The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-09-14
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.

again, and used the cultivstor very free
ly both years to kill the weeds. In 1866
sowed barley, followed by wheat, and
seeded down into clover in the spring.
In 1867, moved the clover for hay, and
the second crop for seed. In 1868, moved
it again for hay. After the hay was off,
we ploughed half the field, and allowed
the other half to produce second crop
of clover. 1t was wet season and the
second crop of clover grew splendidly
I think it would have made ton OF hay
per acre. This clover we ploughed under.
The next spring (1S7D the whole field
was cultivated, but not ploughed, and
sown with barley. could see no differ
ence in the growth of barley on the part
of ploughing Immediately after hay
harvest, and that when the clover was
allowed to grow and then plowed under.
After the barley, the field was ploughed
and sown to winter wheat. So far, can
see no difference in the color or growth
of the wheat.
There was no more labor expended on
the one part of the field than on the
other. The only difference was, that one
was ploughed before the clover COM
menced to grow, and the other after the
clover had attained its growth. The pre-
sumption is, that notwithstanding the
fact that large growth of clover was
ploughed under, there was no more nj
trogen or other plant-food in the soil on
one part of the field than on the other.
The plant-food organized in the clover
was simply taken out of the soil, and
was merely returned when ploughed un-
der. Had the part of the field ploughed
Immediately after the harvest been har-
rowed, cultivated, and then ploughed
again in the fall, and otherwise exposed
to the decomposing influence of the at
mostphere, believe more plant-food
would have been developed from the
soil than on the part where the clover
was allowed to grow. This probably
would not be the case in poor, sandy
land, but l have no doubt that clay
loans which abounded in latent plant
food would become richer from being
worked and exposed to the atmosphere
than from the mere growth of clover; If
there is any evidence to the contrary, l
would like to have it produced.
[ believe in clover. No man has writ
| ten more in its favor as a renovating
crop. We cannot grow too much of it.
But it should all be consumed on the
farm, and in addition, the clay-land far
mer should L" fall fallow" as much land
as he can. I am satisfied, though I ad-
NIT the evidence is not conclusive, that
fall-fallowing is more in accordance
with the facts of scientific farming than
the practice of ploughing under clover
j. Harris, IN american AgricuJturtst.
How TO DESTROY INSECTS IN Your
ORoHARDs.-The address of j. W. Rob-
son, before the Joe Daviess County (Ill.)
Horticultural Society has some excellent
points relating to orchard culture, and
especially the depreciation of insects,
and he recommends every orchardist to
observe these few details every season
81. Encourage the black-cap tit-mouse
and tie hairy woodpecker, which de-
stroy the insect in the pupa state.
40. Light small bonfires in the or
chard, on dark nights, after the sun has
set. This will destroy the moth.
"3. Pick up wormy fruit as soon as il
falls; run it right through the cider
mill, or throw it to the hogs to be eaten
"4. Strips of wooden cloth, tied around
the trunks when the trees are in bloom
and examined twice week, will destroy
those that have escaped and crawleG
there for shelter. They will be found
generally in Transformation state, be
tween worm and pupa.
"5. Place bunch of weeds or sof
hay in the crotch of the tree at the sam,
time, and examine frequently. You hav,
only to look at these dishes of beautiful
fruit to see how this insect destroys tn
appearance and lessons the market valu
of the apple.
Brother horticulturists, up and b
doing bear in mind that eternal vigil
ance is the price of handsome, perfec
fruit !"
LEAcHED ASHES AS A MANURE.-Al
agricultural journal of Germany call
renewed attention to the great value, a
a manure, of soap-boilers' leached ashes
which, as it is we'll known, are prepare
by mixing wood ashes with fresh burn
lime, and boiling or teaching the two to
gether for the purpose of obtaining
caustic lye. Altogether the soluble salt
are removed from these ashes, the in
soluble parts remain, namely, the car
: Donates, sulphates, and phosphatel
principally lime salts, accompanied, gen
: orally, by little caustic lime. Expert
ence has shown that there is no sub
stance equal to leached ashes of this kin
! for manure, not excepting even the rich
> est guanos; the veg tation of the cereal
! becoming broader than common by il
use, and the stalks more tubular, Will
the leaves grow of dark blush greer
The value of this application is see
more particularly in meadows, wher
y curiously enough, nearly all of the o.
dinary grass disappears in consequence
and instead of it a thick vegetation {
red clover is met with which will be T,
! newed year by year for a long tin
3 without additional supply.
3 LEAD Foil FOR BANDAGEs.-Doct
9 Burggraefe, of Genev a, Recommend
4 thin lead foil bandages,in cases of wounC
Y and broken limbs. The sheets of lea
8 are kept in place by adhesive plaste
0 and are said to offer the following az
a vantages l. The lead remains soft an
D cool in contact with the wounds. 2.
4 enables the physician to dispense wit
: lint, which is the constant occasion
n heat and infection. 8. The sulphur con
y pounds which form prevent the decon
Q position of the parts and growth of o
d ganisms. 4. After the bandage is mad
J. the wound can be washed and refresht
Q with cold water without removing it.
: would be well to have supply of tn
}, foil on hand in machine shops whe
a large numbers of workmen are employe