The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-09-08
AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.


ABOUT MIIKIsG.--i.et oar farmers renem
ber that to have their cows MIXED indiscrim
lnately by any members Of the family. is 9
loss. Keep regular mixer for each COW,
or one for all If not too many. Do no,
change. And milk as fast as possible. This
experience proves to be the hest way. Talk
as little as possible while milking. Let the
COW be perfectly quiet and contented. Milk
at regular hours let those hours be nearly OF
quite equidistant-say twelve hours between
each milking Then there will be no strain,
ing of the bag by over-distenson These are
points which good dairymen always observe.
Most of all, do not walk your cows q great
distance, nor driva fha-, g
The VINEGAR PLaNr--It is claimed bv
many that this curious production belongs "a
the vegetable kingdom. Whether this is
tue or not, va hardly know where else 10
place H. Like the mushroom and NAV, W.
think, be regarded as q kind of fungus. Il
possesses the power of Reproduction to a
limited extent, governed in some degree BY
the temperature, but always requiring a des
gree Of heat above IS.
The vinegar plant is somewhat soft and
flexible, with firm and springy eonsistence
resembling the substance known to accumu-
late in vessel containing good vinegar, as
mother but of a more compact and regu-
larry defined formation. When separated
from Its parent, this plant is about six inches
in diameter and haitian inch thick. This is
usually placed in an open earthen jar of two
or three gallons capacity, with about gal.
Ion and half of water sweetened with about
one pint Of pure molasses, 1t is important
that the molasses be good and unchanged BY
age. After standing four or Eve weeks in
warm weather, this liquid viii become vine.
al e M r,,l.
ing all the body, but all the acid pungency
belonging to the best quality Of cider vinegar
The plant IN this position gradually expands
horizontally to the full dimensions of the siar
which contains it, while II increases in thick
ness by succession of layers of smaller d.
mensions These layers are about half an
inch IN thickness, and are united to the pa
rent plant by tender fliaments, which admit
of easy separation, by simply passing the
hand between them.
To what extent this plant would expand ii
placed in larger vessel. we have never seen
determined but by multiplication of the
plants placed IN more eapaeious vessels. vine
gar OF the best quality can no doubs be made
in large quantities. The plant should never
be allowed to freeze. The old plants after
being used few months, should be thrown
ont and new ones substituted.
To suit some tastes, this vinegar requires
70 be weakened by adding water when used,
in full strength.
PERMANENT TIMOTHY WITHOUT Tor DRESS
lNG.-Dayld A. Hawn, of Herkimer county,
\. y, has two lots Of Timothy, the most Of
which be has devoted to this grass for seven
or eight years. He simply harvests his hay,
and does nothing else. Not hoof of stock
is permitted 10 occupy it at any time: this
gives chance for the second crop TO grow,
so as to form a sufficient stand to NOV a
good swa;h but it is not moved. but left TO
occupy the ground. This is the only manure
that il is thought keeps the Ian IN fertility
and it seems 10 increase the fertility, as the
grass is heavier each year, moving about
ton or little more at first from the acre now
two tons are readily obtained-and the Tim
othy is pure and Of the finest quality.
II is held by those who remark npon the
subject that the effect Of pasturing Timothy
is to loosen the roots, and thus give a chance
to the frost and severe winds Of winter to
freeze and dry them. The grass also forms
a coat of protection, as well as imparting
its strength TO the soil. which is considera.
BILE, amounting TO fair crop. But the one
crop seems to be satisfactory end veil it
may be. with two tons to tie acre, worth
ordinarily, from ten to fifteen dollars ton.
The only expense is the harvesting. The
question is, will the expense Of top>dressing
pay for the second crop, we're that taken off?
But IN this case there would not be that pro-
&c ton which the heavy coat of grass now af-
fords. The common opinion is, that this is
considerable-and in no case should a
meadow 60 barren into winter, whether fed
of or moved: the feeding, when closely
done, being the worst, as it loosens the bulbs
and trampies the ground. This trampling
the soil when wet, ii is known, has bad eli.
feet. Stock, then, should invariably be
kept off meadows; and the second moving
should not be so late as not to afford a suff-
Gent growth for covering. It will take a
few years with the best care before meadpW
is established. The one referred 10 shows
this, and.is paying operation.
EASTERN DAIRYMAN.
The Working Farmer says on this subject
Improvement in modes of culture means
simply that the land shall be under drained,
if wet p]owed deep. sub soiled and cult
waited thoroughly, so as to keep the weeds
down. the surface of the ground constantly
stirred, and open to the ingress of the air
and dews.
The atmosphere is storehouse Of moist.
ure, carbon. ammonia, aud other vital ele- 1
ments Of crops bat 1t canot pssetr ate =
baked, closely packed soil, in order to pro-
duce those changes in it's chemical condition,
without which the wonderful processes of
| plant growth are impossible. But if the sur
face aud sub>soi are loosened by deep cuit.
vaton and disturbed frequently during this
season Of vegetation, the air circulates freely
among the particles of soil; wnter, the
solvent Of all the organic and inoreanic con. ]
stituents Of CROPS, ID supplied III proper
quantities to produce the right conditions for
the free appropriation Of plant food. .s t.s
Thus the improved tiIlage OF the soil dor
velopes an extra farm beneath the surface
ypt tad ,,, ,txr H.
farmer who, to,day, staryes ON hundred
rcres, might grow rich on quarter of that /
area, cultivated according to the methods We
have Indicated sssssss 1
MoLEs. The Cosmos relates an Interesting
Experiment, which proves the service render.
ID to agrculturists By moles and the isnpoii-
y of destroying these little quadripeds
sin commune Of The canton ef Zurich,
he municipal council were lately about 10
roceed to the collection OF mole catcher. /,
Weber, distinguished naturalist, laid b.
pre- the Board the following facts. NJ, Weber
nd carefully examined the stomach al
teen moles caught in different locaIities.
nt failed to discover therein the slightest
Pstags of plants or OF roots-whereas, they
ere filed by the remains of ascaria or earth
prms NJ. Weber, not satisfied by this fact
ut up several moles ID d box containing
DDS OF earth on which fresh grass was crow,
Z, aud small case Of grnbs and earth
rms. In nine days two moles devoured
white worms, 1913 earth worms, Is eata-s
lars, and 8 mouse, kim and bones, which
beeu enclosed Shae alive isfthe box. N.
der next gave them raw meat cut up in
all pieces, mixed With vegetables. They
the meat and len h Plantss He NEXT
|e them vegetables. lntRcnty M hp6t1
molss died # stafIaiReys Another maths aa