Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1868-01-24
Che Gtamnton Uinohatcr.
ADV ERILSlkG RAJ Is.
4 Il ca LII A \ HIIDLE llNT
FARM AND FIRESIDE.

i n kkuV INV
HusK1Na MAcnlNE.--Every farmer who
grows corn knows that one of the most tedi-
Gus operations connected with the crop is the
husking. 1t will be surprising to some to
know that a machine is now invented that
will husk corn from the stalk in the most
perfect manner, and at NEST rapid rate
The American Corn Husker is a most won
derful machine, and will supply a grand de-
sideratum. 1t is a very simple machine
It has an inclined table, on which the corn
from the shock is placed. The ends Of the
stalks, entering between two corrugated roll
lers, are drawn forward until the ears are
reached, which, coming in contact with an
iron break, are broken off in the place Ma
ture intended them to be broken, and fall
upon two endless aprons working in opposite
directions. Here the husk is caught and
rolled or twisted of-thc husks falling in a
pile by themselves. and the corn going into
another. So, in the operations of this ma
chine, we have the stalks, husks and corn.
all separated, and in different piles. This
machine was patented by Scott & Farnum.
of Blackstone, Mass, in FEBRUARY last, and
costs S75. 1t is a most valuable machine,
ranking in its labor-saving capacity with the
reaper and moving machine. Its merits
are not alone in husking the ear rapidly and
perfectly, but by separating the husks, they
may be turned to good account for a variety
of useful purposes.-Journal Of the New
York State Agricultural Society.
H1NTs.-Much of our knowledge is deriv-
ed from the briefest hints which are often re-
ceived in a most unexpected ann The
most valuable inventions have been the re-
suit of a casual remark or observation. The
drain tile was derived from a hint of a gar
dener. The steam engine was said to nave
been limited at by the steam from a tea-kettle,
while the valves were made to work by ma
chinery from the hint given by a string at
tached to the machine in order that he could
play.
If we notice the manner in which we read
an agricultural paper. we shall find that We
catch a hint here and a hint there, and We
may think ourselves abundantly rewarded if
we can find one good hint a week in that d.
rection. There is another way in which We
receive hints, and that is directly from 9TH
ers. A farmer has heard of some new meth
cd of managing his affairs which he thinks
an improvement over the old method, and
he Immediately writes it out briefly for the
Farmer, and his %neighbors all receive the
benefit Of it.
We are a great believer in hints, and al
most any one may be valuable if rightly I'M
proved. There is said to be q best way for
doing anything, and we most generally as
certain the best from others. Hence the adj
vantage of visiting the operations of the man
who is successful in business and collecting
such hints as may aid us in our labors in the
same direction. Neighbor Jones says that
he always visits his prosperous neighbor over
the way every winter, just for the purpose
of hearing something new, or, in other words,
of catching some valuable hints about farm
ing, and this is one secret of neighbor Jones'
success in farming. He argues in this way.
eff my neighbor can cut two and a half tons
of hay to the acre, and raise a sure crop of
corn every year, there is no reason why l
should not do as we'll as he" This is where
neighbor Jones is right.-Muine Farmer.
How TO KEEP Up Your HAY CRoP.-A
farmer who had been in. the habit of selling
his hay for many years in succession, being
asked how he kept up his hay crop without
.manuring or cultivating his land, replied.
II never allowed the swath to be cut" If
this rule was generally followed, there would
be less said about running out of grass fields
OF short crops of hay. Some farmers feed
off every green thing and compel their cattle
to pull up and knaw off the roots of the grass.
Cutting rowen is cutting ruin, and hard fall
and winter grazing is certain death to hay
crops. A farmer had better buy hay at $40
per ton than ruin his hay field by close gra-
zing. The general treatment Of grass lands
in this respect is wrong and expensive, and
should be abandoned as a matter of profit
and economy Wisconsin Farmer.
MEApows.-Top DREssING.-O most
farms there are portions of meadow land
whose product of hay is very small compared
with others in the vicinity. These sections
can be much improved, without breaking up
the sward, by a liberal top-dressing Of lime
and salt. These will invigorate the growth
of the aftermath, and if repeated the ensuing
spring, will render the poor spots equal in
productiveness to those by which they are
surrounded. The experiment is worth try
ing, unless it is deemed desirable to break
up the whole meadow for the purpose Of re-
seeding at a future day. Nearly the same
results can be produced by the application Of
leached wood ashes as a top-dressing where
the material is attainable for that purpose.
Evergreen branches taken from the forest
and planted in the ground among the shrub
berry and grouped low over the fowcr-bods,
serve to give life and cheerfulness to the
grounds, and at the same time are q pro-
lection and shade to the plants, bulbs,
etc., etc. -
A RICH PuDp1NG.-One pound of raisins
stoned, one pound of currants, half a pound
of beef suet, quarter of a pound of sugar,
two spoonful -four, three eggs, q cup Of
sweetmeats, and a wine glass Of brandy
Mix well and boil is d mould eight hours.
REMEMnER-if you ever knew it-that
manure. even if lone is an excellent thing