The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-11-05
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.

STAIR CRAPETs.-To prevent the pile
from separating at the edge of the stair
and wearing off, pads are used. These
are made Of low grade of cotton, COW
cred with the cheapest muslin. A quilt
or comfort that has seen service will an
swer the purpose of stair pads. In addi-
ton to increasing the lease of usefulness
of the carpet, the pads prevent noisy
Gathering of feet and, in case the baby
should fall down stairs, the injury re-
ceived would be materially lessened.
When first laid down the carpet should
be several inches longer than needed,
that it may be disposed of after each
shaking so that q fresh place may
come to all the edges. A wisp or small
busting broom is the best for sweeping
stair carpets. After thorough sweeping,
a wet cloth may be used to good adyan-
tage in removing all dust.
TREATMENT OF HORSE DIsTEMPER.-
Stewards American Farmers Horse Book
says: The treatment in its general fea-
lures resembles that for CHAMBERS Bleed
in the neck vein, taking about three
pints of blood; then take and thorough
1y mix together one tablespoonful of
gunpowder, one of lard, one Of soft soap,
two of tar, and one of pulverized gum
myrrh. Put spoonful of this down the
horses throat as far as you can, with
paddle or spoon. Do this twice day.
At the same time make strong decoc-
ton of tobacco, as hot rs the horse can
bear it, with which wash his neck two or
three times q day. In connection. with
tho hnua sr;va bo amino al ao much euI-
phur and rOsin as he can be induced to
eat-a quarter of pound each day at
least-proportion, two parts sulphur, one
part rosin. Food light, such as mashes,
boiled oats and cut iced or, if in sea-
son, grass is better. No corn till after
recovery. No work while suffering. Keep
stable well. fumigated.
A LITTLE ADVICE TO FARMERs.-Help
your wives in every way you can, trivial
though it may seem to you. For in
stance, keep an extra pair OF shoes or
slippers in the hall or entry, and always
remember to change your dirty boots be-
fore entering the clean rooms. Then you
may be sure of smile of welcome, as no
dirt will be left after you to clean up.
In the evening comb your hair rs care
fully as ever you did in your counting
days, put on clean coat or dressing
gown, and when you take your paper to
read, do not read it to yourself and leave
her to lonesome thoughts while sewing
or mending, but remember that she, too,
has been working hard all day, and is
still working. Read to her whatever in
terests you, so that her interests and
opinions may grow with yours, and that
she may comprehend something besides
love stories, of which too many have read
more than they should. You will both
be happier, and being farmers or a
mechanics wife will not be such dread
full tiresome and lonely life as many girls
have every reason to think it is.
CLEANING STUBBLE LAND.-The far
mer who has a field which has grown
wheat, or barley, or oats this year, and is
not seeded down, and which is not to be
sown with any other crop until next
spring, has an opportunity of cleaning
his land, that should on no account be
neglected. The English farmers seldom
seed down their land with wheat. After
the wheat is harvested, they harrow the
land, or tear it to pieces with three OF
four-horse cultivatOr or "grubber." This
starts the seed of other weeds. The field
is afterward plowed, when, of course, all
the young weed plants are destroyed
The grubber is kept at work as often a:
necessary to clean and mellow the land
The next spring this is sown to turnip'
or mangels, or, on heavy land, to beans
or barley. 1t is said that this autumn
cleaning of stubble land by the free use
of the grubber, especially when operated
by the all-powerful steam engine, is one
of the greatest agricultural improve
ments of the age.
What is true of English farming might
be still more emphatically true of Ameri
can agriculture. Our autumns are longer
and drier and hotter than they are in
England, and we have better opportu
nifty to clean our land, while there i.
certainly greater necessity. Our fields
are fearfully foul with all kinds of weeds
and in certain instances they are annu
ally gaining a stronger fO0thold. W.
must fight if we would win. It will no
do to 90 on in the old way. With oul
drying winds and hot sun we ought tt
have the cleanest farms in the world, anC
sooner or later such will be the case. W.
must kill weeds by wholesale. 1t viii
not do to depend on the hoe and fingers
Nature is never at rest. 1t will not dc
to let land remain idle. When it is no
occupied with growing crops we shoulC
be occupied in stirring the soil and kill
ing weeds. 1t is the great secret of sue
cess in farming.-American Agriculturist
The BERKSHIRE HOG THE HOG OF TIL
FUTURE.-An experienced stock MAJ
writes that it becomes more and more
evident every day that the Berkshir,
breed of swine is crowding aside very
fast all other breeds of hogs in the West
ern pork-producing States. If we in
quire why this is the case, we find severa
weighty reasons. At first, the Berkshire
is a very hardy hog, which transmits it
qualities upon its offspring with grea
certainty, and which has dark-coloreC
skin, less subject to skin diseases thar
that of almost any other breed. Second
ly, the Berkshire natures very early, i
very active and industrious, is an excel
lent feeder, fattens very rapidly on almos
anything commonly used as food TO
hogs, and contains, when well fattened
as little offal as any other known breed
Thirdly, the Berkshire has the most de
SlThDIt Size 10 hClbbCi wv ohiah hOi WV
large-that is, the same is sufficient.
small enough to be fattcned, if grain j
scarce, and is also able to grow larg
enough for any purpose, if well fed anc
nationally treated when young.
1t is true some other breeds, the Po
land China for instance, attain a large
size and greater weight, but requir
more time to mature; while well-bret
Berkshire pig under one year old will
outweigh. in net weight, if it has beer
sufficiently well kept, any Poland-C hin'
of the same age. myself have Berk
shire SOW which had live weight Of 80,
pounds when eleven months old, ant
which outweighed any Poland-China o
any other hog of the same age. There
fore, If Berkshire pig can be brough
so young to such weight-and my pi
might have been heavier still if | ha