Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 May 1896 — ALL ABOUT THE FARM [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ALL ABOUT THE FARM

SUBJECTS INTERESTING TO RURAL READERS. Seme Valuable Hinta on Melon Cnl* tore— How to Prevent Destruction by Inaecta—Feeding Hay to Host Don’t Cover Seeds Deeply. Melon Cnltare. Pumpkins and cucumbers will grow everywhere, but there seems to be a prejudice or conviction among many that melons are difficult to grow. On the contrary, they can be grown as easily as any of the vine vegetables. Insects are their worst enemies, but are .not troublesome after the vines have started to run. Air-slacked lime dusted t

ton thickly when the plants are wet [with dew or rain will keep oft the troublesome flea-beetles, and nothing is so cheap or effective. Tobacco dust is (also good. Melons like a warm, moist, isandy or gravelly loam, though muskImelons will grow in a heavier soil than (Watermelons, but the flavor is best twhen grown on lighter land, i The main secret in melon culture is to start the plants early. Muskmelons (Should be planted 4x6 feet and waterjmelons Bxlo feet apart. They should jbe cultivated as long as possible and will cover the whole ground at these (distances. The land should be heavily {fertilized with good manure, and a {liberal handful of fertilizer hoed/ in jaround each hill. Big melons and lots (of them do not grow where plant food iis scarce. Of the muskmelons and cantaloupes, the former being the ground, netted ones, and the latter the Jong, smooth sorts, the Emerald Gem Is one of the earliest and best It is quite small, dark green, deeply ribbed, has thick salmon flesh, small cavity, and the very finest flavor. The Melrose, a new sort, is very handsome and good. Green Montreal is large, and a 'very good, late kind.—Orange Judd Parmer.

t Dairy Herds Infected. Commenting on the reported decision of the French Government that all live stock imported into that country hereafter must be subjected to the tuberculin test, the New York Times says /that this country should prepare for similar action on the part of other foreign nations, to which we export cattle to the value of about $30,000,000 per annum. The Illinois Board of Live (Stock Commissioners has determined, “for the welfare of the general public and for the protection of the inmates of the various charitable institutions throughout the State, to subject all dairy cattle connected with such Institutions to the tuberculin test.” Of the large herd attached to an asylum in Elgin nearly half of the seventy-five cows were found to be tuberculous. The second herd which the commissioners examined was one of 182 cows, attached to the Eastern Illinois Hospital, at Kankakee. Here forty-three were found to be diseased and were killed. To Prevent Horses Katins Rapidly. When a horse eats his grain too rapidly—as many horses do—a device like that shown in the illustration is of advantage. It is a rectangle of stout

wire that will fit easily inside the feed box, and from side to side are stretched lighter wires, or a piece of poultry netting is fitted into the wire rectangle. This, laid upon the grain in the box, prevents the horse taking too large mouthfuls. It falls, of course, as the grain is eaten. Where the grain for the horse’s ration is poured into the manger, the same end may be secured by nailing parallel strips of wood across the bottom of the manger. It much better, however, to feed in a box which can be washed out occasionally, for where soft feed, especially, is turned into a manger, the latter is likely soon to become sour. Bay for Hogs, Feeding hay to hogs may seem new, yet thereare farmers who provide bulky food to their hogs in winter, when green food is scarce, by cutting clover 'hay very short and steaming or scalding it. The cut hay, after it becomes softened, is sprinkled with bran or corn meal and fed warm. It is not only highly relished by the hogs, but promotes thrift, and is as cheap as com, serving also to afford a balanced ration. Hog Cholera. .Hog cholera makes fearful ravages wherever it appears on farms, and although hundreds of remedies have been suggested; yet there Is no sure cure known. Experiments show, however, that where the disease appears most frequently is on farms where the hogs . are inbred and confined too closely to a grain diet. Feeding slop of a filthy kind is also a cause. To avoid the disease feed the hogs on a variety of food, making grass an article of diet, give clean water, and procure new male 3 every year. Potatoes. Farmers who are disgusted with IoW prices for potatoes will find many others who are also not now very partial to them, and there will probably |be a much smaller crop this year, slmjply because farmers will not venture [into a crop which gave such little iprofit as potatoes did last year. The [fact la that It was not so much the

acreage devoted to potatoes last year that caused the large crop as it was to the favorable conditions for their growth, it being what is termed a “good potato year.” Kins of Insecticides. The one supreme Insecticide is,kerosene; and kerosene emulsion should be always kept on hand for immediate use when needed. It is invaluable to be sponged into the bark of all trees twice or three times a year. I use it on maples, elms, and all lawn as well as orchard trees. It is made by dissolving half a pound of any hard soap in a gallon of boiling water. Then add two gallons of kerosene and churn all together with a common force pump until the substance is homogeneous; that is, churn for ten minutes. Use a pint in a pail of water on strong trees, a weaker solution on tender plants. This is the remedy also for cabbage worms. I add hellebore and use the combined mixtures on currant worms and all softbodied pests.

Don’t Cover Deeply. When covering small seeds be careful not to have too much earth over them. They cannot push through the ground after germination in some soils', and especially where the land banks. Such seeds as carrots, parsnips,'turnips, kale, cabbabe, etc., require only a slight sprinkling of dirt for a covering. Beets, peas, beans and other large seeds may be planted deeper, but half an inch of dirt is sufficient for them. Effective Spraying. Smith Hawley, of Michigan, in a lecture before the horticultural society of that State, said that the picture so often seen in agricultural papers of a man standing on a wagon and throwing spray Into apple trees as he was drawn along is a delusion. To do thorough work one must go nil about a tree and throw spray upon it from every direction. When this work is properly done the trees will retain their foliage until the snow falls and will produce much fruit on off years. Insect Destruction Prevented. Gardeners are often pestered by small insects eating young plants. To prevent the destruction, nail two halfhoops together at the center and sharpen the ends. Press the ends into the ground over the plants and throw over them cotton mosquito netting or cheese

cloth. The edges may be held down by drawing dirt on them. Such protection is better than boxes, as it lets in air and light. The frames can be kept for use from year to year.—Farm and Home. Feeding. Many farmers do not draw the line in feeding. They give the growing stock the same rations which are allowed to fattening animals, and make no distinction between winter aud summer feeding other than to use the pasture in summer. It is a waste of food to give corn and ground grain at every meal in the summer, unless moderately, and it is of no advantage to have young stock very fat.

DELICIOUS MUSKMELONS.

WIRE COVER FOR FEED BOX.

THE CROP ASSURED.