Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 May 1889 — FARM AND HOME. [ARTICLE]

FARM AND HOME.

SURFACE CULTIVATION. s Prairie Farmer. It is now nearly the time of the year when the cultivation of crops will oe an important demand upon the time of the farmer. At the Institute meetings thia winter the subject of “Deep vs. Shallow Cultivation” has been widely discussed. The preponderance of the testimony has been in favor of the shallow cultivation, especially in the case of Indian corn. Why? This rankgrowing grass (it is a true grass) quickly fills the soil with a mass of roots. It the roots are continually broken, the inevitable result is that the plant is seriously weakened in the effort to replace these mouths of the plant. It.is undoubtedly true, as a rule, that level cultivation is better than hilling. The principal objects in cultivation are to kill the weeds, and keep the soil in proper tilth as to surface. The prepation of the soil for the ramification of the roots must necesarily precede planting. The extension of roots is not by forcing their way through the soil. The roots enter between the particles of soil, however fine. Then, as the roots thicken, there is side pressure, and this increases with the growth of the roots. Soil, to promote growth, must be firm enough to preserves capillarity. One object in cultivation's to keep the surface loose and friable. Thus the sun penetrates mere easily, the rain and dew also are better held, and in times of drouth the moisture of the subsoil rising constantly is arrested as surface cultivation is reached, ana bo the roots are enabled to conserve moisture that would otherwise be lost. The science of cultivation, therefore, is to keep the surface mellow above the point where the roots ramify, and roots will always be found extending up to this point. Two to three inches in depth is sufficient therefore for a summer cultivation, though when the crop is young and the root-growth correspondingly small, cultivation may extend to four inches. The editor of the Prairie Farmer, some years ago, when carry ing o& a 2,400-acre farm in Livingston county, Illinois, had one year over 1,200 acres of com. Twenty-one cultivators were employed. The season was a dry one, vet a prolific season for yield crops. To test the question of deep vs. shallow cultivation five were arranged to work shallow, after the first cultivation. It was estimated that the land so worked had five bushels per acre more than the land deeply worked, and the experiment was, of comae, satisfactory. We have since then been firmly of the opinion that as a rule, two inches is deep enough for the cultivation, after the plants are five inches high.

HOUSEHOLD HINTS. Two tablesnoons of powdered sugar or flour weigh one ounce. A little pefunded ice laid on the back of the neck will allay nausea. Bathe tired eyes in hot water two or three times a day; it will rest them. A wine glass of strong borax water in a pint of raw starch will make collars and cuffs stiff and glossy. Powdered charcoal taken in a glass of water before going to bed is the best treatment for an offensive breath. A small sponge wet in hot water and applied for earache will frequentlv bring relief, lay a dry napkin over it. A sprained ankle has been cured in an hour by showering it with hot water poured from a height of a few feet. If you wtsh to keen a sharp knife don’t put it in hot grease, Stir your potatoes while flying or turn meat with a fork or an old case knife kept on purpose, Javelle water, used to remove tea, coffee, grass and fruit stains from linen is made thus. Mix well in an earthern vessel one pound of sal soda, 5 cents worth of chloride of lime and two quarts of soft water. Thick brown paper should be laid under carpets if the patent lining is not to be bad. It saves wear and prevents the inroad of moths, which, however, will seldom give trouble if salt is sprinkled around the edges when the carpet is laid.

If furniture is very dirty, wash off with a flannel cloth dipped in equal parts of vinegar and water; dry instantly and thoroughly, and at once rub with flannel which has been dipped in linseed oil and carefully wrung out; finish with dry flannel, and rub hard and long. Elbow-grease counts for a good deal in keeping furniture bright. To prevent the colors from running in the washing of crewel-work, make a solution of vinegar and cold water, and let the article soak in this for ten or twelve hours, then wash in tepid water with a little soap. The pioportions are a half-cupful of vinegar to three quarts of water. The colors will be found not to have changed in tho slightest degree, and it will look almost as fresh as when newly worked. The old fashion of making bags of. ribbon joined together with fancy stitching is again revived. All the ribbons *yith pearl feather or lace edges are useful for this purpose, and silk and velvet look well together. Buch bags have a base of velvet colored cardboard about five inches square, and are made often strips of ribbon lined with a Contrasting color. Borne very gay bags combine several hues, and they are

the most useful because they are equally well adapted to accompany any frock. A very pretty bag may be made of ax stripe of black ribbofi, three of blue, strawberry. The velvet should be of very dark garment. No sitting-room should ever be considered furnished without the presence of a good, commodious scrap basket. Its sides may flutter with ribbons, or be as staid and. matter-of f&ct as possible. Nowadays we can have anything in this line, from the solid peach basket, lined with cretonne, to the most delicate wicker-work, laden With coquettish bows and exquisite flowers. Indeed these are a blessing if placed in every room in the house, adding so much to the comfort of their inmates.