American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-08-02
USEFUL AND SUGGESTIVE.

SUCCESSFUL. cattle breeders in Europe
give molasscs constantly To fatten cattle
and mich cows. a large German farmer
gives Il pint a day mixed with oil-cakc to
his cows, largely increasing their milk.
To STAIN WooD A DARK MAuoGANY
CoLoR-Boil half pound of madden
and two ounces of lockwood chips in a
gallon of water, and brush over twice
while hot; when dry, go over the whole
with pearlash solution, two drains To
the quart, then varnish
on FOR HARNEss--Harness,i it is said,
may be made impcrvious to water by
| thoroughly impregnating il with mix
| ture made in the proportion of twenty
| one gallons of pure whale oil, and fifteen
to seventeen pounds of inda-rubber
shreds Heat these ingredients together
at il temperature of from 1871 degrees
to 24O degrees, in order that the rubber
may be completely dissolved.
BARN RooFs-The Mirror aud FaJ7aer
says: As yo" begin putting in your new
hay see to your barn roofs. On some of
| them the shingles are worn out, and only
an entire new set will meet the emcrg-
cncy. On others there is vacant place
here and there, from which the wind has
torn Il single or two; these may be
patched. Whatever the condition ofyour
finances or grass crop, you cannot afford
to put off any needed repairs upon your
roofs. Better let your grass rot in the
field than to put it into your barn to be
spoiled by the rain that will find its way
through leaky roof Though all other
buildings go to the dogs, keep your barn
| roofs waterproof
SwARMING BEEs-A bee-kecper gives
the following plan to prevent a swarm Of
bees from getting far away from the hive
with the statement that after ten years cX-
perience he has never known it to fail
| once: As soon as they show the first
symptoms of swarming, stop up most of
the outlets of the hive, so as to force them
to be considerable time coming out.
The swarm being made up i'll part of
young bees, many of whom cannot fly
well, and as nothing can be done by the
swarm until all are out, they fly about in
the air; by prolonging their exit the
feeble ones become tired, and finding
their plans frustrated, they alight to rear
range their journey. If they can leave
the old hive all ut once, they care very
little about alighting.
a VARIED DIET FOR FowLs.-There are
no animals more omnivorous than fowls
fish, flesh, herbs, and grains being devour-
ed by them with equal relish. We say
equal, for though they commonly pounce
upon meat with greater avidity than grain,
ty, and flock kept for while almost en-
tirely on animal food will show the same
greed for a few handfuls of corn. The
fondness for variety shown by fowls is as
significant of real needs as we have found
it to be in ourselves. In purveying for
them, a judiciouS variety, selected from
the three general divisions--frash regeta-
bles, grain, and animal foods at all sea-
sons absolutely necessary for young and
81. Il al. H.
thrifty. True, they will not starve on
hard corn and water; neither will they
pay a profit SO kept.-Exchange.
A FARM GARDEN-Rurul Home says:
The farmers fruit and vegetable garden
should be laid out so that the most of
the cultivation can be done with horse
A good arrangement would be to have a
strip of -greensward a rod wide at each
end This would answer for a walk and
for the horse to turn on in blowing and
cultivating. Grape-vines might be trained
against the fence, or, what would be bet
ter, the fence itself should be hedge of
Norway spruce. Make no beds and few
walks in the garden. Plant the vegetables
in rows extending from one side to the
to the other. The small fruits, dwarf pears
and apples should be planted on the same
plan. There is then no spading, and but
little hand-hoeing and wedding. a one
horse steel pillow is a fine implement for
the garden. Have Il Toulouse in one cor
ner or in the center, and have it well
stocked. The gardening will be pleasant,
easy and profitable.
NOTHING can be more cruel and moth
ing more foolish than to place children
where they must be dressed every day in
fresh and fashionable clothes and their
freedom to play curtailed for the sake OF
appearances. What childhood needs is
perfect freedom among the things of Ma
ture-frccdom to romp, TO make mud
pies, to leap fences, to row, to fish, to
climb trees to chase butterflies, to gather
wild flowers, to live out of doors from
morning until night, and to do all those
| things that innocent and healthy child
hood delights in, in cheap, strong clothes
provided for the purpose. Exactly that
which childhood needs, manhood and
womanhood need-perfect liberty and per
feet carelessness. SO whether the dweller
by the sea go inland for his summer play
or the resident of the inland city go to the
sea, he should seek some spot unvisited
by those devoted to fashionable display,
and employ his time in unrestricted com
munion with Nature, and in those pur-
suits and amlisements which, without let
| or hindrancs perform the office Of recrea-
| ton.