Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 July 1899 — FARM AND GARDEN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FARM AND GARDEN

Poultry Keeping. The Langshan fowl, as Its name would signify, is of Chinese origin. iLangshan is in the northwest of China, Jand has long been noted for its fine fowls. Some years ago these fowls were imported into this continent and Immediately became popular. They are large bodied, of heavy, solid build, and wholly black in color. The legs are short and feathered to the toes. They lay light brownish colored eggs, rather under sized, as compared with the largest; are extremely hardy, witb-

standing extreme cold easily; are excellent mothers, and are easy to control. Their flesh is very white and clear, almost semi-transparent, and tender and sweet in flavor. If this breed were better known it would doubtless become very popular. The hen is a very good nurse, and is large enough to rear fifteen in a brood with ease. Farm Telephone. I have a line connecting my residence with tenant house, distance as run over one and one-half miles, says a writer in 'the Farmer’s Advocate; one-half this distance I simply connect with ordinary barb wire fence, part of balance of way with a barb wire running loosely over an old rail fence, the balance through woods and across roads and gateways on a No. 12 wire nailed to trees, etc., not an- insulator or bracket on the line. Simply stapled to posts, trees, etc. The phone is similar to Blake, but cost me some less. Have had line in daily use over fourteen months and not a cent for repair, save renewing battery material occasionally. Has never failed to work, no matter how hard the weather, save for a short time, when one battery froze up. We had to take it off, and then fonnd that we had yet a pretty fair service with battery on one end only. Would not do without it for ten times the cost. For nipping; t heep. The illustration, reproduced from the Country Gentleman, shows a contrivance for dipping sheep which is made as follows: A two-inch pine plank, held together by bolts across the ends, outside; joints put together with white lead. One end is inclined, so that the sheep may be drawn upon the draining table, B, which has slats upon the, top, so as to permit the fluid to run back into the tub. This box is half filled with dipping fluid. Two men turn a

sheep upon Its back, lift It by Its legs and head and submerge its body. A third man should stand on the opposite end of the box to assist in keeping the sheep under for a minute or so while the wool is soaked to the skin. The animal is then drawn upon the draining table, and the wool pressed by hand to force out as much fluid as can readily be. The sheep is then lifted to the ground. Meantime, one of the two men flrst, named has another sheep ready for its turn. Application of Fertilizer*. Better results are obtained with fertilizers when rains are plentiful, for the reason that the amount of water'required to dissolve fertilizers is large when the applications are heavy. It may at times be noticed that small quantities of fertilizer were as beneficial as larger quantities on other plots and on the some kind of crop. This result is due to the fact that a portion of the fertilizer was not dissolved on those plots where heavy applications were made,- but the proportion remaining in the soil will be of service the succeeding season. Color of Orowln* Corn, No farmer likes to see corn yellow before its time, which Is when the ripened ears are gathered into the crib. If corn is yellow when it comes np It shows that the soil is deficient In available nitrogen. This often happens on land that is naturally fertile when the Soil has been made cold by heavy rains. Part of the effect of commercial fertll-

which they create. This warms the soil and supplies it with some available nitrogen. Cultivation helps to change the color of corn for the same reason. It lets warm air into the soil, and this warmth sets into fermentation all the organic matter it contains. When there has been a heavy rain compacting the surface the cultivator going through a corn field will show its effects in a few hours by the darker green color of the corn where It has done Its work. Crowded Grain Does Not Rnst. The reason why grain does not always rust in moist, warm weather is because, as usually sown, the plants crowd each other so that none get an over supply of the plant food which such weather develops. In our hot summers, even when dry, it would not do to hoe the small grains like wheat, as is done by English farmers. The hoeing would not make any more plants, and it does Increase the supply of nitrogen in the soil. The American substitute for hoeing small grain Is to roll or harrow It while It Is young enough to tiller. This checks the growth of leaves already formed, at the same time mellowing the soil and causing new 6hoots to put forth. This will on rich land make a rank growth that will have strong straw and will not rust. If, however, the soil be deficient In mineral fertility the heads of the grain will not fill as they should do, and this often occurs when the soil has plenty of nitrogenous fertilizers, causing a rank growth of straw. Decrease in Ramble Bees. Wherever a bumblebee is seen in a room his loud buzzing, added to the knowledge of the fact that It Is really dangerous If It comes to close quarters, givesjpverybody a desire to kill it and put IF where it will do no harm. Yet really it would be better In most cases If a door or window were opened and the bumblebee alowed to fly away. Early In spring the bumblebees that are flying around about houses are In search of places to make their nests. So many are killed, however, that In the long-settled parts of the country the bumblebee is much scarcer than it used to be. They are the only bees that can reach down into the blossoms of red clover, and their work in honey gathering fertilizes the blossom so that It can produce seed. The bumblebee therefore ought to be encouraged Instead of being destroyed. The Modern Milking F tool. The cow cannot kick over the milk pail where this Invention Is used, says an exchange. Besides offering a security for the milk It also affords a seat for the milker. The idea, whleh Is clearly shown In the cut, consists of an ordinary oblong four-legged bench of sufficient size to permit an owning in

its top to receive the bucket. This opening has slanting walls, so as to hold the vessel at an angle to facilitate the milking operation. Outwitting the Wireworms. This is how one farmer got ahead of wireworms. Several years ago he broke up an old meadow and planted it to corn, but the wireworms destroyed all the young plants. He replanted, but to no avail, and could not get a stand that year. The next year he planted the field again, but the corn was ruined. The third year, by the advice of an old farmer, he let the ground remain unbroken until the last of May, then plowed deeply and crossharrowed. He then put on common salt, sowing It broadcast, as he would have sown grass seed, at the rate of two-thtrds of a barrel per acre. He again cross-harrowed and planted the corn, and never raised a better crop than grew upon the salted ground the first year and the one following. Farm Note#. Although timothy hay is preferred for horses and clover for cows, yet clover hay that has been cut Just as the heads were beginning to turn brown, and which has been well cured, is much more nutritious than timothy, and the horses will show a preference for It Badly cured clover hay, however, is distasteful to horses more than to cows. Should the melons be slow in growing apply a small quantity of nitrate of soda around each bill and chop it in with the hoe. For beans use a mixture of one pint nitrate of soda and two parts muriate of potash. One of the best modes of forcing cabbages to grow is to hoe them after each rain or cultivate so as to have the soil loose and the ground clear of weeds and grass. The effect of clearing away the forests Is damaging to crops, not that the presence of forests causes rainfall, but because they regulate the flow of water. There is less evaporation near forests, and the water does not flow away so rapidly nor cause streams to overflow at some periods, while dry at others. The trees serve as windbreaks, thus preventing the drying of the soil by warm winds daring periods

LANGSHAN FOWLS.

BOX FOR DIPPING.

MILKING STOOL AND PAIL HOLDER.