Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1900 — FARM AND GARDEN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FARM AND GARDEN

The Wife’s Portion. The farmer’s wife has about three times as much work to do as her city cousin. She asists her husband in running the farm. Without hfer aid the husband would often find it difficult to farm successfully. In many cases tfle farmer’s wife Is not treated as she should be. Frequently the husband has been drinking, and after his death the mortgage takes the property, and the wife has either to struggle for her living or go to the almshouse. A good many of our farmers are members of some beneficial order. This is all right and good, but the wife can never feel happy, because she has to lose her husband before getting her money. The following is how I treat my wife: For every article I sell from the farm I give her 5 per cent, of the money for a present. We have only one pocket-book, and when I need money I use it, and when she needs money she uses it. The 5 per cent, is all profit to her, and is intended to be Used by her in case she should become a widow. Some of the readers of the Practical Farmer may think 5 per cent, is a very small portion, but it amounts to a great deal. Farmers sell a good many articles in a year, often more than they think they do. In case a farmer would only sell SSOO worth in a year the wife would get $25. Remember, she has no expenses. She Is clothed and cared for. I tfm following this plan now for the last twelve years, and I am certain that a good , many of the readers of the Practical Farmer would be surprised if I would mention the amount my wife has deposited in the bank. Suppose a young man should enter the farm at the age of 21 and continue his work up to the age of 03—or 42 years. If he sells every year to the amount of SI,OOO, which is a very low sale-far the average fariuer, the wife would get SSO a year, or $2,100 in for years. A smart wife will take care of hek* money as well as a beneficial order or life insurance— F. F. Frantz, in'i'Pfactlfcal Farmer. ) Making Stone Culverts. Where flat stones for building culverts are not at hand, any rough stones can be used by the plan in the exit. If for a foot-bridge a single barrel is placed in the ditch and rough stones heaped at the sides as shown. Those next to the-barrel are cemented, so that

when the work is completed there is a solid oreh through which the water can run. Make the arch that is cemented thick enough so that the weight above may not crush it in. The rest of the “bridge” is laid up with loose stones and the top is sodded over. For a wider bridge, place two or more

barrels end to end and build the cement arch over them. Where a culvert is laid up without cementing, the stones settle into the opening, and thus soon begin to fill up the culvert.—American Agriculturist. Eggs Migratory Wild Birds. it will surprise many people to know that some of the most important migratory birds are now in process of extinction because of man's cupidity, not in killing them, but in destroying their eggs, and thus preventing their existence. All of them breed in tbe Arctic regions, where In simmer there Is the greatest abundance < C insect and fish life on which to su; ;>ort themselves. Man has found tbesj breeding places, iid so long as he can secure fresh eggsl,e finds ready sale for them at protlt--1,1,1c prices frem photographers, who uve o nly the albumen for making the ill ms on which their pictures are taken. I It is true if there were not this supply photographs might be dearer than they [now are. But if this use of their, egg* lincans the extinction of many mlgralory species of birds, such use of them l.uriit. to he prohibited by law. -AmerlK.in Cultivator. ■ Htrawberrles. ■ strawberries can be grown at a small ft., ( .„i»pared with the prices received, K; the better the cultivation and tbe iS.rc liberal the use of fertilizer tbe Wver the expense, as the crop yield An be so much greater. The quality I Ml size of the berries will also be imI lved, which will give them ready

sale. The main expense in growing strawberries is the harvesting of the crop. The best time to apply fertilizer from this time on is in March, the fertilizer to be applied on the plants In the rows. It is best not to work the plants until they finish bearing, as the roots feed near the surface and should not be disturbed. If any weeds pull them out. ~ . , Kerosene Emulsion. Many speak of the emulsion as troublesome to make. I find’it very easy by the following method: A bar of common washing soap is dissolved in a quart of water and allowed to boil, then two quarts of kerosene are added to the boiling soap. This is churned, while hot, with a revolving egg beater; a force pump would be better, but I do not own one, and a beater answers very well. When the emulsion is properly made it will come like, butter, so thick that the beater will not Work. A pint of the thick emulsion is diluted with eight quarts of water, making a liquid resembling skim milk in color but closely related to kerosene in odor. —Vick’s Magazine. Estimates of Feeding. One of the difficulties encountered by farmers who study the experiment station reports is the estimates of feeding based upon the live weight of the animals. The presumption Is that a large animal should eat more than a smaller one to maintain itself, and the tables are given on such supposition. The fact is that farmers know that size does not always regulate the amount of food required. Individual characteristics govern the matter to a large extent, and small animals will frequently consume more food than those that are larger. No two animals are alike, and there is no certain rule that can be based upon weight of the animal when feeding. A Scotch Prize-Winner. Two-year-old Ayrshire heifer MidAscog. Bred by and the property of

R. & J. McAlister, Mid-Ascog, Rothesay. First at Bute Farmers’ Society show this year. f ■ Sale of Calves. , A law that would prohibit the sale of calves for food before they are three months old would put an end to “bob” veal and lead to improvement of stock, for the reason that if farmers were compelled to feed their cdlves to the age of three months they would then give some" attention to breeding in order to derive as much as possible from the calves. The scrub bull would soon become useless under such a system, and the farmers would find the change greatly in their favor. Many of the infant calves are sold when but three days old and are then unfit for human food. Value of Wood Ashes. When wood ashes are applied lime is unnecessary, as every 100 pounds of wood ashes contain about 40 pounds of lime. Ashes vary greatly, as they are produced from different sources, easily absorb moisture, and their composition cannot be determined without careful examination. The most valuable ingredient in ashes Is potash, the proportion being about 0 pounds to every 100 pounds of wood ashes. Ashes also contain about 2 per cent of phosphoric acid and about 3 per cent of magnesia. Coal ashes are of but little value. Wood ashes give excellent results on all kinds of crops, especially grass. Suggestion to Farmers. Director of the Census Merriam suggests to the agriculturists of the country that they use some of their spare time between now and June next in thoroughly preparing themselves to answer promptly and accurately the questions relative to the acreage, quantity, and value of crops; the quantity and value of all farm products, animal and vegetable; the cost of fertilizers and farm labor, and, in fact, all the items of farm operations for the calendar year 1899, which the census enumerators are by law compelled to ascertain. This he says, will result in a full and accurate census. • Holding Crops. Never hold back the crops from market when there te an opportunity to sell. The only time to hold on to the grain and hay is when there is a sufficient number of animals to consume such products. It must not be overlooked that grain shrinks with age, because it dries, and it may be possible to got a higher price per bushel and yet receive less money for the whole owing to loss of weight from shrinkage. Every farmer should carefully study the markets and .fully understand when to sell. Red Clover. Red clover is valuable for the abundance of pasture it produces and for its excellence as food. Rich in lime and nitrogen, ns well as containing a large proportion of starchy matter, it Is one of the bent balanced, foods used, and is also highly relished by -all kinds of stock. In addition to promoting a large flow of milk from cows it Is unexcelled as pasturage for hogs. Its value as a fertilizer Is also admitted and many farmers grow it for that purpose as well as food. Fowls as Pets. Choice varieties of fowls add a pleasant feature to the farm. They become the pets of the household and receive notice and attention from all the members of the family. In proportion to cost of food the fowls give a larger profit than any other live stock.