Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1902 — GARDEN AND FARM [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GARDEN AND FARM

AIDS TO WHITEWASHING. The use of the fruit-spraying pumps makes easy the task of whitewashing stables, henhouses and cellars, and It Is much more effectual than the use the brush, because by making the stream a little larger and more forcible, which most spraying nozzles admit of, a stream can be sent into stacks and crevices where the brush would not reach. It may not prove as penetrating or as powerful a disinfectant as the gas from burning sulphur and charcoal, hue it takes next rank, and can be used where it might not be well to use the sulphuric acid jas, as in cellars under living-rooms, if it is to be used as a disinfectant, or is an insect destroyer, the addition of’ 1 little carbolic acid or a little dissolved copperas to the whitewash may be an advantage, and we prefer the latter, at least in cow stables, because It units no offensive odor. Let the lime be thoroughly slacked, and strained through a cloth, so that it may be thin anough to work well in the nozzle. And sides, ceilings, corners and floors ?an be well sprayed in one-fourth the time needed for the use of the brush. Applied during the hot weather, it titles notr take 1 ongto dry, and two coats ( > an easily be given if one does not look thick enough when dried. LARGE LITTERS OF PIGS. We never saw a litter of pigs so large that the sow did not have milk enough for them until they were two weeks old. We have been told of such a thing as one having more pigs than she had teats, and in such a case it might be necessary to kill the extra ones or put them on another sow, or to bring them up on a bottle, but we think such cases are about as rare as that of the cow that had five calves, and one had to look on while the others were getting the milk. But usually the prolific sows are also the best milk producers, and as we have said have enough if properly fed to supply their pigs until two or three weeks old. By that time they can be taught to feed themselves at the trough and by the time they are from six to eight weeks old they will prefer the trough to the mother’s milk, and may be taken from her. By feeding regularly three times a day while with the sow, giving no more than they will eat up clean, or taking away ■whatever they leave every time, they will soon learn to eat at the trough. We think that a mash of bran or shorts with skimmilk, the more milk the better, is the best feed for them, but some claim to have good success with soaked shelled corn. We never tried it, but after they were a week old we began to add cornmeal to the bran, gradually increasing the amount. —The Cultivator.

GROWING CELERY. When the plants are about three inches high, they should be sprayed gently with bordeaux mixture. They should be sprayed the second time after they become six inches high, and again when nine inches to a foot high. This spraying will prevent r t and blight, and every variety of celery is liable to attacks of these diseases. Cultivation must be thorough and constant. A wheel hoe and rake is a good tool for the purpose. The space between the plants in the row must be kept clean by hand, and all -weeds should be kept out. Do not work the ground when the plants are wet, as dirt on the leaves causes rust and rot. As a matter of fact, no plants should be cultivated when wet with dew or rain. In blanching the idea is to shut out the light and free circulation of the air. TKese boards should be set close to each side of the row and held in place by stakes driven beside them. The top should be left open in order that the plants may not be hindered in their growth. The plants in the space between the boards will continue to grow and will soon become white and tender, and as the growth proceeds above the boards the latter may be brought together at the top, until the space between them is perfectly dark, and the plants will continue to grow. The stalks should be marketed or taken out as soon as they are sufficiently tender.—Thomas Alphram, in New England Homestead. INSECT ENEMIES OF FRUIT. The work of spraying the fruit trees and vines is usually done in the spring, but even now an exomination of the trees will show that they require nearly as much attention as in spring. The nests ot caterpillars can now be seen In the orchards and jn the forests. The catalpa trees have been almost completely stripped of leaves in some sections by large green worms that attack the trees almost before their presence is detected. In the vegetable garden there will be found worms and bugs innumerable, and that they can do considerable harm, even in a few hours, is *ell known. An eggplant can be entirely consumed by potato beetles in less ’han two hours, and the large green worm will strip a tomato vine in less than half a day. To save the fruit and vegetables, therefore, requires vigilance and work. The scale insect is the most destructive enemy of trees, as it attacks near ly all kinds, and, Its destruction must be attempted with the determination to succeed. A strong solution of whale oil soap has been found an excellent remedy. As the rains carry it away, an application should be made after every rain until assured that the pest has been eradicated. Kerosene emulsion, which is cheap, will instantly

destroy all kinds of caterpillars, and Is made by dissolving a pound of hard soap in a gallon of boiling water. Wheq the soap Is completely dissolved remove the solution from the fire and add a gallon of kerosene, churning the mixture for 15 minutes by pumping with a sprayer. A creamy mixture results. Add from 10 to 20 gallons of cold water (according to strength desired and spray the trees. For peach trees the mixture should not be too strong, about one of kerosene to twenty of water being preferred. Success depends upon getting the mixture on every part of the tree. The mixture can be improved if a gill of crude carbolic acid is added for every gallon of kerosene used. —Philadelphia Record.

DIPPING FOR PARASITES. Parasites of all kinds are not only injurious to the wool of sheep, but to the health of the animals as well, and dipping to destroy them should be resorted to wherever and whenever they are present at shearing time. There is no other way to remove the troublesome pests except by repeating dipping, and sometimes it requires a good many to accomplish the desired end. Ticks will worry the thin, weak saeep more than the strong ones, and they seem to congregate on them in such numbers as to cause their death. Sometimes the ticks appear on the sheep shortly after dipping, and the impression is made that the dipping did not free them from the parasites; but this is a mistake. The trouble was that the ticks were in the sheds or stables where the sheep were kept, and by putting the animals back in their infested quarters the ticks soon covered them again. The living quarters of the sheep must also be treated with the solution by spraying and washing, and in this way we protect the animals from a future invasion. A second dipping should follow the first about ten days later, and the living quarters should also receive a second spraying. Sometimes where the parasites are very numerous a third dipping and spraying may pay. There are many kinds of solution for dipping sheep, and most of Lem have their virtues and also their disagreeable Tobacco stems furnish one of the cheapest and most effective dips, but the solution has the disadvantage of being very obnoxious to both the animals and the workers. The results, however, are not al all injurious. There is no permanent sickness or injury caused by this. One might feel a little nauseated at times in the work, and the sheep may even show signs of sickness, but no actual injury wil result therefrom, while all the parasites will be effectually destroyed. The solution should be made strong and at a proper temperature to keep the sheep from getting a chill, and they should be held under for at least one good minute. That should prove sufficient for the most obstinate cases.—S. W. Chambers, in American Cultivator.

CARE OF FARM IMPLEMENTS. There are three things necessary td the long life of a machine —(1) shelter, (2) oil and (3) paint. But you can get along with less paint if you have plenty of shelter. A shelter can be made for all farm implements at a very small cost sudlcient to keep off the rain, snow and the hot summer sun. How often one sees machinery standing out in the field all winter long, left where unhitched from when through mowing or whatever else, far greater damage done to it than all the work it has done. Every farmer should have a tarpaulin cover, and put it on at noon and again at night to protect from the sun, as well as from sudden showers, the expensive machinery. As there is a half dozen good brands of oil costing from 20 to 40 cents per gallon, no farmer need bi without a sufficient supply. Don’t smear cog wheels with oil or grease; as the oil gathers sand and dust that very soon cuts the cogs to a small point and causes them to break; where necessary use graphite. Do not run a belt, chain or binder canvass any tighter than is necessary to make it do its work, as undue tightness strains not only the belt or chain but the entire machine. Paint your wagons, plow and harrow at least once in three years. We can buy colors and grind them with just enough linseed oil to make it of the consistency of thin putty, then add half as much turpentine as you have of this mixture, put in a small amount of japan dryer to each quart of paint, then thin with linseed oil until it will spread well, or one can buy ready mixed paints ready for use, which is sometimes more convenient to use; but I do not think them as good. From $2 to $3 will buy paint enough to paint all the farm implements one time. When the implements are put away in the fall give them a good oiling just as though going to use them and every bearing about the binder oil well and then a day or two before you want to use the binder take a can of coal oil and put a liberal quantity in every cup or oil hole and oil the knife well. Do this to cut off the gum and you will be surprised to see how much easier it will make the machine start up. About every machine and implement will be found a nut or two that will not stay on. Wet a woolen string in strong brine water and tie it around the projecting end ot the bolt, this will rust the joint that will stay tight forever. Again 1 will say that oil and paint cost much less than wood and cast iron. If all of us farmers would paint up all the farm Implements they will net only last longer but look much better when used so much.—Louli Campbell, In Agricultural Epitomist. Celluloid floating toy- are Ue newest invention for amusing children.