Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-05-28

VITALITY OF SEEDS.-Farmers are often adj
vised through agricultural papers TO gather
matured weeds and put them in their compost
heaps. Now, l very much doubt the prorri-
ETY. of this advice. Although the decOmpo>-
ed weed stalks may be of some vitality am
very certain the seeds do not lose theirs
When seeds will stand cold and heat for years
or pass through the stomach of an animal
without being in the least impaired, / very
much doubt the decOmposing process of mat
ter with which they are connected, destloy
ing them.
Years ago, there stood a small thick hem
lock forest in a certain locality in Ashtabula
county, through which a winding wagon road,
from necessity was made, and farmers often
drew loads of hay through this piece of wood.
When the public roads were properly laid
out and fitted for use, the wood road was
tirely abandoned; twenty years later the for
est was cut down, and as soon as the suns
rays struck the earth here, there came up
beautiful bed of timothy, the whole length
and breadth of the old road. / believe people
acquainted with the circumstances, generally
believe that the hay seed scattered there
twenty years before, retained its vitality, and
when the sun and rain fe.l upon it, it germin-
ated and grew.
During the early part of the summer, while
in my pasture, some three feet deep; soon
after it was finished there came light show
er and warm sun !; a week or so after this
the bed of the hollow was covered with small
weeds. 1t was impossible for the seeds TO
have blown there at that season of the year,
and the only conclusion 1 could come to, was
that the seeds had remained for centuries in
the earth without losing their vitality.
think it far more advisable to gather ma
tured weeds and burn them rather than to
put them into the compost heap.-Erast's IN
the Ohio Farmer.
Do NOT WASTE MANURE.-Manure is worth
more than money, because it will produce
large crops of grain and grass. Grain and
grass in turn will produce beef and mutton;
but money will do neither. Do not allow the
rain from the roofs of buildings to wash it
away. Manure is the farmers revenue.
Mingle the horse manure and other manures
together. The horse manure is dry, and will
soon become frefanged, if collected in a
heap. But let it be mingled with the drop
pings of neat cattle, and it will absorb the
moisture of that, and both will be preserved,
and make much better manure than if each
kind were kept by itself
The subject of manures is receiving very
much attention among American farmers, and
those who make the most of it, and apply it
judiciously, find that they are always well
paid for their trouble, provided they have
prepared their soil beforehand, by under
draining it where there is an excess of water
Farmers need to think more, talk more, read
more, and plan more about manure.
GARGET IN Cows.-Garget is a troublesome
complaint. 1t affects the udder and produces
a morbid action of the system, but more par
ticulary of the seeretory and lacteseent glands
If taken in season, common linseed oil rubbed
carefully over the teats and udder, viii effect
cure. In stubborn cases, from two to three
applications may be necessary. As a proven
tive, few doses of saltpeter, per month"; adj
ministered in dough or mash-a tablespoon
full at a time, is highly valuable.