Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1869-02-20
Ghe et',rn, and the Nousehold.

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trWe respectfully solicit contributions to this
department Of our paper. Our farmers, and their
wives. might by this means do much for the beneht
ofothers, and probably receive thems Ives valuable
hints in return. If YOU make a valuable discovery
regarding tilage of ths soil. the culture OF any par
ticular CROP the Of stock any other subject
Of interest," give us the particulars for publication.
PIGEONS AZ FARM STocX.-In many
portions of France, it it said to be the prac-
tice of landholders to make condition in
their lease to their tenants that they shall
provide Il pidgeon-hou>c or dove-cot, and
keep it well stocked with thee birds. The
reason for the condition is. that these birds
do il great amount of good in eating up the
scels of noxiou. plants. They do not
live on wcll-grown grain, when they can
fine that which is shivclci or the seed of
weeds and grasses. They are but workers
among the oflal of the barn yard, but do
not, like barnyarl fowls. scratch up gar
dcns and play the mischief generally. 1t
it in district where the pigeon is the most
abundant that the wheat fields are clcancst
and the crops the most prolific
How TO JUDGE PouLTRY.-A young
turkey has smooth leg and soft bill and
his eyes bright, and the feet moist Old
turkeys have scaly, stiff feet. Young
fowls have Il tender skin smooth legs, and
the breast bone yields, readily to the pres
sure of the finger. The best are those
that have yellow legs. The feet and legs
of the old fowls look as if they had seen
hard service in the world.
Young ducks feel tender under the
wings. and the web is transparent. The
best are thick and hard on the breast.
Young geese have yellow bills, and the
feet are yellow and supple; the skin may
be easily broken by the head of a pin;
the breast is plump and the fat white. An
old goose is unfit for the human stomach.
BEST Soil FOR WHEAT.-Thc Ameu-
ran 4AgricuIturist says the best soil for
wheat is one in which the predominating
characteristics are clay and loan. having
neither too much of the one nor too little
Oft other The lighter loan soils, and
such alluvions as have been brought from
clayey localities. will often produce bount-
full crops of excellent wheat; and some
times mncky soil will yield fair crop of
this kind of grain. But their fertility for
wheat will soon be exhausted. Calcareous
clays, gravelly clays, as well as many soils
that are a mixture of all these just named,
with good management-cultivation, ma
nuring and draining-will almost always
yield fair crops of wheat.
To PROTECT GRAIN.-A correspondent
of the Genesec Farmer says that after the
grain is in the bin and made level, we may
spread evenly over it a quantity of Stacked
limc-one quart to twenty-five bushels, or
in that proportion. IF the rats or mice
come upon it, they will do so but once
and will leave the premises. The lime
must be fresh Stacked and perfectly dry.
TO keep out insects the lime must be mixed
thoroughly with the grain. 1t can be
separated from it by running it through a
tanning mill; on grain used for stock feed
it will do no injury-a small quantity is
rather benefit to animals.
D1- "Boiled clocks" gives the impress
sion Of a novel and somewhat unpalatablc
dish, although VIC see it recommended in
the Scientific american. A writer in that
journal says that common brass clock may
be cleaned by immersing the works in boil
ing water. Rough as this treatment may
appear, it works we'll, whenever they stop
from an accumulation of dust or thickening
Of oil upon the pivots. They should be
boiled in pure rain water, and dried on
warm stove or near the fire. The writer
speaks Of an eight-day clock which was
boiled year ago. and has behaved perfect
ly well ever since.
To DESTROY STUMps.-Thc Baltimore
Weekly Leader recommends the following
as being two good methods Of getting rid
of stumps: Bore with two-inch auger to
the heart Of the stump; I'll the cavity
thus made with sulphuric acid, or with
crude oil of petroleum. In the first case,
the acid becomes the destructive agent
within q few months; in the latter, when
the stump becomes saturated with oil it is