The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1865-09-12
AGRICULTURAL.
CUTTING BUSHES.

| The practice of cutting hazcl-hrush
and other bushes in tie old of the
moon, is a good one. 1t is not the
moon which effects the killing process
but at that time all the sap in the plant
is at the top of the bush, consequently
if cut down at that time there will be
no sap to send up new roots. 1t is
effectual.
sALTING DOWN CUcUMBERs FOR PIcKLEs,
In gathering the cucumbers leave
half an inch of the stem on. each one.
Wash in cold water and pack in bar
rels with salt, alternating IN layers
One barrel of salt is sufficient for five
barrels of cucumbers. After having
filed a barrel, cut out false head,
perforate with holes and place it on the
cucumbers and on the top of this place
heavy stone of say 25 pounds weight.
This will keep, the pickles always in the
brine. Remove all scum which may
arise and in four weeks fill up the bar
rel with more cucumbers, put more
salt on and head up. They are now
ready for market.
APPLE CHAMPAGNE.
The following is a simple and cheap
process of making champagne wine
from apples: Use round apples, and,
without. grinding, press from .them
the juice, which will be as limpid as
water. The juice is then filtered
through IL inches of puiverized char
coal and clean sand and gravel, half
and half Underneath this layer of
straw has been laid and the bottom of
the iAterfng vessel perforated with
holes. AS the juice comes from the
filter it should be bottled up Immediate
", Qogked and put in cellar, when it is
soon fit for use,
CULTIVATION OF TIE POPPY.
From former ovcrseer of an opium
plantation in Smyrna, we gather the
following facts in regard to the cultiva-
ton, yield and profits Of this plant:
An acre of land set to poppy pro-
duccs about thirty pounds of opium on
the average; some years doublesthis,
and few seasons less. The soil re:
quired is light sandy loom. The juice
which exudes from Sits made in the
poppy heads Just before they ripen,
constitute. the gum opium of commerce,
This Juice is allowed TO collect on the
stalk, and is ecraped off when it be-
comes nearly dry; It is then put up in
cases for market. In this country the
heads would have to be cut off,at the
proper time and the juice expressed,
which is quicker process; and the
juice remaining in the heads after pre-
sure could be macerated in acohol and
water, and made into laudanum or
morphine. Opium is worth about SIS
pound. The amount annually sold
in the world is estimated at s3O,OOO,O 900,
while many put it as high as $7O,OOO,-
900. In raising poppy little labor is
bestowed on it, except in wedding and
keeping off insects. Cheap labor an
swcrs the purpose, and it may be cul-
tivated for $40 an acre yearly. Allow
ing $50 an acre for expenses, we should
find 90 acres of opium at 80 pounds to
the acre is 1900 pounds; at $l5 the
pound, would be $22,5OO for the SO
acres-less interest and other inciden-
tai expenses.
TANNING BEES.
When bees are full of honey they
will not sting and whenever frightened
will fill themselves with honey. The
smoke of cotton rags, tobacco, dry
corn cobs, or dry rotton wood, which
is perhaps the best, will frighten them.
Blow little smoke into the enterance
of the hive first, and afterwards into
the top Of the hive; this Keeps the bees
below. A reasonable amount of SIN oke
will hurt bees. In ten or fifteen minu-
tes most of the bees will be gorged.-
When in this condition the frames of
combs may be taken out, examined and
returned. Follow these directions and
you will find no trouble in tanning and
handling any hiye of bees.
SORGHUM RAGASSE
The best way to dispose of this arti-
Gle is, as fast as removed from the
mill, to keep a fire burning and keep
putting the hagassee on it. A few
sticks of cordwood, old logs, knots,
etc, placed near the mill and fire
kindled thereon, makes good founda-
ton for burning. Two such fires will
consume the bagasse from which 1000
gallons of mice have been expressed in
one day. The bagasse burns slowly
but surely.
PROFITS OF ROOT CROPS.
The following is the experience of
Mr. Burnie, of Massachusetts, in rais-
ing the Mangel Werzel; showing the
great profit of root crops. He planted
81 aeres, the soil Of which was heavy
foam. lie hauled on l3 cords of man
urc, besides which $4,000 pounds of
crushed bone, dissolved in sulphuric
acid, and 10 bushels of COMMON salts,
sown by hand in the drills, after the
grounds had been prepared. The seed
scwn was of the l9ng red variety, six
pounds deing used to the acre, and
sown about the 10th of May, The
plants were hoed by horse hoe, and
thinned out with a hand hoe, when
plants were transported to vacant
spots. The horse-boe was again used
about the first of July. BY the 10th of
Suly the horseshoe was again used
thoroughly, which was the last cultiva-
ton the crop received, as the leaves
had now nearly covered the ground
ALI the vacancies that now remained