The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-09-26
THE FARM,

A rain gauge may be made by getting a
tin OF iron vessel made with square sides,
strong enough so thatit will not spring. Set
this level to uiccty, where it will 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 verticle glass arm on which
is registered the inches aud fractions Of an
inch, where they may be easily read. ia
A COWS age may be determined by the
teeth but the horns are the surest method.
+ Count the rings around the horns and add to
this number three years, which is the lapse
Of lime before any rings make their appear
ance. @ l97sf:s
A late writer lays down this as an axiom
in drainage: It is not judlcious to spend
money in draining land that needs draining.
SO long as we can use the money to good ad-
vantage in the better cultivation Of other
good land that does not need draining.
A German Psychologist asserts that animals
which are being fattened, particularly oxen
should not be encouraged to drink much. wa
ter, for the reason that, as has been found by
experiment, "the absorption of water gener-
ates carbo.ic acid to excess and trammes the
~
formation of fat"
Fresh eggs, according to the Prairie Far
mer. affords great nourishment to weak ami
mails. 1t tells of colt which to all appear
ances was nearly dead, the breath of life be-
ing barely rrecaptible. which almost instant
iy revived by giving it one or two fresh eggs.
The same results have attended the admins
stering of eggs to weak cattle, and to feeble,
chilled lambs. The remedy is simple one,
and farmers would do well to bear it in
mind. Eks
American nurseryulen generally bud trees
in the following order, beginning with each
when the bark separates freely from the
wood Plums. cherries, arricots. pears, APP
piles, ounces and peaches. When one is
anxious to fruit in short time new variety
"a piece of the young wood with three or four
,eyes may be bcvcled on one side and inserted
the same way as a bud, and when carefully
doncthe graft will grow and. if circun,stan-
ces favor produce fruit in two years
Sawdust may be used as 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
prevent acidity in the soil, as well as to des-
troy fungi, which is always present in delay
iag wood. AS a rule, do not think it would
be advisable to use sawdust as mulch for
grapevincs, although there may be soils where
it lnishs beapplicd with good results
Joseph Harris says summer fallows on
strong. claycy land are often the best and
cheapest means of killing weeds and enrich
ing soil at the same time A true summer
tallow is preparing land for a crop, and then
not sowing it until the next season 1t cleans
the land and concentrates the plant food.
which is rendered available tn two years in
TO manure for enc crop. Instead of raising
: two wheat crops Of fifteen bushels each, it en-
abics us to raise crop of thirty bushels, and
clcans the land at the same time
A correspondent makes the sensible remark
that winter or summer, except in stormy
times, there is no place 10 comfortable for
coltssor tired work horses as good pasture
lot. TO tie up horse at night ia narrow
cell, with a plank floor to stand on, is a spe-
cius Of cruelty that civilization ought to be
ashamed Of If the poor animal must be
confined like a convict in dungeon, for
PHYS sake lc. him have his head, and give
him at least twelve feet square, with soft
dry floor to stand or lie on.
The 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 in the sum-
mer. In the fall the leaves will be invested
with eggs. The larvae goes into the ground
to transform, and the perfect beetle winters
In the rubbish and other secure places. The
eggs are laid on the upper side Of the green
leaves. and the larvae Matching thence, de-
stroy the foliage. The dry stalks afford no
nutriment to the pests.
An intelligent and thrifty farmer says
But for the cooperation Of my boys should
have failed The eldest is near FL, and the
other boys in the neighborhood, younger,
have left their parents mine have stuck to
me when most needed their services, | at
tribute this result to the fact that | have
tried to make their home pleasant. 4 have
turn shed them with attractive and useful
reading, and when night comes, and the day s
work is ended, instead of running with 9th.
or boys to the railroad station and adjoining
towns, they gathered aro the great lamp
and became interested in their books and pa
Fers. ESQ a
Few psen who handle horses give proper
attention to their feet and legs. Especially
is this nc case on farms. Much time is
spent in morning in rubbing, brushing and
smoothing the hair on the sides and hips but
1T no time are the feet examined and prop
e,'y cared for. Fow, be it known that The
feet Of . horse requne more care than the
laay They need ten times as much, for, in
respect they are almost the entire horse,
AlllAe grooming that can be done won
IL all al, ding iftllo horse is forced to Stand
svaserriiis ;actaarc Filthy. In this case the
Hoe, vii! ygeuil.e disordcred, and then the
Is. v.ils e had;y out Of tx and with bad
Eel ard h;s': legs, there is not much else of
Il