Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 August 1887 — FARM AND GARDEN. [ARTICLE]

FARM AND GARDEN.

At least one poultry ration a day—in the morning—should be soft food—ground grain mixed with water or Aiilk, A farmer in Kentucky keeps the worms off cabbage by sprinkling withtwo gallons water mixed with one gallon buttermilk. The droppings of sheep are an excellent fertilizer for apple trees, their use greatly stimulating the production of fruit. The market grower is liable to make a great mistake who overlooks the neighboring home market, trusting to the large towns only. One of the most potent factors in the winter-killing of grain is too much hot water on or in the surface of the soil. This fact should be borne in mind the coming autumn. Carrots are among the best vegetables that can be raised for cow feed, increasing the milk flow and enriching its quality. Plants may be grown in comparativey small pots if watered occasionally with a weak solution of guano, hen’s droppings, or sulphate of ammonia. Sulphur and tobacco leaves burned in the poultry house, the house being closed perfectly tight, will clean out the red lice, says a contemporary. A fine cow, if treated with indifference and neglect, will yield less profit than a eommon cow which is well fed and well cared for in every respect. Salt is certain death to slugs, which are sometimes so troublesome on the open grounds and in the green-house. Very light sprinkling is sufficient. Fruit to Bring good priced nowadays must be fair and large, while small, inferior fruit of any kind is not worth the trouble of sending to market. A contemporary advises to give the sheep all the clover hay they will eat after lambing, with meal (a quarter linseed), and benefit them greatly. Ducks are not subject to many diseases and usually thrive well if they can have plenty to eat, and a clean place to stay in nights, with a little water for bathing. Where young trees are not kept well mulched, it will pay to keep the surface of the soil stirred, making it fine and mellow. This applies especially to the next two months. Some of the best fruit-growers always carry pruning- knives when working among trees and plants, to be. prepared for lopping off limbs or branches seen growing wrong, or in the wrong place. The* three hundred pounds of butter a year cow is a possibility;- and every good dairyman can and ought to realize the fact. She can be kept with very little, if anymore, than the one hundred, pounds cow. Mules are becoming more and more popular for working teams in this country. They do better than horses on hard roads, are more sure-footed and have better wind. Horses do better, however, for plowing and cultivation. It is suggested that dragging harrows over plowed ground is one of the hardest tasks horses have to do in farm work and ought to be made as easy as possible. Don’t ride on the horse or on the harrow, and rest in the heat of the day. Cabbage plants grow best when they are frequently hoed. Too much manure cannot be applied to cabbage, nor can the ground be loosened around the plants too much. Late crops may be put otit now, if a shower occurs, but the ground be well prepared if a good crop be expected. The cabbage grows on all classes of soils if well cultivated. However busy farmers and suburban residents may be Nowadays, they can hardly afford to neglect the garden. It pays to raise plenty of good vegetables and small fruits, and people who regard the health and comfort of their families should not fail to cultivate choice varieties for home consumption. Those who use inferior garden products, or only such as they can neither sell nor give away, practisecfalse economy.

Good Effects of Military Service. German in Bt. Louis Globc-Demo«rat. It is the habit, both in this country and in England, to consider the compulsory military service that prevails in Germany as a necessary but unmitigated evil. Such an opinion seems to me to show a very inadequate appreciation of what military service does for the men who undergo it. I have very little hesitation in saying that universal military training is one bFthe most desirable regulations that can be imagined. A very slight acquaintance with the German peasant before his three years with the colors and after, wards will prove to any unprejudiced mind that the man has improved wonderfully. From the dull, clumsy clodhopper nas been brought forth an act'skillful and alert man, with the knowledge of how best to use his physical powers, with habits of punctuality and order of which he formerly had not the smallest inkling, and with a sense of responsibility and self-respect far beyond the range of ' vision of the country bumpkin. He is a better man physically, mentally and morally than he ever was before, and the tinfe spent in the army, instead of being wasted, did more for. his character than any otheryart of his education. Germany pays a heavy price for her army, but even should a war never again break out, itwouldbe a sad day for that land when militarv service should be abandoned. -■ -