Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-09-17
AGRICULTURAL.

How TO SAVE MASURE-In Franklin county
Mass, the place of my nativity, most of tbs
tillable land has increased in value probabl,
one hundred per cent. within the last twenty
five years, by means Of a careful husbandry
and application Of manures Most Of the
barns are constructed with three stories, with
a view to this object part of the middle
story being devoted to stabling, with light
floors, so that the droppings with the urine
may be precipitated below through convent
ent trap-do0Ts. The lower story, or cellar
opens generally to the east Or south, con
Fenlent for driving in a team loaded with al
luTium, gathered from shallow holes or basins
made on the lower side Of the roads at the
openings Of crOs8-bars, which are so necessary
IN that billy country TO prevent the water
from running in the road-or with muck, or
with dirt Of some kind or any kind, to be
mixed with the droppings, and absorb the
urine and escaping gases. Sometimes old
brine and refuse salt are thrown into the heap;
sometimes suds from the wash-room; some
times clear water, to prevent mould or fire
fang. | believe those who understand some
thing of chemistry never add either ashes
or lime to the manure heap, as this would
set free the ammonia, and, as to profit, would
be something like burning bank bills in order
to get the ashes.
But how shall we who have none, or only a
part of these conveniences, save manure :?
Answer: Have a small yard for the cows,
with a shed on one side, if convenient; with
plenty of bedding of straw, or muck, or allu-
ylum, or dirt from the woods, or any other
place where it can be spared throw the
drOppngs into heaps, uncovered if possible,
and add as much or more dirt every day. On
to this heap throw everything that can be
raked or scraped; old leaves, chip manure,
horse droppings, suds, salt, old or new, old
brine, &c, sc. Every farmer can do this and
make acres rich every year, which otherwise
might have to grow poor.-Cor Rnr@ Neac
Yorker.
HUNGARIAN GRASS FOR HoRsEs.--I am look
ing at what you say of communication read
at the meeting of the Philadelphia Society
for the promotion of Agriculture On this
subject, OF the hungarian grass as a food for
animals, | have received a great many COM
munications from practical farmers, and talk
ed with many others. The following are the
results of my efforts to arrive at the truth
l. Hungarian grass, if allowed to mature
the seed before harvesting it, is a very heavy
seed.
2. Fed in this condition, as one would feed
timothy hay, it is a dangerous food. 1t does
lnJure stock IN such cases.
3. If cut when in bloom and cured as hay,
it will not injure any kind of stock it is ex-
ceedingly nutritious and valuable as a forage
crop; it is so palatable. And if put on rich
soil, it is profitable late crop to put in.
4. Experiments have demonstrated that
the grass with the seed thrashed out, does not
inJare stock, and that if fed lightly with the
seed in, as one would feed grain, it is not in
Init haH off
as in case of oats, corn, and other grain
D. For forage crop it is found most profit
able, and less dangerous to cut gaass when in
blossom. | know farmers who grow large
crops of it, cut it at this stage of maturity,
and feed exclusively to team horses. They
feed no grain.
Now, if any Of your readers have any facts
that conflict with the above, they should
promptly furnish them, for | have never OBJ
tanned any. C. D. B.
GRAPE VINEs.-The grape is great feeder
Many people wonder why their vines do not
bear. 1t is simply because they are not fed
Give them an immense top-dreSsing of stable
manure, spreading over all the ground where
the roots run, remembering that they run a
great distance. Then in the spring prune
closely.
To PREVENT FLIES FRoX TEASING HoRsEs-
Take two or three handfuls of walnut leaves,
upon which pour two or three quarts of soft
cold water; let it infuse one night, and pour
the whole next morning into kettle, and let
it boil for fifteen minutes. When cold it will
be fit for use. No more is required than to
wet d sponge, and before the horse goes out
of the stable, let those parts which are
most irritated be smeared over with the Ii
quOr.
Corn STALKS FOR HoRsEs.-A writer in the
Country Gentleman having said that corn
stalks used for fodder, are sure cure for
heaVes in horses in the mild stages of the
disease, the New York Argus remarks: "Ex-
periments, made by us many years ago, prov
ed to our satisfaction that, if not cure, corn
stalks are very desirable fodder for horses
afflicted with that disease. They manifestly
afford relief, whether they will or will not
effect cure"