Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-05-05
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
An Interesting Agricultural Exper-

An Interesting Agricultural Expel
f@ent.
SHELLsBUEe, Iowa, April 1870.-Sever
years since / selected plot of new, ricl
alluvial prairie, with a depth of near Fl,
feet of black surface soil. For six years
succession / grew upon the plot such croI
as could remove almost completely /
root and branch, from the ground-suc
as crops of currant bushes and grape win,
from cuttings, Seeding apple trees, follow
ed by beans, ruta bagas, etc. At the en-
of SIX years of careful cleaning everythin
from the soil, this plot, with th
land adjoining, EARNED in the ord
nary way), WAS prepared, and in du
time planted to corn. With the same oa
ture, the contrast in the crops surprised a
who had not given this vegetable mol(
doctrine some study. Upon the side croy
ped in the ordinary way the growth
above good average prairie crop.-Upo
the experimental plot the stunted lookin
stalks and ears reminded one of the cobbl
knolls of New England.
For the eighth year the cornstalks wer
removed from the soil by pulling, and tn
land with that adjoining, was sown to bal
ley. Again we had the same contrast. O
the one side strong, well-ripened growth
on the depleted portion o growth of straw
with half-developed head, too short to b
all cut by the reaper.
No chemical analysis would detect il
this rich, deep, alluvial soil at the end o
the eighth year, any deficiency in the ele
ments of plant growth, aside from its veg
etable mold. BY practice upon our ricl
soils it is fcdnd that even dry cornstalks O
stubble piowed into the ground year afte
year, will hold the land measureably il
good condition. But perhaps ne portion
of the state will be moro benefited by al
ternating with clover than the great prai
ries. Why? Simply because when tn
great natural supply of humus, furnished
by the virgin prairie sod, is exhausted, il
must be renewed.-Jos. L. Budd, in Ger
mdntorn Telegraph.
Avoidable InJurtss to the Horse.
Many horses are made vicious from crue
treatment.
More horses fall from weariness than from
any other cause.
When horse falls, he is more frightened
than his rider
A frightened animal cannot use its senses
Alright; it must first be reassured by gentl,
treatment. sr
1t is speed that kills the horse.
Never strike an animal upon the head.
Careless application of the whip has blind
Ell many horses.
Hors horses are famed from bad shoeine
than from all other causes together.
Never kick nor scream at a horse, nor jerl
the bit in his mouth.
Climbing Plants for she Window.
The Massachusetts, Ploughmen. in an ar.
ticle on blouse Plants" saws:
Ivy may be trained about your picture.
frames, to creep over the mantel and win
dows, or to form a border of the paper
around the room close to the ceiling. The
most brilliant flowers do not give SO pretty
an effect to q room as a thrifty climbing
ivy. Money, wandering Jew, myrtle, ETC.,
grow well when hung in the window; and
the effect of the gracefully dropping sprigs
is extremely pleasing, both outside the
house and in it. Turnips and carrots
out, filed with canary seed or
and suspended in the win
low, are very pretty. The leaves sprout
rom the root underneath, and the plants
spring from the seed simultaneously. Be-
,ides the pretty effect, your birds, if you
Keep them, can have a feast through the
winter upon vegetation. t
Take common tumbler or fruit-can, and
I'LL it nearly full Of soft water Then tie q
pit Of coarse lace or cheese sacking over
{, and press down into the water, cover
With layer of peas. In a few days they
will sprout, the little thread like roots go.
ng down through the lace into the water,
md the vines can be trained up twine
Iround the window; or, what is prettier, o
rame may be made for the purpose.
Narrowing wheat.
1t is the custom with many farmers to
ow clover or grass seed in the Spring upon
heir Winter gram. Before sewing the
eed, If an ordinary harrow with sharp
eeth is run over the wheat or other grain,
he crop win be materially improved by it,
md the ground at the same time will be
,ut in a much better condition to receive
he clover seed than if sown without har-
owing. Some might apprehend injury to
he wheat by giving it a thorough tearing
With the harrow. But select time as
arly in the spring as the ground is just
Try enough to work lively, and good har-
owing will prove as great benefit to the
rop as thorough plowing or cultivating
will to a crop of growing corn. If you are
fraid to make the experiment on o hun
lred acres, try it on ten. or even one acre,
nd report to as and the world the result
Whether grass seed is to be sown or not,
he narrowing will pay many times the cost
# the operation. Htte work should hap
zen to be done just before a shower of rain
he effect is readily marked. We have
ried it and know.
Grain on light. sandy land, will lie i'm
'roved-by running roller over it instead
# the harrow. Is
Pototoes-Light Seeding.
r. G. Benton, writing to the Prairie
Farmer, says:
After experimenting with light and heavy
eeding in potato culture, am convinced
hat light seeding produces most uniform
ize and better quality Of potatoes than
leavy seeding. What 1 call light seeding
8 medium sized potatoes. Cut one eye in
piece, planting sixteen inches apart, in
lrills four inches deep; drills three feet
part. have tried forty varieties in this
ray, including all the modern varieties,
nd it is evident, in my mind, that as q
,eneral thing, farmers use more seed than
3 necessary in planting potatoes. safcr
OUHE fOB DONE TELON.-I1e following
ecipe for the cure OF bone felon is from
he London Lancet: CAS- soon az the pull
alton which indicates the disease is felt
'ut directly over the spot fly blister
bout the size Of your thumb nail, and let
/ remain for six hours, at the expiration of
rhich time, directly under the surface of
be blister, may be seen the felon, which
an be instantly taken out with the point
t o needle or o lancet"
KEEPING HAMs.-C. d. asks in the Far
ner how to keep hams and bacon through
he summer. have for several years, af-
er smoking, put my hams down in salt and
ave never failed in having them keep per-
ectly. take q barrel or box, and cover the
'ottom with ealt; then put in the hams
nd cover them well with salt so as to ex-
lude the flies. Have had no trouble in
eeping hams all summer in that way. /
.eep them in my cellar. JP.K.
STRxEr-OAR LEaERDxMAIS. The Hart.
ord Courant has employed a special CON-
missioner to investigate the subject OF
'oliteness in street cars, and the result of
is observations is stated thus: A car starts
If down the street, having within ten