Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-02-19
FARM AND FIRESIDE.

i
had gentle inclination to the East, and
along its base meandered brook, Or, as il
| was called there, 9 "run.'' This land had
subsoil Of pretty stiff clay. The new
owner, being DESTROYS of producing his own
breadstuf, sowed several acres in winter
wheat, which fourished in autumn finely and
promised an exuberant yield at harvest time.
In March the snow went off, the ground was
wet, but despite Of its dip the water did not
flow off and sink through the clay subsoil-it
could not. The consequence was that be-
tween freezing, ana thawing, and the lifting
Of anchor ice, the wheat was detached from
tine soil and fully nine tenths of it killed
On making that discovery, the owner said
il was Of no use to farm land where water
will not run down hill, and proposed to pull
up stakes and stick them in section of
country where water would obey the laws of
gravitation. A neighbor advised him not to
be too precipitate in making change, but to
try wheat once more on few acres prepared
with under drainage. This was done in a
very primitive way Deep burrows wereru
up and down the face Of the hill once in about
four rods, saplings about six inches in d.
ameter placed in the trench on each side and
a third placed on top to keep them asunder
Hemlock boughs were thrown over these
and the soil thrown back, making the sur
face as even as before Three acres we're
prepared with this rude drainage, which cost
but little, but its effect on the succeeding
crop of wheat was most marked There was
no more throwing out by the frost; the sur
face water worked its way out through the
wooden drains, leaving the soil warm, dry
and fructifying. The result was a crop Of
wheat SO heavyias to make the grain cradle
culver as it was swung through it. In the
changed condition of things. water did run
down hill, though declining to do SO while
the land remained in its original condition.
There is vast amount of land in the coun-
try condemned to lasting sterility simply be-
cause its owners neglect to change its condi-
ton by removing from it the surplus mois-
ture which the character Of the soil prevents
from .findinga an underground avenue of
escape. -Rusal New Yorker o,s.. Nl-
AN EXCELLENT FERTILIZER. The Jour
nal of Chemistry says that one of the very
best fertilizers used upon the farm for all
the cereal grains and root crops may be made
in the following manner: --.
Take one barrel Of pure, finely ground
bone, and mix with a barrel of good wash
ashes; during the mixing add, gradually,
about three pailsful of water. The heap
may be made upon the floor of an ut-build-
or upon the barn floor; and by the use of
hoe the bone and ashes must be thoroughly
blended together The water added is lust
sufficient to liberate the caustic alkalies, pot
ash and soda, and these act upon the gela-
tine of the bone, dissolving the little atoms,
forming kind of soap, and fitting it for
plant allment. In this way the most valua-
BILE constituents of the bone can be made i'm
mediately available, and the addition of pot
ash aud soda aids in the formation of fer
tilizer of inestimable value. A gill of this
mixture, placed in a hill of corn, will work
wonders. 1t is excellent for garden vegata-
bles, and for all kinds of roots. 1t will be
ready for use in week after it is made.
GREAs1Na WAGONS. -But few people are
aware that they do wagons and carriages
more injury by greasing too plentifully than
in any other way. A well made wheel will
endure common wear from ten to twenty
five years, if care is taken to use the right
kind and proper amount of grease; but if
this matter is not attended to, they will be
used up in FIVE or six years. Lard should
never be used on wagon, for it will pene-
trate the hub and work its way out around
the lemons Of the spokes, and spoil the wheel.
Tallow is the best lu5ricator for wood axle
trees, and castor oil for iron.
Just grease enough should be applied to
to the spindle Of wagon to give it a light
coating this is better than more, for the
surplus will all work out at the ends, and be
forced by the shoulder bands and nut wash
ers into the hub around the outside of the
boxes. 10
10 oil an iron axle tree, first wipe the
spindle clean with cloth wet with spirits of
turpentine, and then apply few drops of
castor oil near the shoulder and end. One
is sufficient for the whole.-Ru-
rat Amaerican. f-..,... .., DID,. i.. ...
KEEPING Eees.-The eggs are coming in
quite plentifully now, and I prepare them
for. keeping any length of time, fresh and
good, as follows: Place ten or q dozen in a
small basket and immense them in boiling
water, taking out almost Instantly. I then
pack them, small end down, in dry salt or
saw dust, as convenient If they rubbed
over with little warm lard it might be an
advantage. To dip them in boiling lard
would not do, as fat boils at much higher
and the shells would immedi-
ately crack. The principle Of the method is
obvious The entire portion Of the surface
Of the white of the egg Immediately under
the skin-like membrane which exists in every
egg is concealed. thus forming an imperyi-
Gus coating, which prevents the evaporation
Of the contents and consequently the admis-
sion OF the atmosphere. Agricul-
urist. -.l:
A NEW MODE OF SAILING BUTTER Ere.
Salt the cream before churning, instead of
the butter, 1t takes more salt, of course,
as the buttermilk will take about as much as
the butter; but then it is sailed erealy, and
think the butter less apt to be streaky.
food diaries do not turn out streaky, under
worked or oyesWorked butter, I know-but
hen all daisymaids are not up to the bust
less, and some COWS do not give enough to
,ay for a protested hand. Cor. Practical
armer. In if 'f 'a '.+"'hd to.
.,f3@ 81, n Q-l..A a. r3. 81
To PREVENT FADING IN DoMrsrra CALI
,oEs WHEN WAsHED.--Ta each ten gallons
IT water in which the goods are to be washed,
i'd a mixture Of one ounce of common salt,
dissolved in one gillof cold water, with three
able-spoonfuls Of beef gall. By this pro-
'ess, the colors which in domestic Gotten
goods are exceedingly apt to fade, may be
'endered permanent. This mixture, how
ehn,,ld ho addad 10 Al