Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-07-06
AGRICULTURAL.
FARM, GiRDEs AND HOUSEHOLD.

ed a fleece of eleven and half months
growth, which weighed twenty five and
half pounds. On the same day there
was a shearing at Shelbourn, at which
prizes were awarded for the best fleece
es. Fifteen sheep were sheared, whose
average weight of carcass was little
over seventy pounds, and whose aver
age weight of fleece was thirteen pounds
eight ounces. The lightest fleece OF
fifteen weighed seven pounds and four
teen ounces, from an animal which
weighed fifty-three pounds; while the
larger fleece weighed twenty pounds
and three ounces, from an animal whose
weight was one hundred and twenty
pounds and three ounces. One animal
weighing eighty-one pounds, yielded
fleece of fifteen pounds and eleven
ounces and a half ; and another fur
nished fleece of ten pounds fifteen
ounces and half, from "A carcass which
weighed only fifty-six pounds. Still
another carcass, weighing only sixty
three pounds, yielded sixteen pounds
twelve ounces of wool.
To TAME BEES. The Scottish Gard
ner says TO tame bees we have only to
accustom them TO the forms of human
being. A scarecrOw placed in the front
of the hives of stinging bees is a great
help. 1t can be shifted now and then,
and, to provoke a general attack. place
loose waving handkerchief or rag IN
the hands of the scarecrow. Vicious,
kicking horses have been completely
cured by hanging bags of hay behind
them in the stalls. They kicked and
plunged at the bag until their strength
was exhausted, when their vice and
folly left them, so that they quietly toll
Grated the bags to daDgle by their
sides, and grooms to do as they liked.
IN like manner the bees attack the
waving, provoking handkerchief, and
sting il until their vice leaves them.
That which scares crows tends to do
mesticate bees. If kept in a garden
where men, women and children are
often seen, and where they are not
disturbed, bees are as tame and peacea-
ble as cocks and hens.
Sailing BUTTER. is becoming a
very prevalent complaint among butter
dealers that farmers are not careful
enough as to the kind and quantity of
salt they use in preparing butter for
market Some put in too much, Others
hardly enough, while too many are
careless as to the quality used. Ordi-
nary barrel salt is reported to contain
so much lime as to cause "A soapy tex
ture TO the butter, while lacking the
preservative power essential to good
flavor and protracted keeping. The
Ashton salt, imported IN sacks of four
bushels, combines al the essentials
necessary to the preservation of butter
the salt costing about One-fourth
more than that commonly In use.
HAVING. The first crop of clover
should be cut before the end of the
month. tn save labor the best insrtu-
ments should be used. Ont with the
mower when the dew is of, and stir
constantly; rake mp before 8 o'clock,
and get In if possible. and If not, next
day. Before any of the new crop Of
clover or hay is cut, see that the barn
in every part is thoroughly cleaned aud
prepared. Much injury to hay often
occurs for the want of proper ventila-
ton; and horses and cattle can suffer
from the same cause. If the barn and
stables are not well ventilated, let this
be attended to now, while they are
empty.
HoEING- AND WEDDING. Tho wheat,
rye, oats and barley fields should be
examined carefully, and every nozious
weed removed; IA few hours will do this,
and the quantity as well as the value
of the crop viii be largely increased
thereby. But it is the corn, potatoes
and root crops which will require the
constant attention of tine teams and
men. This must be dOre thoroughly
and well. Thorough work in this
month in eXterminating weeds will add
largely to the crop, and besides prevent
calling men from the hay or harvest
fields at a time when they cannot be
spared 1t is important to thin out
the corn when too many stalks are
growing in "A hill. Beets and rutaba-
gas also require attention in this re-
spect. The distance apart will depend
npon the distance the rows are apart
and the richness of the soil. If 1T has
been highly MANFRED and is thorough
ly titled, beets and rutabagas can be
from five to eight inches apart, and car
rots from four to five inches.
To PREVENT THE RAvAGEs OF THE
PoTATo BUG.-O. M. Culow writes to
the Prairie Farmer as follows:
A neighbor of mine, Mr.. II. Oughton,
planted patch of potatoes last year,
and covered with straw several inches
deep. The crop was entirely undis
lurbed by the bugs, while other pota-
toes near by, and those of his neigh
bors were we'll nigh destOyed. The in
stinct of the bugs may teach them not
to Law their eggs where there is an I'M
suitable place for their young to come
to perfection, or the smell of decaying
straw may drive them away. The
young bugs come to perfection In the
ground; after Matching and living n
week or so on the potato tops, they
| fall off on the mellow soil and bore
smooth, round perpendicular holes in
the ground to the depth of several
inches, and remain several days under
going their transformations, and then
come ont to lay their eggs by scores,
and thus go on multiplying indefinitely.
Straw seems to prevent their entrance
into the ground, and it seems well
worth a trial The straw would at least
paw as a manure, and assist in keeping
down the weeds-and in a dry season
is of great value as a mulch.
WOOD ASHES FOR MANURE. -WeEree-
ommend the farmer carefully to save
for use I'm the spring all the ashes he
can collect for the home consumption
| of fuel during the winter; and where
he has opportunity to procure from