Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-09-11
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
The Farm.

The Farm.
A RAIN guage may be made by get
ting tin or iron vessel made with
square sides, strong enough so that it
will not spring. Set this level to nice
IT,. where it VIII be exposed to the
rain. The inches and fractions may be
measured by inserting a proper rule, or
better, tube may be soldered to the
rain gauge, having vert Gle glass arm
on which is registered the inches and
fractions of an inch, where they may be
easily read
A cows age may be determined by
the teeth, but the horns are the surest
method. Count the rings around the
horn and add to this number three
years, which is the lapse of time before
any rings make their appearance.
A LATE writer lays down this as an
axiom IN drainage: It is not Judi
cious to spend money in draining land
that needs draining, SO long as we can
use the money to good advantage in
the better cultivation of other good
land that does not need draining.
A GERMAN psychologist asserts that
animals which are beng fattened, par
ticularly oxen, should not be encou-
ragged to drink much water, for the
reason that, as has been found by ex-
pertinent, " the absorption of water
generates carbonic acid to excess, and
trammels the formation Of fat.
FREsH eggs, according to the Prairie
Farmer, afford great nourishment to
weak animals. It tells of colt which
to all appearances was nearly dead, the
breath of life being barely perceptible,
which almost instantly revived by CIV
ing it one or two fresh eggs. The
same results have attended the admin
istering of eggs to weak cattle, and to
feeble, chilled lambs. The remedy is
a simple one, and farmers would do
well to bear it IN mind.
AMERICAN lurserymen generally bud
trees in the following order, beginning
with each when the bark separates free
ly from the wood: Plums, cherries,
apricots. pears, apples, ounces and
peaches. When one is anxious to fruit
in short time new variety, piece of
the young wood with three or four eyes
may be beveled on one side and in
serted the same way as bud. and when
carefully done the graft viii grow and,
If circumstances favor, produce fruit IN
two years.
SAwDUsT may be used as a mulch,
but will not answer for manure. If it
is applied IN sufficient quantities to
keep down the weeds. a little lime
should occasionally be added to pre-
vent acidity in the soil, as well as to
destroy fungi, which is always present
in delaying word. As a rule, do not
think it would be advisable to use saw
dust as a mulch for grapevines, al
though there may be soils where it
might be applied with good results.
JOSEPH HARRIS says summer fallows
on strong, clayey land are often the
best and cheapest means of killing
weeds and enriching soil at the same
time. A true summer-fallOw is pre-
pairing land for a crop, and then not
sowing it until the next season. It
cleans the land and concentrates the
plant-food, which is rendered available
III two years into manure for one crop
Instead OF raising two wheat crops of
fifteen bushels each, it enables US to
raise crop Of thirty bushels, and
cleans the land at the same time.
A CORRESPONDENT makes the sensible
remark that, winter or summer, except
IN stormy times, there is no place so
comfortable for colts or tired work
horses as a good pasture lot. To tie
up morse at night IN a narrow cell,
with a plank floor to stand on. is a
species of cruelty that civilization
ought to be ashamed of. IF the poor
animal must be confined like a convict
IN dungeon, for PHYS sake let him
have his head, and give him at least
twelve leet square, with a soft dry floor
to stand or lie on.
HE egg of the Colorado beetle will
not survive the winter in the egg state.
vines may be composted or burned, if
they contain eggs when the potatoes
are dug III tbs summer. In the fall the
leaves will be infested with eggs. The
larvae go into the ground to transform.
and the perfect beetle winters in rub.
Dish and other secure places. The eggs
are laid on the upper side of the green
leaves, and the larvae Matching thence
destroy the foliage. The dry stalks af
ford no nutriment to the pests.
HE Ohio Farmer says more injury is
done TO carriages by 8reasing too plen
TRULY than the reverse. TalIow is rec
commended as a better lubricator than
lard for wood axle-trees, and castor OF
Tor IRON; lard is apt to penetrate the
hub, and work It's way out around the
lemons of the spokes and spoil the
wheel. Just enough grease should b,
applied to the spindle OF wagon t.
give 1t light coating To oil an irol
axle, first wipe clean with cloth we
with spirits of turpentine, and then an
ply a few drops of castor OIL near tn,
shoulder and end. One teaspoonful 4
enough for the four.
An Intelligent and thrifty farme
says: But for the cooperation of M
boys [ should have failed. The eldes
is near 81, and the other boys in tt,
neIghborhood, younger, have left thei
parents; mine have stuck to me when
most needed their services, I attribute
this result to the fact that [ have triel
to make their home pleasant. [ hav
furnished them with attractive and use
mi reading, and night comes, and til
days work is ended, instead of run
mn8 with other boys to the railrOat
station and adjoining towns, they gath
cred around the great lamp and be
came interested in their books anC
papers.
Few men who handle horses Civ
proper attention to their feet and legs
Especially is this the case on farms
Much time Is spent in morning il
rubbing, brushing and smoothing tn,
hair on the sides and hips, but at n,
Tune are the feet examined and proper
y cared for Now, be it known. tina
the teet Of horse require more ear,
than the body. They need ten time
Is mnch, for, in one respect they ar,
almost the entire horse All tn,
anything if the horse is forced to stan,
where IBIS feet are filthy. In tbi