then be thoroughly hardened and hills cut out not less than eight feet apart, and for tho stronger growing varieties ten feet is none too far. From 500 to 700 pounds of phosphate per acre should be scattered around the hills and mlted in tho so 1. In planting tho best plan is to drop o ght or ten seeds to a hllL When all are germinated these may be thinned out to three or four. After tne second hoeing from 500 to 6bO pounds more ot phosphate should be scattered between the rows, thus providing abundant food during the growing season. Hills struck out la regular rows may be cultivated both ways and much hand hoeing saved. Hilling squashes Is now generally looked upon as being anold-fashioned style of cultivation and level culture Is the mode now generally practiced. —Farm and Home.

‘Agricultural Atoms. Use dry straw for bedding. Small hogs make the best meat Keep the orchard fenced from all stock. „ , When hens are moulting the ao cumulation of feathers should be cleared out at least ouce a week. Be sure and put all tools carerully under shelter before they are rusted or otherwise damaged. To leave the bees a reasonable supply of honey for the winter Is better than attempting to feed them. Utilize small potatoes by boiling with meat scraps and feeding on e a day. Mash while warm and thicken with bran. Plah the garden so that as fast as one crop is matured another will take its place and thus have a succession of fresh vegetables and keep the land occupied. Grass needs a solid, firm soil to grow freely and live long. Yet It Is hard work to get the. ordinary farmer to use the roller alter or before sowing grass seed. Have you a spare.ty$ v , o£ ground? Plant a fruit tree, take care of it, arid thus add to the value of the farm. In time it will fully pay for the work and trouble, A well-buoken horse Is worth *25 more than an unbroken one Few horses become thoroughly trained to all kinds of work within two jears, and many are never well trained. Farming differs from any other business, in that it demands the personal care and oversight of the proprietor in every minute detail. This is the reason why attempts to carry on agriculture upon the wholesale plan have raiely been succesaful

FIG. 1. WATERING TROUGH FOR FOUR FIELDS.

FIG. 2. CALDRON WATERING TROUGH.

CONVENIENT SIDEBOARD.

OPEN.

CLOSED.