Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-04-12
AGRICULTURAL.
Breeding Geese.


with somewhat stimulating food, such
as corn and oats, geese will commence
to lay very early, and can be set to the
work of incubation by the end of jan
uary or early in March. To secure the
eggs being fertile there must be one
gander to every five or six females. 1t
is always well to give them separate
apartments from those where fowls are
Kept, and water should always be ac-
cessible. 1t is best not to disturb the
goose when sitting, as, although a steady
and constant sitter, she will leave her
eggs often enough to feed and drink.
10 save her from going away too far,
and so running the risk of the eggs get
ting chilled, food and water should be
placed near enough to be readily Access
sible, and yet not attract her attention
to the feeder. When the eggs are
Matched it is best to confne the mother
for some days in coop or pen, placed
upon dry grass during the day, allowing
the goslings no access to water beyond
what they need to drink-which can be
placed in shallow pan-until they are
two weeks old, after which the mother
and young may have their liberty upon
clean grass. The goslings should get
meal and water at first, and few leaves
of early beets, turnips, or cabbage cut
fine will be beneficial. When they get
their full liberty they will live upon
grass, but if it is wanted to have them
grow rapidly and become plump and fat,
they should get meal mixed with butter
milk or skinned milk once a day. When
young the goslings are very subject to
die of cramps caused by getting wet or
cold. Hence it is necessary to insure
them clean and warm nests at nights,
and not allow them out in the mornings
till the dew is off nor should they be
allowed to remain out in cold, wet spring
storms. They should never be allowed
about muddy barnyards. A small grass
paddock for exercise ground should be
set apart for them until they can be
turned into the stubbles after harvest,
when they will fatten rapidly.
Profits of Farming.
More than once we have alluded to
the benefits resulting from "soiling .
in localities where it can be readily and
protitably followed. We give below, in
confirmation of these statements, the
following paragraphs:
Mr.. H. Sedgwick, of Cornwall, Conn.
stated at the farmers meeting at Lowell,
Mass, that farmers in his neighborhood
were engaged in producing milk for the
New York market. Referring to the
short feed of the fall of 1871, he added
Our farmers all declare they will moi
go back to the old way of feeding stock
We cut up our straw and everything avail
able. Many of us have adopted the
plan of steaming food for our cattle, and
We are satisfied from the experiments We
have made that we SAFE a third of oul
provender by steaming it. AS sample
of what this manner of feeding will do
l will relate an instance of young MAJ
who, year ago this spring, bought 6
farm of eighty acres of land for 81 900
The farm then kept eleven cows, four OF
five yearlings, and horse or two. The
young man took hold of that farm, and
Immediately put in fourteen acres OF
sowed corn. He increased the stock to
twenty-five cows, and kept them on
twelve acres, feeding them the sowed
corn, and also cutting his oats green fol-
food. His receipts the first year were
over $4,000. This year he has summered
on the same farm twenty-seven cows,
and he told me the other day that his
twenty-seven COWS would average him
300 each from the profit on milk.
The White Willow.
1t is unfortunate that this tree lies
under the odium of having been the
means of perpetrating huge swindle
on farmers. In the right place it's merits
are manifold. For quite moist land, we
know of no better plan for forming a
stock-proof, live fence. If managed
skillfully, the fence may be made both
speedily and cheaply. Along the Dor
ders of swamps and through marshy
lands the willow will thrive excellently.
The best way to make a fence is to use
cuttings at least six feet long, and large
enough to bear driving into the ground
to the depth of one and a half to two
feet. Place them nine inches apart,
and in three years they will make a
strong, close, and durable fence. There
is also, probably, some profitable use for
the trimmings which should be taken
from the tops once in two or three years.
The common willow makes coops for
kegs and small packages which require
hopping. When the growth is vigorous