Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-06-03
FARM AND FIRESIDE.

THE Corn GRUB.-The corn crop has
several formidable enemies to contend with
and among them is the grub, which some.
times literally destroys whole fields, or dam
ages the crop seriously. One Of the best
and most convenient neutrality-suspicious. the
very best ever suggested-is the application
Of salt as soon. as the plant makes its ap-
pcarance above ground, prepared and used
in this way: Take one part common salt
and three parts plaster or gypsum. and ap-
ply about tablespoonful around each hill
1t will be found to be sure protection. The
mixture should not come in contact with the
young plants as it may destroy them This
method has been tried over and over again
by some Of the best farmers, and when prop
erly applied, has never failed to he perfectly
successful We hope our farmers, who have
reason to fear the depredations of the grub,
the present season, will try this mixture.
leaving few alternate rows of corn without
| the salt, and notice the result
TURNIps AMoNo Corn correspondent
says: It is frequently the case that in pas
sing through corn fields in Autumn, we find
the space between the rows occupied with
sturdy weeds; sometimes the spurious veg
citation completely overtops the maize, and
''casts it into the shade" Now, l would
inquire, is it not much better and more pru-
dent, in every sense Of the word for the
farmer to occupy the soil monopollzed by the
exhausting weeds with some crop that will
contribute to his resources, than to haven't
filled with such productions, and which will
not only "sap the land" most wretchedly.
but foul it by the dissemination of their1ni
ute and multitudinous seeds? Certainly no
farmer can doubt the affirmative. By sow-
ing the purple top turnip seed at the last
dressing of the corn crop, and SCOUTING" it
in or sowing just before rain and allowing
that to cover it, he can have a hundred
bushels of good turnips per acre, if the soil
be rich and we'll cultivated. instead of a host
of worthless and pestilent weeds.
PROTECT THE BIRDS. The birds have re-
turned to US, and every one should extend
them hearty welcome, and encourage them
to build among his trees and shrubbery.
Nearly the whole class of birds that spend
the summer in our midst is vastly useful and
beneficial to the farmer, gardener and fruit
grower. Robins, catbirds, peewees, orioles,
blue birds, wrens. woodpeekers and numer-
Gus others destroy immense numbers of cat
erpillars and other noxious insects so detri-
mental to our fruit crops, and but for the
warfare they make upon them it would be
we'll nigh impossible to raise fruit at ALL
We should look on birds as friends, and our
sworn allies against the insects, worms and
bugs which destroy fruits and vegetables
1t is not true, as many suppose, that much
fruit is consumed by birds, and they bravely
earn all they consume, for without them we
would perhaps have none at all. Let us try
to increase their numbers each year, instead
of waging war against them with shot guns
and suares.
TANNING.-Some time since was the in
quiry, how to tan skins with the hair on?
Any one can succeed in doing SO by taking
two parts salpetre and one of alum, pulver-
izing them well together spread the skin
carefully, fur side down; before it has got
dry apply the mixture evenly, being careful
to touch every part with sufficient quant
ty to thoroughly wet the surface after it dis
solves; double the flesh side and roll it up
closely, put it in cool place out of the way
of the frost, and let it remain three or four
days, perhaps, according to the thickness;
then unroll, and when it gets nearly dry;
with dull knife remove the fat that may
adhere in spots, and little rubbing will
make it pliable and fit for use.
GApEs IN Cu1cKENs.- Thousands Of fowls
annually die Of gapes which would otherwise
find their way to the Baltimore market
In hopes of remedying the disease we copy
the following, by W. R. Burnell, of Bridge
port, Connecticut, to the Farmers Club,
said to be a sure cure: ''Mix in table
spoonful of soft soap all the meal it will hold.
and give to brood of ten or twelve chick
ems" Mr. B. adds "All that die from
taking it, or all that die from the gapes af-
ter taking it, l will pay for at any expense"
Let some Of our readers try it.-Bal. Sun.
CURE FOR WARrs.-An exchange says
persons afflicted with these Disbursements
on their hands, will find the following per.
feet cure: ''Take small piece of raw beef.
steep it all night in vinegar, cut as much
from it as will cover the wart, and tie it on,
or, if the eXcrescence is on the forehead,
fasten on with strips of sticking plaster. 1t
may be removed in the day and put on every
night. In one fortnight, the wart will die
and peal off. The same prescription will
cure corns.
INFLAMMAToRY RHEUMATISM A gentle
man who was afflicted with this distressing
malady, and experienced relief by the use Of
particular remedy, has placed it at our
disposal for the benefit of such of our read
ers as may be similarly afflicted. The re-
ceipt is given as-Hyd. potassa drachm;
cornnii, drachm and ounces of water
Dose, teaspoonful every six hours; particu-
lar attention to be paid to the time for ia
king Knoaviue Wing.
Every family should provide barrel OF
box for receiving chicken bones, fish bones
and bits of beef bones which accumulate in
the kitchen. A hundred pounds may be
saved in few weeks Such bones are more
valuable for grass land, and for burying
around all kinds of fruit trees and grape
vines, than peruvian guano, which is worth
from three to five cents per pound.
COOKIES One cup butter, one cup sweet
milk, two cups sugar, two seaspoonsful
cream of tartar, one teaspoonful soda, flour
to roll. Roll thin, and bake ten minutes.
Any spice you choose.
GLAZING Sn1RTs.-To every quart of
starch add tablespoonful Of salt and one Of