Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 54, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 March 1899 — FARMERS CORNER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FARMERS CORNER

Waste of Soil by Bio wins. It is always a loss to leave soil naked through the winter, especially if the surface soil is friable. Unless snow come aa a covering, much of it will be blown into adjoining fields. Often when snow comes it will be wind swept into banks behind fences on its leeward side, and so soon aB the banks are formed the snow will be darkened by clouds of fine dust, which Is deposited on its surface. This wind-blown Soil is always extremely rich, as is shown by the quicker growth and darker green of the grass that grows up after the bank has melted in spring. Always the land on the lee side of fields that have been much and long plowed Is richer near the fence on the leeward side than it is nearer the center of the field. For this reason, when plowing, turn the furrows as much as possible from the fences towards the center of the field. Doubtless there is much blowing of surface dirt in summer showers, though it is not so plain to the sight as it is when the dark rim lies on top of a white bank of snow. Protecting Shrubs. Winter protection for shrubs is a matter that requires considerable skill. Cold is one of the things to be guarded

against, the weight of snow in winter must b e foreseen and care exercised lest the shrub be greatly Injuredln the wrapping process by the breaking of many brittle branches. Therefo r e a Country Gentleman correspondent proposes the following plan; The cut shows the proper way to begin. Select a smooth, strong stake, longer than the height of the shrub, and drive it

well down in the center of the bash. Now draw the branches all carefully together and tie them to the stake with a soft bit of cord, as shown. A layer of straw can now be wrapped about the shrub, bringing the bottom of the straw well out upon the ground, to protect the roots as much as possible. The whole can now be covered with burlap and tied or sewed tightly. The top Is then a point, on which snow cannot lodge, while the stake supports the bush when the winds blow.

Cucumber*. Cncnmbers generally do well, even if conditions are only moderately fatorable, though it is better to plant them in a deep, rich and somewhat retentive loam, the planting to be done as soon as the ground becomes warm in the spring. Five or six feet apart each way is about the right distance and a shovelful of well-rooted manure or compost placed at the point where the seed are planted, though the manure should be covered with soil and the seed planted In the soiL About a dozen seed shonld be put In each hill, covered one inch and the soil packed over the seeds. As soon as the plants come above the surface the soil about them should be loosened, and this repeated after each rain. Occasionally it may be necessary to dust the plants with paris green to protect them from insects. Thin the plants down to three or four to the hill and cultivate the land both ways until the vines become too long.—Texas Stock and Farm Journal. Another Saw Jack. The saw jack shown in the accompanying illustration is so easily constructed that description is unnecessary. The material used in building

can be of any convenient size and of almost any material, although hard wood is preferred, so that the weight will hold it firmly in place.—Orange Judd Farmer. . . Muriate of Potash. Where potash only is required It is much cheaper to purchase it in the form of muriate, which will yield SO per cent, of potash, than in the kalnlt or German potash salts, which have only from 10 to 15 per cent of this mineral Wood ashes contain potash in varying degree, that from fruit trees in bearing sometimes having as much potash as 6or 8 per cent But the wood ashes also contain some lime and some phosphate, which makes them more on all-around manure than the potash taken from natural deposits am be. Parsnips for Cows. There is no better root for cows than the parsnip. It has the advantage that part of the crop may. if need be, be wintered in the ground where it has grown. The parsnip, unlike the beet, makes a rich milk. It is equal to the carrot in this respect, and undoubtedly, like that root helps to color wintermade butter. Parsnips are a favorite >. . . a_ XN . . *. ... i±** A'i*

' - - 'gjjtM winter feed of Jersey and Guernee? farthers, who by its use have been aids to breed cows whose high butter colofli jias .become hereditary in these breeds.. No doubt the parsnip feeding is in p*ii| responsible for the color of Jersey bttt|| Horse-Radish. It is usually said that horse-radish 1 will grow anywhere, and it would al-: most seem that this Is true, so difficult ' is It to fully exterminate the roots once they are firmly established. But It in; not true that horse-radish will grovrf as well without care and fertilizer an with it. In starting a new bed thh« crowns of old plants may be set, but the newer method is to use small rootlets about as large around as an ordinary penholder. In planting these hti very careful to set them the right end f up. Bury these rootlets about two inches deep in good, mellow soil. In the autumn, when housekeepers are preparing pickles, there is a good demand for both roots and leaves. It fell but little work to prepare the root for market, as it can be run through a meat chopper. Much of the horse-radish put on the market has some white turnip ground with it, and, indeed, many prefer this to the clear root, as the prepam-! tlon is not so strong. White wine vinegar should be used.—Orange Judd Farmer. sweet Potatoes from Cuttiags. A Texas market gardener claims that sweet potatoes grown from vine cuttings are smoother and nicer than those grown from slips or sprouts. His method of securing early sweet potatoes in to gather the vines before frost has injured them and hang them on a pole, the ends of which rest in crotches or , forks some two feet above the ground. Cover the ends of the vines with moist I earth and throw straw, leaves or corn stalks over the whole and protect from the rain by a good shed, with the norths side boarded up. As cold weather approaches he, for better protection, throws more soil upon the base of the heap and more straw on the upper portion, leaving the south end, or, better: still, the top, partly open during warm spells for ventilation. This plan (which is similar to banking the tubers) wists keep vines alive all winter and readF| for early planting in the spring.— Farmers’ Magazine. To Keep Hama. . J These directions, carefully followed, are said to keep hams from as well as from insect harm. “I have tried various ways,” said an expert, “and there are several that will keep| hams sweet and sound, not only : through the year, but for two years. I have packed them in clean casks, firsM thoroughly sprinkling every bam with! hickory wood ashes; put them in strong! muslin bags, sewed them up and hung| them to spikes in the attic, well ven-J tilated, and they kept well. I hake left j them in the smokehouse, as dark ail Erebus, locked the doors and kept tM| key, and never knew an insect to trow 4 ble them, and they were always In final condition. I have also put them .Jm bags, as before, imbedded In sw«et cut hay, and they came out whenever wanted In the very best condition. In aO| cases they should be hung up in a cool place.”—Orange Judd Farmer. Economy of Hornlcoo Cow*. : | When it comes to putting up cowil for winter, the cow that has no honujl will be found to take much less rooms than her neighbor, who is tempted to and generally does hook and fight aJf| those near her. In the stable, of course, " each stall will accommodate its cow, horns or no horns. Horned cattle anl| often kept in _s tables on bright, pleaa4 ant wintry days, to keep them frosul hooking one another, when they wouffil be much healthier if allowed to run inf a small yard. Most barn yards am made much larger than would be nem essary if all horns were removed*! This wastes manure, as more surfaeql is exposed to rains, and the dropplngS in a large yard are often so scatters that they are never gathered into heaps! and carried where they are needed.—J American Cultivator. More Productive than Clover. ,Jj In the localities where it which are mainly in the arid regions of| the West alfalfa is much more produel tive than plover. It has also the adr| vantage that once the ground is seedSd| with it the plant will live for years. The chief drawback is that It takes longerl to get a start the plant not maklng j much growth until late the first season. It is very impatient of wet and cannot| be grown where the ground duringl spring and late in winter is flooded,! After the first year three crops of hay may be cut in a year, and as the plant ‘ has the power of disintegrating air iu| the soil by the nodules grown on lfif| roots, the soil increases in fertility. But of course mineral fertifcl lzers must be supplied when they artti needed, <s no disintegration of the air| can furnish any of these. Double feeding of Clover. The earliest seeding of clover general-! ly grows the largest size by the timaj the grain around it is cut 'But some<| times it starts too early, and Is nippem by frost juslpwhen its leaves start aim it has very little root At this time, Ml the clover leaf is very tender, the young! plant is easily killed. We know farm*! era who divide their seeding, sowing! some early in March, and delaying thus latest seeding until April. In this wayj they claim that a more even seeding «|| were sown at once. The second seedv| ing is always sown crosswise of tb|| One of the most treasured liiHlffrfH of the Duke of Fife is a iittfe photo-graph-frame made by the PiincaMg Louise ont of a piece of her first court

LABOR-SAVING SAW JACK.