Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 August 1887 — FARM NOTES. [ARTICLE]

FARM NOTES.

Never forget to salt and water your stock regularly. The red onion is said to hold its flavor longer t lan any other variety. :• Better unroot old nlayed out fruit gardens. The land is wasted. Feed Indian corn sparingly to fowls at this season, as it is too fattening. Queen bees should always be raised from the very best stock in the apiary. Raise some variety of popcorn with very small kernels for the young chicks. The earth around potted plants should not be allowed to get entirely dry. " , Impure air in the hennery causes many of the finest fowls to sicken and die. A few evergreens planted here and there add greatly to the beauty of a farm. Don’t grow fruit or vegetables too thick; thinning out improves sine and quality. To destroy elders, etc., cut them down now and as often as they reappear. ■» English dairymen are now almost unanimous in the opinion that ground oats are the best milk producing grain ration known. , Mr. Whre. of Massachusetts, says tha butter made from his silage in winter is yellow without any coloring matter, and seems aS if made from June grass. The grapevine leaf hopper may be successfully attacked with infusions of tobacco or soapsuds, or both combined, sprayed upon the lower surface dt the leaves. Michigan shows a decrease in the number of sheep for several years past. The loss from 1884 to 1885- was 88,812; from 1885 to 1886 it was 232,036, and the number now —on hand is 128,2-50 less .than in IlißtL.'About the surest way to spoil a spirited horse is to urge him by frequent

tapi or words until he finds that he can I , never satisfy his driver, then he will always remain a slow poke, saytf the, Husbandman. If sheep have free access to- salt they will never overeat of it, but if salted occasionally and given it freely they will eat too much, which provokes unnatural thirst and possibly injurious effects. Oxford Down sheep attain to very heavy weights, the ram at 3 years of age reaching as high as 400 pounds and ewes 300. They are the largest of the mutton breeds, and yield a fleece of medium wool weighing 20 pounds. These weights tor special individuals that have on exhibition, but 300 pounds is not an unusual weight for rams over two years old.

Procure new crop turnip seed and have the ground fin *. The rows may be far apart, so as to allow of working with the cultivator. The ground should be as fine as an ash heap. Drop the seed in small clusters, about 6 inches apart in the rows, as the insects will often destroy young turnips. If too thick when up they can be thinned out. Too much fine, well-rotted manure can not be used on turnips. Do not put turnips on ground occupied by corn the previous year. In fruit growing remember that fruits are like grain and vegetable crops in thi*, that they must have manure to keep up the fertility. Unlike vegetables and grain, however, their feeding roots are mostly at the surface. It is best, therefore, annually to top-dress fruit trees. If manure can not be had, any fresh earth from ditches or roadsides spread a half inch or so under the trees will have a wonderful effect. Indeed, we do not know but that for the pear tree a thin layer of road sand is one of the best of manures. We have seen apples thrive amazingly with a coating of coal ashes.