Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1889 — FARM AND HOME. [ARTICLE]

FARM AND HOME.

CASK OF FARM HORSKS. o ■ x A. B. Allen contributes the following to the Breeders’ Gazette on the care of horses: “Stables for horses* are often quite dark, which iB yery objectionable. Instead of this, why not be, as well lighted, airy, and ventilated as the living rooms of onr houses? Their windows ought to be at least three feet high and two feet wide, and if double this height so much the better, and set in the opposite side of, the Btable to the stalls. If placed in front the glare becomes injurious to the 6ye, and they can not light the stalls near by so well as in the rear. I prefer these windows on the south side, as they assist to warm the stable in winter and keep it dry in summer. The objection that they will add too much heat in Summer by letting in the sun can be obviated by hanging Venetian blinds on the outside to lessen it; .and by closing the slats tight the stable may be so darkened that flies will not come in to torment the horses and cause their continual stamping, which is annoying to be heard if standing on a hard floor, -and it often tires them about as much as if out at work on the farm during the time. This darkening the stalls supersedes the necessity of a light cotton hood for the protection of the head and neck, a sheet for the body, and wrappings for the legs. Wire screens with very small meshes may also be set in the sash in front of the windows to prevent gnats and mosquitoes from entering. The window should have cords attached to weights to hold the lower sash up when desired to lift to admit the air, and to hold the upper one up when let down as required. If the window be of a single sash it can be set to slide back and forth alongside the wall of the stable as necessary. Doors may also be set to slide easily in the same way by attaching rollers to the bottom and top. The advantage of this is, they can be opened from a half inch to full width, and require no room in front to do it, as when hung'on hinges, or to be hooked back to prevent- swaying by the wind. BEAUTIES OF BUCKWHEAT. Professor A. J. Cook says a good word for buckwheat and, incidentally, for the pancake and the bee, in the New York Tribune, of late date: There are several arguments, in favor ot buckwheat as a farm crop. The time of tilling the ground and sowing, in late June, just between the hurry of planting and haying, is an interval of comparative leisure. Inseets do not trouble buckwheat, and «o on land full of wire worms or white grubs this is an excellent plant; not only to escape the ravages of these destructive peAts, but to rid the soil of them, preparatory to the raising of other crops. In some parts of Michigan wire worms are very destructive. I lost not a little from their attack on my corn on a low piece, which I had drained. Upon exof a similar piece intended for corn next year, I found it also full of these grubs of the “elater” beetles. I have raised a good crop of buckwheat on it, which I expect will secure against in jury of my crpp another year. Many bee keepers object to planting,especially for bees, but all favor such crops as alsike clover and buckwheat, for these are valuable for other purposes. This season has been the poorest for honey ever known in the United States, Canada and Europe. The early honey crop was a failure. How fortunate the bee keeper who secured from buckwheat pr other fall honey plants enough honey at least to winter his bees. Last Bummer I planted the Japanese buckwheat—half the field eaj-ly in June, the remainder July 1. Both parts did equally well. I had to pay $3 a bushel for seed, but am not sorry I did so. The size of berry and prolificness of this variety are surprising. The bees also worked -on the flowers all day; usually they do not work on buckwheat after noon; the flowers do not seem to secrete nectar except early in the day. I expect the buckwheat cakes from this variety will he, at least, up to the standard. WHITE HUCKLEBEERIKS. One of the new fruits are white huckleberries, which, though still very rare, promise to prove of much importance in the future. There are large gardens of these berries cultivated at various, points of the East, but they they have harely found their way to the West yet On the cultivation of the varieties of the huckleberry, Popular Gardening says: “The huckleberry has become one of the desirable fruits, the only detraction from, it being the tendency to greatly discolor the mouth in its being eaten, either in its' raw or cooked state. The white berries we have seen are of good Bize, possess the same rich flavor that is characteristic of the black fruit, but are of pearly white, being tinted upon the sides exposed to the sun with a pinkish hue. It is believed that there are difficulties in the way of the general propagation or culture of the huckleberry; if this is erroneous or could be removed and the white variety could be more largely increased, t would be quite desirable. It seems as though some attempt should be made to bring the fruit in more general cultivation if it is among the possibilities. The huckleberry seems to hfve a source of native habitat and can not be easily disturbed-” HOW TO GRAFT. L. H. Bailey, in his book bn apple -culture; gives these directions for grafting: In May, just as the leaves are

pushing out vigorously, saw off the limb to be grafted where it is an inch or less in diameter. Trim the stub edges smooth and split it horizontally to depth of abont four inches, not more. When the Scion is prepared ready for setting it should Comprise three buds. The lower end is cut wedge-shape, to fit into the split, and on one part of wedge part should be left ope of the three buds. When the scion is set this bud will be deep down in the cleft and covered with wax, but, being nearer the source of nourishment than any others, it will be most likely of all to flourish, and it will readily push through the wax. The scion unset in the cleft by exercising are that the inner surface of its back matched the inne# surface of the bark on the stub. Wax the whole over care- \ ' fully and thoroughly, leaving no crack exposed. Two pounds of resin melted with one of beeswax and one-half of tallow makes an excellent wax. As soon as melted pour it into cold water, and when it cools work it with the ham is until nearly white. Whenever the wax is handled the hands should be greased with tallow.