Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 August 1882 — FARM, GARDEN, AND HOME. [ARTICLE]

FARM, GARDEN, AND HOME.

Adopting Americas Practice*. American methods of conducting many departments of agriculture are being introduced into almost all parts of the civilized world. Oar system of making butter and cheese in large factories has been adopted in all the dairy countries of Europe, as well as iu Australia and New Zealand. Barbed wire for fences is fast superseding all other kinds erf materials in almost all oonntriea where land is inclosed. It is bow very extensively used in South America, Africa, and on the ialands in the Indian Ocean. More laborsaving machines for doing work in fields and gardens have been invented in the United States than in all other countries combined, and these are fast finding their way into all parts of the world. Our machines for sowing, drilling, harvesting and threshing grain have been the means of giving wheat in bread to millions of people who have been accustomed to eat little but bread made of the inferior flour of rye, oats and barley, or that made in part from potatoes and chestnuts. American inventions have lightened drudgery in fields and elevated agricultural labor in every country in the world where they have been introduced. Our system of drying apples and other fruit has resulted in producing articles of a quality so superior that tbe system has been adopted in many countries from necessity. Fruit dried by exposure to the sun and liable to be injured by dust and insects would not sell for any approach to the price that could be obtained for that deprived of moisture in apparatus that excluded the inpurities of the air, the insects that are common during the season of drying, which renders the process of desiccation very speedy.

The Manufacture of Beet-Sugar. During the present season, many farmers in different parts of Illinois have been experimenting with sugar-beet seed, supplied by the Agricultural Department at Springfield, and thus far the reports received by Secretary Fisher are to the effect that the culture of sugar-beet can be made profitable. Some years ago, several large factories for the manufacture of sugar from beets were established in that State; but, owing either to defective methods or the lack of the right kind of beets, the experimenters were compelled to discontinue their efforts to create this new industry. The seed planted this year was obtained through Mr. W, H. Kaise, an enthusiastic German, who is now in this country, engaged in ascertaining just what opportunities are offered for the establishment of factories. Mr. Kaise is now in San Francisco, representing a number of German capitalists, wno have confidence in the ultimate success of the beet-sugar business, and who are prepared to start factories in this oountry wherever they receive the slightest encouragement. The manufacture of beet-sugar has been made successful in several European countries, and certainly can be made equally successful in America, especially on the rich soil of Illinois and lowa. Practical and thoroughly-skilled workmen are all that is needed, and the German capitalists referred to will, if properly encouraged, attempt to domonstrate tbat good merchantable sugar can be made from beets. Of recent years the machinery for manufacturing beet-sugar has been very much improved, although foreign inventors have taken tbe lead in this direction. Aided by the inventive genius of this The Future Price of Wheat. Mr. W. I. Chamberlain, secretary of the Ohio Board of Agriculture, in his crop report for July, 1882, has this to say in regard to the future price of wheat, and his opinion, presumably founded upon authentic and careful reports from all parts of the State, cannot but interest farmers and dealers outside of Ohio. Referring to the prices of wheat, Mr. Chamberlain says: ‘‘They seem already to have touched bottom; sooner, indeed, than was anticipated. Coming events cast their shadow before. The crop of winter wheat is now safe, and is, for the whole country, without doubt the largest in our history except those of 1879 and 1880. The absolute total may even reach those immense crops, but the relative total probably cannot. Our acreage has increased to keep pace with the steady and rapid increase of population and home consumption, and with the rapidly-increasing foreign demand. Several facts seem to indicate that good No. 1 and No. 2 Ohio wheat cannot long remain below or even as low as $1 per bushel. First, the history of the past shows tbat this seldom occurs in Ohio. Second,, old wheat is sold off closer than for years, hence our total supply of old and new is not so great. Third, the war cloud in the Old World is increasing. Fourth, reports of rainy harvest weather and damage to crops in England are not contradicted. Fifth, our steady increase of population and of export sales will doubtless require our entire surplus at fair prices. Sixth, the probable shortage of the corn and apple crops. Seventh, the fact that $1 per bushel is below the price comparatively of other articles of human consumption. These and other considerations lead to the belief that No. 1 and No. 2 Ohio wheat will be excellent property at $1 per bushel, and will probably average somewhat about that figure for the year to come." If Mr. Chamberlain is correct in this reasoning, the same will hold good throughout the West.

Care of Harness In Summer. Harness is more rapidly injured in summer, says the Country Gentleman, than in winter. It is sometimes soaked with rain, and again subjected to heat and drying, and the perspiration of horses does it no good. If kept well oiled, all these influences - will cause little injury. There are many different applications used, and different modes are adopted for employing them. A common way is first to wash thoroughly with soap and warm water, and then apply neatsfoot oil. as the best oil for the purpose. But a different course is adopted by others. One team manager informs us that the first thing to do is always to apply one or two coats of castor oil with enough lampblack to give proper color. By thus saturating the leather with oil first, the soap and water applied afterward do not penetrate it, and when leather is permitted to absorb water it hardens it and excludes the oil. By oiling first the dirt is softened so that it is easily washed off, and this obviates much of the scraping otherwise required, and the whole operation may be performed at once. After being oiled, wash it with a sponge and soapsuds, and when dry rub over it a mixture of equal parts of oil and tallow, colored with lampblack and a small portion of Prussian blue. This is substantially the process recommended, and we shall be glad to hear from those who have tried different methods, as to their comparative value, and of thebenefitof applying the oil first, and the fitness of castor oil as compared with other applications. While on the subject of using harness in farm-work in summer, it is well to recommend for any field-work the simplest harness that will answer the purpose, both for the comfort of the horse, and to prevent the needless wear and tear of leather. Blinders are not needed, belly-bands nor cruppers. Simple harness for the farm, kept always in good order, not liable to breakage, will be a thing of economy in more ways than one, and sometimes prevent costly delays in the most busy days of the year. Proper Food. Housekeepers who are the feeders of men who are compelled to do hard work, mental or physical, should understand how much depends on the proper kind of food. Strength comes only from suitable nutritious food, well digested. A man, whether employer or

employed, will have far More working sower if he eats as much, and only as much, ae he can digest well, of lean meat, properly cooked, good bread, oat-meal, ordinary ana curd cheese, and the like, than if consuming •alt fat pork, eooked almost to a crisp, with potatoes, etc. A laborer paid a dollar or more a day, will do double real work if five to ten cents extra be spent in supplying him with food that will give him the fullest strength. Beans, if not charred or browned in cooking, peas, green or ripe, good bread and cabbage thoroughly cooked, supply tha elements for muscular force. The blood is the active helper in digesting food by supplying the gastric solvents, ana it carries nourishment to the muscles and to the brain. While a hgavr meal ia being worked up, the blood is drawn away from the muscles and brain to the stomach. When at hard work or exercise with mind or body, the blood is drawn from the stomach, an*! less nutriment is obtained from the food. It-' is a good rule to work slowly at first, after full meals, and inerease the amount of *xercise gradually, as tbe blood can be spared from the digestive organs. More will be accomplished by this course in working and thinking. Tha French people, , who make a study of tha subject take a very little food on rising a rain and coffee, and perhaps a bakel spptfl,; and begin work at daylight Towards no«M they take another similar simple repast, auft do a full day’s work by 4 o’clock ia the aft*!* j noon; then rest a little, take a fall, bearer ; meal, and make a business of digesting f£H During the rest of the evening and night) j this meal is digested, diffused all through thal system, and auietly builds up and strength- ■; ens the muscles, so that they are ready for vigorous work the next day. Experienced*) horsemen understand that with a heavy feed -1 of oats, etc., at night, and a light breakfast, a horse gets a reserved stock of muscular ' strength laid in in advance, and will travel faster and further than one having a hearty morning feed to start on.

Household Hints. For a room which has a prevailing tone of gray, a mantel lambrequin of blue velveteen is handsome; this may be brightened with ' pink flowers, put o* with silk embroidery, or with a delicate scroll worked in yellow silk, or in the favorite chenille embroidery, which is very showy. Velveteen of good quality does not cost as much as plush or velvet, and, for a use like this, is perfectly satisfactory. Cardinal velveteen is also haudsome and in good taste in a room like the one mentioned. A pretty wall-pocket, or sort of hangingbasket, is made of a commoe fan, not so-called Japanese fan, but one that spreads. Take out the wire that holds the sticks together at the handle, then spread the fan and fastflW the two outer sticks together, the* win<£* piece of wire around the sticks at tbe bottoA-s, tie a ribbon over this, aud make a bow wills short ends. The handle by which the pocks* is to hang is ot ribbon, also of the suae width and color as the other, and is fastened at each side of the pocket with a small bow. One way to beautify a baby carriage and to make the young occupant appear to advantage is to make a pillow-case for his pillow of blue silesia; to this may be fastened on the upper side a soft cover of darned net, with an edge of torchon. Fasten this to the silesia with small bows of narrow blue ribbon. Make each bow unlike the others. This can be placed on the pillow when the baby is to hhia t hvi o 'm&in.bKhsefcnart o&fLifers so popular. The shades are especially adapted for windows indoors, and for bed-roosa windows. Like the scarlet ones they do not show dust, and wear as white or cream-col-ored ones do. Under white muslin curtains in a bed-room, curtains of common turkeyred calico not only answer well for a lining, and give a Boftened light to the room, but are durable also, as they can be washed without fading.

Farm Notes. McLean county, Illinois, is again afflicted with an epidemic,of hog cholera. About onerthird of the farming land ia Illinois is rented, either for money or on shares. The corn crop of Texas this year is estimated at 140,000,000 bushels. The value of the agricultural products of that State is $94,071,998. Fish farming has become popular with the farmers of Georgia, and there are already 2.500 ponds in that State which have beea stocked with German carp. It is estimated that 63 per cent, of the paypie of this country are farmers. The percentage used to be about 70, but the increase in manufacturing has caused tbe decrease. During the week of July 24 to 30 inclusivw the Cobden (Ill.) Fruit-shippers’ Association forwarded from that station 71,000 boxes of tomatoes, containing one-third of a bushel each. The amount of buckwheat raised in mqit of the Western States is very small, and ia generally decreasing. Kansas has put 2, US acres in this crop, a decrease in one year of 65 per cent It is estimated that tbe wool clip of Teas this season will amount to 28,000,000 pounds, which, at an average of 22 l A cents per pound will bring $6,300,000. The number of sheep in the State is placed at 7,000,000. An elm stands near the depot in Fair street, Kingston, N, Y„ which is a favorite building place for birds. More than two hundred nests have been counted among its branches this season, and the birds fill the old tree with song. It is tbe admiration of every visitor. Many go to hear the singing of the birds in the morning. There have been imported into New York city recently from Egypt 10,000 barrels of onions. This is said to be the first importation from that region, the gardens of Bermudas and Portugal having hitherto supplied the deficiencies of our home fields. The Egyptian onions are said to keep better and longer than those of more western countries, giving them especial value iu ship supplies for long voyages. A Missouri farmer writes: As soon as t find an animal in distress from bloat, from eating wet grass or clover, I wet it along tbe back with cold well water, and also place a large cloth or blanket of several thicknesses over the paunch, after being saturated with all the cold water that it will absorb, and over that a dry blanket If the cold water is properly applied, one will not have to wait long for a cure. The crop of Indian com js one of the most important and valuable in the United States. Tlie crop of 1880 was estimated at 1,717,000,000 bushels; the wheat crop of the same year was estimated at 498,000,000 bushels. It must be considered as being the staple crop of the Western and Southwestern States. In 1880 Illinois produced 240,000.000 bushels, as against 60,000,000 of wheat. The acreage of corn in Kansas the same year was 2,995,070 acres, and the product 108,704.927 bushels, against an acreage of 1,520,659 acres of wheat, with a product of 17,560,259 bushels. After long and patient inqtriry into the habits of the beast known as the chinch bug, Professor Forbes, of Normal, State entomologist, believes he has discovered a composition that is certain extermination to all the tribe. After numerous experiments, he discovered that a solution of water, kerosene and milk, costing half a cent a gallon, applied on tho corn will exterminate the chinch bug at once. It is well known that the cotton worm at the South has to be treated to a similar bath, although not made of the same substances. Mr. Forbes can take tbe same machine that applies the liquid preparation to the cotton plant and use it for his chinch-bug extemif nator. 1