Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-12-20
Farm, Garden and Household.
Top-DressfnR.

~
ricultuTiSt: 1 have made frequent al
lusions to one corner of the farm which
few years ago was too deeply plowed.
This land is now in grass. On a portion
of it we have made several vain at
tempts to raise crops of roots, and have
expended much manure in the effort.
Here the grass in April had some
what promising look the rest of the
farm (three acres) was a capital illus
tration of abiect poverty. A close ex-
animation discovered some rudimen-
tary grass and clover, but nothing that
suggested crop. 1 had read so much
about top-dressing that I was deter
mined to try it on this apparently for
Torn hope, and the land was we'll COW
cred before the heavy rains that fell
early in may. The result was almost
magical while that portion which had
looked so promising as to seem not to
need manure did not yield 1000 pounds
per acre of poor hay, ox-eye daisy, and
red sorrel, this poorer part, solely as
an effect of the top-dressing, produced
fully 1000 pounds per acre of very fair
hay. One swallow don't make a sum-
mer, but the evidence of this field in
favor of the surfaced application of
coarse manure is very strong and wor-
thy of remembering.
Coal Ashes as a Fertilizer.
A correspondent of the Department
of Agriculture at Franklin, Pennsyl-
vania, writes:
81 have always believed that coal
ashes had value for agricultural pur-
poses, and have advocated the free use
of them, particularly on limestone soil.
This season determined to get closer
to the root of the matter, and test their
value fully. Ihad plot of ground on
which had been unsuccessful for sew
eral years in raising good Early Rose
potatoes. The soil was in the best con-
dition always. The tops did we'll. This
spring I had the ground scored about
six inches deep, placed the cut potatoes
in the bottom, and filed up with coal
ashes. The plants grew finely, notwith-
standing the dry weather. The tops
did not fall over even after the weather
changed, and secured a crop of the
very best potatoes for the table I ever
raised.
"My second experiment was with
onion seed and coal ashes. 1 put out
five good-sized beds in seed. In four
the seed was covered with soil; the fifth
L covered with sifted coal ashes. The
result surprised every person that
knew of the experiment and watched it's
progress. l have abiding faith in coal
ashes, and am ready to use all I can
purchase
How to Make Toast.
A dish of good toast is a rarity and
is an enjoyment. For breakfast few
things surpass it to those who are &C
customed to that dish at that meal. It
is light, digestible, and reliable, and is
not very expensive. A cup of good tea
or coffee, with baked spitzenberg, or
dish of any other sub-acid in addi-
ton, will make satisfactory meal to q
reasonable man. In toasting the bread
the following rule should be observed:
Warm your bread well, by changing the
sides of the slice when heated through,
brown as is desired there should be
rather little than much browning, and
the slices should be quite thin, say a
quarter or three-eighths of an inch, no
more but do not scorch ; avoid that in
all cases. The philosophy in browning
is to take your time until you are done.
Where the toast accumulates keep
hot dish, but use as soon as possible.
What is desirable in toast is the rich
color and flavor formed by changing
the starch into lextrine or gum. Heat
evaporates moisture in bread as well as
elsewhere. The moisture that escapes
from toast leaves the bread light, soft
and porous inside.
For Burns.
Apply raw linseed oil with feather,
or, what is better, mix inseed oil and
lime water together and apply. Wash
the burn three times a day with warm
milk and water and renew the oil dress
ing each time. Lime water may always
be had at the druggists or made at home
by Stacking a lump of quicklime in
water and, as soon as clear, mixing it
with the oil. This simple and effective
remedy should always be kept in the
house, as age does not impair it's proper
sies. 1t is said that in case of an ex-
tensive burn, covering the raw surfaces
with wheat flour, if nothing else is at
hand, may serve to give relief till a
physician can be called, the principal
object being to preserve the surface
from the irritating contact of air. It is
mainly for this reason that the applica-
ton of oil is effectual.
Oatmeal in Drink.
1t is suggested by the Medical Jae.r-
nal of Edinburgh that oatmeal stirred
up in cold water, at the rate of two tea.
spoonfuls of meal to half a pint of
water, would be very healthful and
grateful drink in the harvest field. In
England, at a recent blowing match,
the only drink furnished was water with
oatmeal stirred into it, and it was found
very refreshing. We give corn-meal in
water to our horses for a drink with
great advantage. Why should we not
treat ourselves to the same healthful
luxury?
An Astonishing Cow.
A rather remarkable case came up
lately before the Sheriff at Perthshire
A farmer near Auchterarder had sold q
cow to person named Perth, and the
buyer summoned the farmer in order
to recover damages, seeing that he had
given false information about the COW.
&C I asked him, " said the plaintiff, elf
she was good mixer" "And what
was his reply?" "He said, She'll as
tonish you 7 took the COW home, but
she has not single drop of milk. Z"
"Well," said the Sheriff, ct rather
think she did astonish you"
Care of Stock i'm Winter.