The weekly Shasta courier. [volume] (Shasta, Calif.) 1872-190?, 1873-09-06
FARM AND GARDEN.

lighter SnOulu Oe the Co'eihiS' We
are very apt to cover too deeply. Ma
ture here is safe to follow. She covers
lightly. The seed falls from the ripened
stalk upon the surface of the ground,
to be covered only with leaves, or to be
washed into the soil by the rains.
| Onions, parsnips. squashes and Lima
beans, such plants, especially, as push
I'D the shells of the seed itself, find it
difficult to force their way up through
much depth of earth, after it is packed
down by rains. A quarter, or half an
inch at most, is quite sufficient for
these seeds.
Care should be taken that no Jumps
of earth be left over them. We like
! long rows of beets, carrots, parsnips,
etc., and don't believe in wasting half
the land in useless paths and walks
with short rows running crosswise.
Long rows are more easily worked and
kept clean than short ones, and the
labor for the same number of plants in
long rows is less than in short ones.
We should study economy both on the
farm and in the garden. On the field
the too frequent turnings consume
much time in ploughing, and to some
extent this is so in the garden.-Mass.
Ploughman.
PoRTULAccA.-Ab bed of double por-
tulacca in full bloom is certainly most
dazzling sight. The old-fashioned single
portulacca is certainly common in most
country gardens; but there need be no
prejudice entertained against its use,
because it is so common. The rage for
novelties does not always result in pro-
ducing flowers better than some of our
old standard favorites. The double
portulacca has flowers almost as large
as the balsam and petals fully as double
as the rose. A single portulacca OF
scarlet color is of itself button-hole
bouquet. The habit of the plant adapts
it very well for bedding purposes. 1t
is much more snowy than the verbena,
and, like that, is of low, thick, spread
ing growth. 1t is always in bloom
throughout the summer - indeed, we
know of nothing so snowy which is so
long in bloom; and, if the bed is sue
cessful, at midday, when every blossom
is fully open, the ground seems literally
covered with little roses. An exchange,
speaking of the same subject, says:
cit is impossible to say too much of
these flowers. A bed once planted will
sow seed itself year after year, the plants
coming up by hundreds and covering
the ground. A large proportion of the
seeds of the ouble-fowering sorts will
produce double flowers. To give va
riety to the bed or border, few seeds
of pansy scattered over it will give
pleasing effect and add striking con-
trast when the plants come into bloom.
Make the fower-bed down fiat, cutting
out the sods spade deep, and fill in with
which so many plant flowers are a
nuisance. They dry out so quick in
hot weather that, unless constantly
watered, plants will die out on them"
FEED FROM AN AcRE.-A pair of
horses will consume in a year 6 IL
tons of hay and 27O bushels of oats,
their daily ration being Is pounds of
hay and IL pounds of oats for each.
1t will take IA to 16 acres of average
land to raise this amount of fodder. A
COW will consume Is pounds of hay
and pounds of corn meal daily, equal
to IA tons of hay and 40 bushels of
corn, allowing for toll for grinding it,
per year. This require about 4 acres
of average land. One acre of good
corn land will produce enough grain
and stalks to keep COW during year.
This estimate, which is deduced from
practice, accords elsewhere, as gathered
from statistics, which prove that eight
acres of land are needed to support
horse during year in Belgium and
Holland-countries which, as regards
the supply of food, are self-sustaining
There would be no practical difference
between the crops mentioned and others
that might be chosen, for the reason
that more prolific crops require great
or amount to be consumed to yield an
equal sustenance, with less prolific, but
more nutritious crops. The most econ
omical single crop to raise for feeding
animals is corn, when the whole stalks
are well cured and properly used.-N.
| Y. Tribune.
! KEEP THE CELLAR PURE. j How
much of sickness is bred in cellars it is
not probable can ever be accurately
estimated, but there is no doubt that
many mysterious case of typhoid and
scarlet fever, rheumatism or ague, may
be correctly traced to the malarious
efluvia emanating from these neglected
corners. Old boxes, bins and barrels,
which have contained vegetable matter,
meat, fish, ETC., need thorough over
| hauling. 1t is not that standing in
dark corner they look empty; there
may be enough poison left sticking on
i the side and bottom to effect the health
of the household. This work of cleans
ing is often left to the women and boys
of the family. A man had much
better leave his work day to make
thorough examination and publication
of the cellar than to be unduly anxious
about getting in his crops in extra sea-
son. After all garbage is carried out,
let the ceilings and walls be faithfully
brushed with an old broom and if this
is done once month the atmosphere
| will he all the sweeter ITsa plantv of