Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-03-21
Farm and Garden.


Farm and Garden.
Early POtatoes.-In order to secure
potatoes for table use as early in the !
season as possible, it is necessary to use
artificial heat in forcing them at an
early date in spring, when the soil out
side Is not in a suitable state of warmth
10 favor their growth. This may be
done in various ways, and the precise
method must be determined by circum-
stances and eonveniences. On the sub
Ject OF forcing potatoes the Ohio Farmer
Of recent date says: "Shallow boxes
may be used of any. convenient size, six
inches deep. Put in some three inches
of rich loamy soil, and even it down
smoothly. Putin layer of potatoes,
either cut or .whole if cut, place cut
side down. Cover with more soil to the
height of the box, leveling off the top
and wetting occasionally. Place in
sornewarm place near the kitchen stove
or other convenient place. If growth is
too rapid, keep dryer and cooler; if too
slow, keep wetter and warmer. Harden
off before planting out by exposure
gradually to sun and outside air. When
she ground is in suitable condition to
transplant, take the boxes to the place,
take off the ends and sides and separate
the plants carefully, being careful not
to separate them from the parent po-
tato. Set SO the upper will be just bit
above the surface. The time for stor-
ing potatoes should be from five to
seven weeks before the time generally
customary to plant field crops of the
same''
Take Care Of the .Sheep.-Sheep will
a5w require better feed and more care.
Nothing tests the judgment of the
sheep farmer more than thawingw FEATHER
and cold transforms. The great enemy
of sheep is dampness. No sheep will
thrive in damp, close quarters, or with
fermenting manure under them. Even
young lambs will stand dry cold far bet.
ter than moist warmth. As lambing
time approaches, it is well to have the
ewes in small hocks, and there should
be convenient pens for putting the ewes
and lambs by themselves for a few days.
Keep close watch of the ewes, but do
not be in haste to assist at Landing, I'M
til it is necessary. If lamb gets chilled
wrap him up in flannel and take him to
a stove. If nearly dead, put the lamb
in pail OF warm water, as hot as you
can bear your hands in. Many lamb,
apparently almost dead, has been saved
in this way See that the lambs get
milk enough. A lamb will sometimes
suck warm milk from bottle, furnish
ed with an India-rubber nipple, when
it has not strength enough to suck the
eve. Give the ewes good hay and bran,
and roots, if you have them. But it is
Il \ Ia frNc 4ox- !
lambs in April and May. Oats are bet
ter for the ewes than corn, and this year
nearly as cheap.
Treatment Of Brood INares.-Keep your
brood mares, now heavy with foal, in
good flesh; not "hog fat" but in full
condition, as if the intention were to
require from each one her full share OF
spring work on the farm. 1t is a serious
fallacy-the not uncommon opinion
that brood mares toward the end of the
period of CESSATION, should be thin in
flesh. Let them have plenty of exer
else, but no hard work for the last three
months of their pregnancy. If worked
at all, let them, in this latitude, be
safely shod until all danger from slip
ping on icy roads is past. Give each
one box stall in the stable, and see
chat she is in it during nights, and in
all stormy weather. Proper attention
to the health and comfort of the dam
henceforth until foaling time, will al
most certainly repay you with a sound
healthy foal, and that without callins
to your assistance the veterinary sur
geon. Under any circumstances keel
off the "hoss doctors = the mare know
more than they do. Difficulty in foal
ing is rarely experienced in the case O
a mare that has been kindly cared for
and is in robust health and good condi
ton; and when difficulty does come,
will be increased nine times in ten, b
"hoss doctor" if you call one. Ifyol
need professional advice or aid at all
get competent veterinary surgeon,
within reach. The next best, unles
you have had some experience yourself
is to call some sensible neighbor to &C
wise you what to do, and, if need be, t
assist in doing it. The sheet anchor
however, is the health and strength {
the dam; and these conditions ar
within your own control.
Chicken Cholera Ground and pulve
lied black pepper and table salt is sal
tolbean efectual remedy for the diseas
called the chicken cholera. The tw
articles are 10 be mixed together i
about equal quantities, and given to til
diseased chickens in teaspoonful dose
mixed with little water, putting
into their mouths and forcing them |
swallow it; the dose to be repeated
the occasion may require, until they al
relieved.
Clover as a Shode.-There is probabl
no other plant in the world of sue
value to the farmers for the purpos
1t furnishes the most perfect protectio
to the soil during the fierce dry heats
the summer. Being constantly d,
ciduous plant, its leaves are perpetual
falling, and soon form delicate cove
ing for shade, and easily penetrated /,
ali points by the air, which is the gre.
carrier to the worn-eut soil of these a
mospheric elements that are to enric
it. In this way the clover plant n,
only Contributes directly to the fertiG
ing of the soil by giving its own SUI
- I. - e. L