Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-09-17
WATER SHOULD nor EvApORArE on Sous

WATER SHOULD NOT EyAPoRATE on SoHs.-
A correspondent asks question which it is
pertinent to consider in this connection. He
says:
You urge drainage and deep culture.
why? To allow water to leach through soil?
VIII It not-do more harm than good if allow
ed to escape in that way ?" We cannot sup
pose that our correspondent can be really Sc
rious in asking such questions, though he
may be, for We know that they are natural
ones for the thoughtless, or for those ignor-
ant Of natural laws, to entertain.
In reply, we would provide that the water
which falls from the clouds should pass down
through the soil, because, l. 1t adds elements
to its fertility Rain contains ammonia. In
deed, it is perhaps the most important means
of conveying the ammonia of the atmosphere
to the roots of plants. But if there is no
provision by which it may pass down through
the soil it 1.-THE waterl evaporates, the ammo
MIA is liberated in the atmosphere again, and
the process of evaporation cools the surface
of the soil and retards vegetable growth or
development. Water should not be allowed
to stand on the surface of soils, whether
grain or grass lands, to evaporate.
g The air follows water and operates to
disintegrate the particles of soil and liberate
food for the plant to take up, as well as fur
nishes food direct And air being admitted,
the moisture of the atmosphere supplies the
plant in time of drought-in other words, the
soil is in condition to absorb and retain mois-
ture sufficient for the purposes of vegetable
growth, without Obstructing that growth by
a surplus which must be got rid of by the
chilling ito the plant) process of evaporation.
g. Not the least important is the increased
action of light and heat, from the sun, in the
delopment of the plant. All know that the
hot, dry seasons develop the most good, nu-
tritiOus qualities in forage and fruit. The
grape gives more sugar, the sugar cane yields
a greater per cent. of saccharine matter, the
seeds of the grains are more perfectly devel
Oped, the Juices of the grasses are more nu-
tritious, even though the growth is far less,
in dry season than in a wet one. And on
deep titled, well drained soils, it has been
again and again demonstrated that droughts
do not diminish the quantity, and are sue to
improve the quality of the product.
No, good friend, rainwater is manure if
properly used. But it must not evaporate.
1t is Gods way of irrigating your soils--a
wonderful provision of which you should take
advantage. IL falls upon the earth, does its
work, bubbles out at the hill side in springs
the mouths of Gods Observation-Disclosures
the path of rivulet and river to the ocean,
ascends In vapor, becomes clouds and de-
scends as rain. So on your little domain
YOU must make the minor understands and
water-courses which God in His wisdom has
taught you are necessary. And you will reap
the reward of your labor in more abundant
harvests, fewer failures, a more healthful eli
mate, and less suffering during both wet and
dry seasons.-MOore's RitrdL NelO Yorker.
CURING Corn FoDDER.-The question is
asked "What is the best method of secur-
ing corn fodder?" / also would like to know
the best method. have raised some nearly
every year the past twelve years. have al
ways Graded it and raked and bound it. l
use an old cradle, mended up strong for the
occasion, gather the ends of the fingers close
together, and a strong man will find it no
play to cut it. l rake into gavels or bundles
and set bunch OIL end and bind it nearest
the tops with rye straw, then set three or
four of these together and bind firmly and
let stand and cure. When well dried
choose to stack around pole, one length on
ly deep from the pole. Some will say let it
lie in the swath and cure. | never have al
lowed mine to get rained on in the swath
since my first crop, which got wet and had to
be put up wet, as it never would have got
dry in the swath.
The corn should be bound and set up at
once; and as there seems to be a difficulty
ABOUT StOFlllB IL III DdTuS anu lO1tS, III may Dt
quickly stacked about poles fifteen feet long,
set firmly in the grOund-a single layer, with
tops in the centre, binGing it by laying each
alternate tier tapping by the pole. The cen
ire should be kept the highest. We have
stacked stalks in this way and they have kept
well.
KEEPING Cows vs. FATTENING CATTLE.-A
farmer, who for many years kept milk dairy
for the New York market, but finally turned
his attention to fattening cattle, saws: "My
experience is that can fatten a bullock upon
less feed than will keep a milch COW up to full
measure of milk" He prefers the Hereford
for the shambles, to any other breed he has
tried, and the Ayrshires for milking purposes.
Selling milk compared to selling beef, wears
much harder on farm. In the latter case,
rich food produces rich manure, which APP
piled to the soil increases its fertility; in the
former, it goes to the production of milk,
which after time il is said so deprives pas
lures of the bone material that COWS must
be fed bone dust to supply its place, or the
grass dressed with bone manure.
To CLEANSE WOoL.-Make a brine, take
pint of salt to pailful of water or therea-
bout, heat it hotter than the hand can be
held in it, but not to boiling, put in the wool,
set it off from the fire, let it stand from ten
W thirty uluubcc, tdht IL OuI
to drain, as it will be too hot to wiring, then
wiring it, saving the brine, as pailful NAV be
used to cleanse fifteen pounds by heating
over. Rinse in two or three waters. Warm
water is best. Try this, and if you are not
pleased with it, / am mistaken; for many of
my neighbOrs come to me wishing to know
how | cleanse my wool to have it so white
E. S. c., Boston, Mich, July, 1864.
~ Give your swine charcoal. Its nutri-
tive qualities are such, that they subsst on it
for weeks together without other food
Geese, when confined SO as to deprive them
of motion, and fattened on three grains of
corn per day, and as much charcoal as they
can devour, have become fat in eight days.
Hogs eat it voraciously after little time,
and are never sick while they have good
supply. 1t should be always kept in the sty,
and fed to the inmates regularly like all 9th
er food.