The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-11-23
Aaritnltaral.
AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

In fifteen years, sheep have increased in
ireland over 1000, 900.
On some Of the western prairies which
have been considered uninbabiinble for
want Of fuel, peat is found that can be
pressed by machinery into good fuel.
A barrel Of dry wood shavings thrown
into hog.pen will absorb morc wet tl'an
cart-load of moist earth.
Fruit trees have made n largo growth
this year and have the appearance Of being
in an unusually heahh! condition.
Capt. d. Harrington, Of Croton, Hudson
river, raised this season 1904 bushels win.
ter wheat on 54 acres He applied 3.4
tons bone dust, and the grain was sown on
10th October.
II the best time to engage in business
is when others arc leaving Il, the present is
good time to buy sheep, says }. Harris. in
the .4grieuliuralist.
Apples keep best when cool aud dry.
Sudden changes Of temperature induce the
collection Of moisture on the skin, which
iissolves the delicate varnlsh with which
the skin Of the apple is covered, and il soon
decays
TO clean cider barrels. the Scientific
.4merican says, put lime water and com.
mon trace chain into the barrel through the
bung hole, first tying a strong twine to the
chain to draw il out with. Shake the bar.
rel about until tho chain wears off the
mould or pumice, then rince well with
water.
A farmer, more than most men. needs
pluck, faith in himself and in nature, aud
abovc all, patience. Tie must wait for re.
suits, and while doing so it is important
that his surroundings should be rs pleasant
rs he can afford to make them. A chcefiil
healthy location is OF more value than a
fine house.
A gentleman in Geneva, N. Y, informs
the Country Gentleman that he has kept his
currant bushes entirely free of the currant
worm, and his ounces of the borer, by the
use Of coal ashes. The ground under the
currant bushes was covered in the spring To
the depth OF five inches. and a mound wus
made about The stems Of the ounces.
The forests in France are under the care
Of the government, aud under the new laws
for their protection they have increased
nearly one million of acres, Less than one
sixth of the area of the kingdom is covered
with wood land, while il is estimated that
from 90 to 25 per cent. of a country should
bc covered with forest in order to secure
uniformly good crops. Our forests, now
disappearing, demand tho attention Of gov
crnnient.
Levi Bartlett. Of Warner. N. H., writes
to the Country Gentleman that ",he growth
Of our wheat straw was large, and long
heads; but when put through the thresll.
ing machine the farmers were disappointed
in the yield, that being only about two.thinls
what was expected. Oats and barley fell
short in about tho Same ratio. Corn about
an average, and potatoes less than half the
usual product, while the growth Of weeds
among hoed crops has been remarkably lux.
uriant."
The Toronto Globe mentions, among other
dairy novelties exhibited at the late Provin.
cial Fair, milk can Of large size, designed
for carrying milk to factories and markets.
Il is furnished with an adjustable lid or
cover fitting the eau closely and moving up
and down readily. Ii is designed to ,iimin.
ish agitation as the milk is being moved to
the factories or to market. No doubt such
man will prove valuable to the dairying
fraternity.
In Central Illinois, they who arc not
farmers complain of hard times. Once,
pork was 2 cents a pound, now It is 10 |;
beef was cent, now II is l2 cents; lard
was s, now il is Is; corn was 10. now
it's GO. In Boston, "thcy who are not
farmers" find tho same cause Of complaint,
but instead Of inquring whether change
in the relative numbers Of producers and
consumers may not have something to do
with the result, they content themselves
with simply cursing the spectators.