Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-03-07
Farm and Garden.

Farm and Garden.
iScraping.-This is a good time to re
move all dead bark from trees in the
orchard. Trees which have been neg
lected for several years are soon covered
with moses and Hchens, and are thus
rendered unsightly. The best wash thai
can be applied to trees is one of strong
homemade soft-soap, thinned with
water so as to be easily applied with g
brush.
Make Your Repairs Now.-Half a day
now is not of SO much importance az
one hour when the heat of the summer
| solstice is driving vegetation, good and
bad, at the rate of three miles minute
| Then a loose spoke, broken tooth, a
rotten whiffietree, cracke ed piowhandle,
| gives the weeds the advantage of an
armistice, and on that start the fate OF
the summer campaign may turn.
Quick Gro,0th Of Ducks.-The prejudice
against ducks, on account of their ex-
treme voracity, is not we'll founded, for
if they eat enormously when halfgrown,
| they increase in weight proportionately.
| Quick growth is one of the things most
| desired in animals of all kinds that are
raised for the table. If the experiment
be tried of rearing chickens and ducks
that were Matched on the same day, in
a flock together, and giving them all
they can eat, the latter will outstrip the
chickens in growth.
4 Barn Basket.-Little economies on
the farm are worth considering. The
end of -four barrel cut off above the
second row of hoops, with leather handles
nailed or lashed on with thongs, makes
feed basket that is light, handy, and
Lob
Spreading Manure IN Winter.-Says the
American AgriculturiSt: "We are asked
what advantage there is in spreading
manure on frozen ground. 1t depends
much upon the condition of the ground.
If it is covered with grass, either pas
ture or meadow, there is a great advant-
age in more than one respect. The sur
face is protected from sudden changes
during winter, and the first thaw car
ries the manure to the roots, where it
causes a vigorous growth early in the
spring. If the ground is plowed for
spring crop, it is also benefited by hav
ing the manure ready to be absorbed by
the soil whenever the ground thaws
the seed, as soon as it sprouts, finds
what it needs close at hand. On sod
ground to be plowed for corn in the
spring, the same advantages are gained
as in the case of grass lands, land the man.
ure is on the spot in time, which in a
late season it might not be, for want of
time or improper condition of the
ground. But after all, it is far better to
get the manure upon the ground before
it is frozen. if possible; the earlier in
the fall, the better. Winter top-dress-
ing of grain is only poor substitute at
best for proper and timely preparation
in the fall, and rarely pays for the
trouble, unless it may be IN the advan-
tage gained by the spring-sown clover.
Women at Farmers CZsbs.-Damascus,
Stephenson Co., ILL.,, has farmers club
in the meetings of which the wives of
the farmers take part. That they are
sensible w3men, and that they are in a
| fair way to adorn, if not to enlarge, their
| sphere of usefulness, may be seen from
the following subjects which they have
selected for discussion at meetings this
winter: " Economy of rag carpets )"
Housekeeping" "Sball we dress for
comfort or for show?" "How shall we
plant and cultivate our gardens 2"
What kinds of flowers will
prove most satisfactory, and produce
the most pleasing effect during the en-
tire season ?' "House-cIeaning;' " Do
the size and location of our sleeping
health?' Household economy;" "Treat-
ment of house plants ?'' " Home attrac-
tions :" "How can we best inculeate the
love of truth and honesty in childrenT'
FZuctuatior in Farmaing-There is a
floating population among our farmers,
in their changes on the farms as well.
A few years ago pork was in high de-
mand hogs we're then the rush. Pork as
wall haaf iS NOW down Wool WAC a
drug. Now it is at the very highest
point; every one is looking out, though
as yet generally, for sheep. Soon this
industry will go with the rest. The
dairy, especially cheese, is at low ebb.
Already there is a look-about for a
change to something more lucrative.
The more easily moved will drop into
butter, to escape from it almost as soon
as they adopt it. Cows will be at a
| low figure. And so the change goes on
from one to the other, and almost al
ways for the worst. The farmer who is
established in all the branches, and per-
sistently carries them on, receives the
benefit of them all, including what the
| huctuatng farmer is aiming at, but
what he seldom reaches, as the change
again takes place before he fully realizes
the benefit; but he is sure to get all
there is of the least profitable. This is
on account of his halting and changing,
which experience has proved is not for
the best, while the true, steady farmer,
carrying all, is sure to reap all, the good
with the poor, the poor losing but little
to him, and the good making a good
harvest. He always, every year, has
some of this good harvest. He has been
growing hops, as we have known him,
for twenty years, and has realized a
small fortune in the good years that
have occurred, as they will.-Prairie
Farmer.