The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-09-01
Farm, Garden and Household.


A California local asserts that he
"took home md ate turnip measuring
two feet four inches in circumference,
and weighing over ninO pounds.
There is absolutely nothing in the
schedule OF premiums Of the New York
State Agricultural Society TO encourage
tho jockeys, but prizes are offered FOL
fast walking lorses--Rn idea and nm nc
tion altogether worthy Of encourage
ment.
Most sensible is the Broomo County
Farmers Club, which meets once
month during the summer in differen
groves, where they have picnics or co
operative dinners, when the men tall
agriculture, and the ladies sing songt
aud read essays, t.ts
A California correspondent asserts
that squirrels are draining the resources
OF the farmers Of that State more than
all the "sack rings" "middlemen,
"railroad monopolles, and tax.gather-
ers combined, AMI that they will soon
be wholly bankrupt unless the nuisance
is abated.
A society OF cooperative farmers OF
Union Lake Valley, Kansas, organized
to purchase goods cheap and to protect
themselves against mOnopolists, and
they meet once In two weeks. They
have experimental grounds where they
have an acre OF wheat, two acres Of
corn, md the like, the seed of which
came from the Agricultural Department.
The saving in cutting hay, straw, and
other fodder is equal to about one-third
OF the consumption OF both hay and
meal. The food is eaten without waste,
and is more perfectly digested, and it is
the food that is digested, aud not alone
that which is eaten, which counts rs
nutriment. Cattle should be fed three
times day. Little and often is much
better than "semi.occasional" gorgcs.
John P. Reynolds hopes " that beet
sugar will some day be made in Illinois
at cost OF six cents or less per pound, "
but he asserts that ii has not, rs yet,
been made there for less than twenty
times that cost. He adds that lie hap
pens to own several thousand dollars
Of paid.up stock in the only organiza.
ton or enterprise or experiment which,
up to this time, has practically demon.
strated' anything on the subject OF
beet sugar manufacture in Illinois, and
DO will be glad to exchange the same
for any yeaflins calf or colt, or Befk-
shire pig. sI.
The present season has been donbt-
less prolific in failures Of clover seed.
ings, us almost all dry seasons are. To
remedy the evil it would DO we'll to
harrow the stubble and SOW the seed
Immediately, and then roll or brush the
field with heavy brush harrow or a
drag composed Of half dozen heavy
planks fastened together with hooks OF
staples Mt distance OF six inches apart.
Such an implement hauled across u field
(edgewise, not lengthwise) will level
and compact the surface and cover the
seed. A moderate dressing OF active
fertilizer, or 100 pounds of plaster per
acre, would help considerably. ,-Frt-y
The question of deep blowing comes
up once in while, in England, by the
statement being made that all the fer.
'Iity Of the soil lies within four or five
Inc les Of the surface, and that to pillow
doo , will bring up the %cold stuff"
Soa, seem, however, that on cold
II ~geS 'armer is likely to be ruined
clay sob. dc, 80, but not by subsoiling,
BY plowins .taLt to consider this DIFF
ference. BY dt my be 5rongLl n
and dormant clay 4. soiling the roots
the surface, but by sub. .tef' and in n
Of plants cum descend deet .es fertile
year or so the cold clay becon.. % with
whom Deeper blowing can be dol.
great advantage. ..I. -r ~
Bran and shorts nre not sufficient food
with which to fatten hogs. Indeed, the
constant use OF these articles in slops
(and of other similar ones) is n prolific
cause Of hog cholera which is directly
traccable either to food deficient in
some needed element, or indigestibility.
But bsan and shorts, scalded or cooked,
with nm occasional feed of grain, MS
barley, oats, or corn, and OF roats,
either potatoes or turnips, will keep
hogs in health and fatten them rapidly.
Occasional small doses OF salt. sulphur,
copperas, and charcoal, will very much
aid in maintaining health. Pure water
in abundance to drink is absolutely
needed even when fed upon slop food.
Sheep Eating their Wool.
Instances OF sheep eating their own
wool are quite common, especially du.
ring the latter part Of the winter and
early in the spridg. Some have thought
the habit resulted from the presence Of
small parasites, rs minute as the red
spider OF some Towering plants, Which
produce MI irritation, and TO inlay this
the sheep acquired the habit OF biting
their own skin, and thereby eating its
own wool. It Is generally believed,
however, that the habit is analogous to
that of hens eating their own shells,
and Of the abnormal appetite OF COWS
for old bones, wooden rags, &C., and is
caused by m exhaustion OF the phos:
plate in the soil. Old pastures md
fields that have long been cropped are
deficient in these elements, hence the
absence of them in the feed, and conse-
quent want Of them by the animals. As
preventive, mix small quantity OF
bone meal with corn meal, and give
them mn occasional feed. Sulphur alsc
has been found to be preventive o.
the habit, and many farmers keep theil
stock constantly supplied with it. II
no doubt assists in giving healthy
tone to tho system. -Aainc Farmer
-
A PASTORS Impromptu Speaking.
mi, NJ a.;