Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1868-11-06
FARM AND FIRESIDE.

FARM AND FIRESlDE.
NATURE AND USES OF PLASTER. The
question is often asked among farmers, of
what use is plaster? When, where, and how
should it be used And it is seldom that
satisfactory answer is given to them Nearly
every farmer who had made any application
of plaster, had found it servicable at one
time, but without profitable returns at an
other. Not one in hundred knows the
reason for success or failure.
Most people found the application to clover
attended generally with good results some
found it good sometimes for potatoes; but
not single one could tell what is plaster
good for ?? Chemistry solves the question
Plaster is sulphate of lime To different
branches of science it is known by different
names. In the arts it is plaster: in miner
alogy it is gypsum; in chemistry it is sui
phuric acid ana lime. Sulphnric acid had
an affinity for ammonia, and when it finds
ammonia it breaks up its partnership with
the lime and combines with the ammonia,
forming sulphate of ammonia, and this is
non-volatile. The lime finds companion,
when deserted by the acid, in carbonic acid,
forming carbonate of lime,
Hence it will be seen that when the far
mer has ammonia in his soil, put there him
selfin manure, or in any other manner, La
BILE to waste, the plaster will fix it there, and
in all such cases it can be applied to the
ground with profit. The odor about stables
and manure heaps is escaping ammonia and
the farmer can judiciously use a little plaster
in hnfh fba I,
land.
Plaster sayes to the soil nitrogen, one of
the chlef-mineral agents entering into the
growth Of plants, ammonia is three parts
hydrogen and one part nitrogen. Ammonia
escapes from decaying vegetation whenever
it is found, and is suspended in the air, and
when, after long dry spell and considerable
Quantities of it has assembled, the first rain
brings it to the earth, and if there is a lttlo
plaster in the clover field the ammonia never
rises again.
This very study into the uses of plaster
shows that the farmer should be student,
and in some degree, man of science. He
must learn that doctoring his soil, something
else than mineral substance may be needed.
may need organic substances as well, and
to know this is the duty of the farmer But
it is well to have explained the mature and
uses of plaster, so that whoever reads may
know when its application may be service
able.
STALL-FEED1NG CATTLE. The system of
stall-feeding has acquired considerable pop
ularity among practical men. By many it
isregarded as far the most economical meth
cd OF feeding domestic animals of all kinds,
not only because of the smaller quantity of
food required, but because COWS, when so
kept, afford more and richer milk than when
pastured in the ordinary way. In this way
the animals are supplied with an abundance
OF green, sapid and suceulent fodder; con-
sequently the health of the animal is better,
and the profit derived from it is greater than
when there is but scant or precarious supply.
By introducing this mode of feeding, it is
always possible to observe great regularity
in feeding, both as regards time and quanti-
tty, and also to pursue steady equilibrium
IN all the associated departments of domes-
tic or rural economy-a result which, al
though extremely desirable, is often extreme
ly difficult to obtain, The result of numer-
GUS experiments has demonstrated beyond
question: that cattle can be maintained not
only at diminished expense-so far as the
actual value of food is involved-but that
they can be kept in a condition gilmore per-
feet health by stall-feeding than in any 9TH
er manner. But it is always judicious, how
ever, to give them frequent exercise in the
open air, and this may be done while they
are out to water.
In this country we have as yet known but
comparatively few instances in which STALL
feeding. properly so called, has been SYSTEM
atically adopted and carried out. When
any one has made any attempt at approx
mating it, it has been customary to produce
the fodder from patches of soft hiehly cult
waited land made fertile by the application of
the best manure. Corn has generally been
the grain resorted to for this purpose. It
usually cut green and conveyed to the barns
as wanted. When more is cut than is re-
CURED for the necessities of the day, it is
either laid by for the demands of the succeed
ing day, or cured for Winter use,
Another advantage resulting from STALL
feeding is the more perfect communication of
the manure. 1t has been estimated that the
actual cost of keeping COW by stall-feeding
is less, by nearly one-fourth, than by open
pasturage, if pursued in the usual way, and
with the very best facilities to secure man.
ure. "i
HINTS WORTH FoLLowING.-T follow
ing hints are true to the letter: As soon
as plum or cherry knot can be discovered
swelling out, cut it away and burn it. When
you! see any sign of change in color on the
bark of your pear trees, cut away and burn
that also. And when you see any black
marks on the leaves of apple trees, livid
spots on the grape foliage, or any change
whatever from the normal hue, cut away and
burn the whole thing. By this means shall
you prevent their seeding and thus only can
you ever keep in check scourge which is
really, in some neighborhoods, mighty OBJ
stacle to success. So with insects. As
soldier would say, they must be attacked
directly In front. Strategy is not of much
use Hand picking, tree shaking and COL
Letting grubs and larvae must be the chief
reliance of the practical man. He who has