The Placer herald., 1870-04-09
HOUSE AND FARM.
aCEIg1-- fa 2

PRESERVATION OF FENCE PosIs. - Any
kind of timber, when employed for fence
posts will be more than twice as durable if
allowed to become thoroughly seasoned be-
fore being setrn he GROUND. The dtrabl-
i,y of seasoned posts may be prom ted, so
as to make them last an age, by l1s applica
ton of heavy coat OF coal tar TO the part
buried IN the ground, and few inches
above tie Sulia-e OF the ground. Some Tar
mers set the ground end in hot tar, and let
it boil tiftesn minutes. When cool cover
With coal lar thickened with ground brick
OF. gresnd slate. The boiling slifiens the al
buiHen apd causes the pores to absorb tar.
The coating prevents The action OF moisture.
But this Treatment of green posts would do
very lille good and perhaps mischief. A
boiling in lilne,wsler Is also beneficial. Tim,
Der that is first water.iogged and then dried
lasts well; -because The water soaks out the
acid that haslens The decay. Others con
tend that the better way is 10 season the
post weilsbelore> tse,liug it; and when
The posthole is filled within ten inches
Of tie surface Of ths ground, to apply a
heavy coat Of tar and fill up with earth.
AS fence posts always decay near the sur
face of tile earth, it is only necessary to pro
lsct the post few inches above the surface,
and about foot below t. The timber be-
gins 10 decay, usually, on the surface Of the
pos,ss Therefore if he surface can be pro-
iec,ed by some antiseptic material posts
will last a lfe time. Many kinds of timber
viii pol last five years it set in the ground
while green. - Manufacturer and Builder.
"A HYBRID PoTATo.-The Oakland Trans.
c,ipt makes the following very interesting
experiment:
Mr. PryaI, who lives out on Broadway
extension, has recently been making some
very beautiful Horticultural experiments. all
Of which promise to culminate most success
fully. One OF these experiments, and the
only one we shall mention now, was under.
taken for he purpose of obtaining a new
variety Of potatoes by system Of hybridiz-
ing, Some Of the potatoes raised by this
method have beautiful, clear appearance,
and we are assured that the flavor is vastly
improved. The varieties experimental up
on were the peachblow aud pink eye, both
Of which are highly valued as articles Of food
The product ofthese two varieties partakes
of the character Of both, containing the best
qualities of the parent kind. Ia fact it is an
Improvement on either. The way in which
the specimen exhibited TO US was obtained,
was this I: Both varieties were planted iD
the same plat Of ground, but 10 different
rows. After the potato vines commence TO
bloom, the pollen or formulating dust of
the pinkeye is gathered and sprDkIed on
the blossoms of the peach blow, which is
then covered until the two qualities are thor.
ougbly united. The result Is, that the po-
tato is sort Of mongrel, but superior to
either Of the species from which it is prop
agated.
OrirM has been raised With success in
Vermont. The yield would appear to have
been one hundred pounds to the acre, mere>
ly requiring drying to become marketable
opium which brought from $9 to $40 per
pound, as it.contalned over six per cent.
morphia. !. II ibis Thing can be accomplished
in So cold climate, would not still better
success attend its culture 10 California I? 1t
may ye, be no obi act to Chinese smuggers
TO bring opium plugged up into the inside
Of granite building blocks, or sandwiched
between the inner aud outer soles of their
shoes. The pe opium war may find Us
The rival Of the Est india Company in sup
plying the drug TO Ch la.-Memphas appeal
PEAcu trees should not be Sc, among
apple trees. The peach is not so shortIised
as many imagine. where it is property prun'
ed and cared tor .sBy .culliog back the old
stocks, it is claimed that the tree may be
made to last a lifetime. Trees Of all kinds
planted in bottom land or sheltered valley
should be SET further apart than when ant
ed on hills. Ashes are very useful in The or
chard. An orchard or vineyard can scarce
" receive too much Of this kind OF dressing
To MAKE CLEAR COFFEE Pour boiling
water in the coffee pot; grind the coffee fine
and mix with cold water; put it into the
boiling water, with an gsheIl and a square
Of Goldfish Skin, Of one inch and half, to
one gallon Of boiling water. Let it boil
twerty minutes, set It off to settla few
minutes, and il Will be as strong and clear as
wine. ..... .. ...
FRuir trees planted on cleared timber land
are said to come into bearing sooner than
when planted on prairie land but the latter
will continue fruitful much longer. As a
general rule, all fyull trees planted in eli
mate and soil which has,ens majority have
their periods of ruilfuluess shortened pro-
portionaely.. '~''-- '-'.f-
BEET SuGAR-The Monterey Republican
says tLat Flint, Bixby and Co., will plant L.
900 acres Of beets. aud erect mill near San
Juan This mind encouraging. The beet
sugar viii be tested in California this year,
and Ibere is every reason to believe that ii
vii prove success.
TEA CULTURE IN CALIsToGA.-Mr. Samuel
Brannan has started the culture of tea on his
ranch at Calistoga under the direction ofa
family of Japan ese. which has been brought
hitber for thai especial purpose. Tea raising
will soon become an important feature in Cali
ifornia agriculture.
A MAN.in Penpsy vania has Two steers on