The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-12-04
AaritultnraL.
FAlA, GARDEN Ann HOUsEHOLD.

ducing crops, il is certain that il is a very
poor material for cattle yards. IL is soft,
porous and yielding, The rain that falls
upon il saturates it with water lik n
sponge. The feet of the poor animals
tramp into this their w offal, while their
urine is added TO the already miry mass.
Their feet are constantly wet, and the cold
so received extends TO their whole bodies.
No human being can be comfortable with
continual wet feet, nor is IL possible long
TO remain in n perfect state of health under
such circumstances and the same is true,
though not perhaps TO the same extent,
with cattle.
A few years q il was. found that the
horses on the New York city horse-rnil-
roads suffered greatly from pneumonia,
lung complaints, rheumatism, and diseases
of the boot. An inquiry into the matter
brought out the ihct that their feet were in
water for n considerable portion of the
time they were on the road. This water
was in some cases produced by melting
snow by means of salt; IL being found
cheaper to remove the snow from thetrack
in this manner than by the use of the
shovel A similar course produces much
sickness among farm stock; md there can
be no doubt that one great reason why so
many cattle get through the winter badly,
is owing TO the fact that they are rendered
very uncomfortable from having no suitable
place on which to stand in the yard,
II requires much more food to keep
stock in even tolerable condition. in such
| a yard. than would be required 10 keep
them in good order in n suitable yard. Il
is believed that there would be enough
saved in hay md grain in two years, in
the majority OF cases, TO thoroughly rave
n yard. aud 10 put II in n condition TO last
n life time.
We are we'll aware that there is a great
/ scarcity of paving material in most parts
Of the West; still, there are few places
where some substance suitable for the
purpose cannot DO obtained. Flat stones
laid on q smooth and somewhat elevated
surface, will answer the purpose nicely
/ Bricks laid in mortar are also good. A
plank flooring in many localities il not eX-
pensive, and is only open TO the obiec-
ton of being slippery in wet weather.
ANY of these surfaces can be easily cleaned
oil. and cattle can stand on them with
comfort to themselves aud profit 10 their
owners. IL is not necessary that the entire
ward be so covered, but there should be
sufficient standing room TO accommodate
all the stock. There would be an advuu-
tage ia having two or more places in the
ynrd 80 covered that young cattle driven
from ono place can take refuge ON the
other. II would be we'll TO have such n
flooring under ono of tho open sheds
which should be in every yard, aud ono
where il would be exposed TO the constant
sunshine.
Doubtless the Nicolson pavement would
be the very best covering for farm yards
but as It is expensive, and patented withal,
it is perhaps not practical to usoit II
laid, il will be best to arrange 1t 30 as TO
form an undulating surtaoe, like several
street tricks placed side by side. This
would afford good drainage; and it is
found that cattle prefer such n surface TO
oie which is on n level.-Prdirie F'T7Her.
CULTURE on F1owERs.-"S. W." writes
to the y. Y. Times touching the culture Of
flowers, thus:
IL read con dmore your essay on ilori.
culture. David Thorn vs. used TO say that
il PINNED him to look upon house plants
struggling for dear life against their would
be friends. II once did mo good TO hear
him dilate on the matchless beauty of the
great pond-lilly, only 20 be found in full
perfection when grown mp from vegetable
remains in stagnant wator. He looked
upon IL ns one of Natures iairest and pur-
est floral projections, that no artificial cul-
~ fhNAA NlINf w w law 'AAHAA
do we see house plants languish-
ing in pots, stuck ont in
front OF an ambitious mansion rs n
rare show whom they look worse to tho
truo lover Of Flora than did the starving
flower thnt struggled 80 hard to live IN
Picoli's prison yard. We have n gorgeous
bed of vcrbeuas in vnriegatod bloom when
everything else is sore and yellow, in our
n~evor-ouding drought. Leaf mould, such
ns we get from the great deciduous leaf de-
post in our northern swomps, is indispon-
sable TO the perfect bloom Of flowers. Our
calcareous clay is rich in coloring matter,
particularly iron in n peroxide state, but l
tuko it that no flower in n pot can put ON
the ino fresh tints that II acquires in tho
well-treated border. An ugapanthus makes
. fine show in full bloom in a lnrge pot, ut
n distance; but IL will not bear close oXilm-
inutiou, and no wonder, rs the sides of tho
largest pot will be found matted on the in
side with the fine roots OF tho plant, strug-
Cling for more earth
To MAKE SAUsAGE.-A good sausage
grinder is almost M essential TO n well or
dcred kitchen rs d coffee mill. The pro-
potion of fat meat to lean will depend
somewhat on the taste of different people,
but there should in all cases, DO a sufficient
amount OF fat IN them to supply whit is
needed in cooking. II the pork you de-
sign for sausage contains too little lean,
you can supply the deficiency by adding
beef, which is less expensive, and which
forms with the pork II mixture which is
preferred by many to pork alone.
The most difficult partof sausage making
il the seasoning. Many housewives have
no rule about il, but add some salt, and
pepper, and sage; COOK II sample; find it
not seasoned highly enough, aud try it
over again; finally, from too little season.
ing, the maker manages 10 get in too much,
for having tasted for some time the sub
stances used, their flavor il not 80 distinct
M ut first. An excellent proportion il 10
add 10 100 pounds OF chopped meat, two
and n half pounds Of salt, ten ounces Of
black pepper, aud eight ounces Of we'll
dried sage leaves. 1t IL preferable 10 buy
the whole pepper corns, and TO grind thom
at home, ms ground pepper il often udul-
terated, and always loses its strength after
being ground. Sage also often deteriOratos
by exposure 10 the air aud moisture; but il
1t is in good condition, the above proper
ton will be most acceptable to the majority
of tastes.
1t il true that there are some persons
who prefer other herbs besides sage, such
rs summer snvory and thyme, and thore
are n few who r~elishspices Of yNrious kinds
but where snusages are 10 be made 20 SUIT
the tasteR of several persons, We must be
careful not 10 add any substance that viii
offend tho taste Of any one. All tile ingre-
dents should no thoroughly mixed togeth-
en-, stuffed in skins or bags made of cotton
cloth, or placed In shallow carthern dishes,
Their flavor is better after they havo been
made some days, than ii is Immediately
after they arc made. ''
An ITEM ron TREE GROWERS Charles
Downing says he witnessed a remarkable
change produced on the body of u peal
tree by means of wrappinq il in straw.