The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-05-21
FARM AND GARDEN.

inches long and pours boiling water over
it; lie tit stand until cooled to about
the heat of milk from the coz, when the
tea is given to the calf and the hay to
the COW. Both calf and COW thrive on .
their feed. We have fed great deal of
hay tea to calves, with good results.
GRowuSa THE SUNFLowER.-Th Gull
tivation of the sunhower is said to meet
with great favor from the planters in
British Guinea These flowers, which
flourish in marshy places, yield from
eighty to one hundred bushels of seed
to the acre and each bushel furnishes
from five to seven quarts of an oil which
is excellent for eliminating purposes,
beside being of use in the mixing of
paints. Its flavor gives it q value in
cooking, also. AS food for poultry, the
dried seeds are said to be very fattening.
From the stalks fiber is obtained that
may be substituted for hemp the leaves
are relished as a food by cattle and
the flowers furnish supply Of rich hon
ely for bees. It will thus be seen that
those who choose to undertake the ex-
pertinent of growing sunhowers start
out with every promise of a rich return
with little labor.
SCRAPING FRUIT TREEs.-Perhaps Oc-
tober and November are the two best /
months of the year for scraping |
and washing fruit trees apples and /
pears. There is nothing better as a
wash" with which to scrub the trees
than a preparation of one pound of |
whale oil soap to large bucket of wa |
ter, we'll dissolved. There is nothing |
moro nauseous to insects than this. It |
will lay "cold" everything that we
have tried il on but the curculiO that, /
No fnrsk ba.y ,f,wk,,
even though accompanied with sulphur, |
lime water and tobacco juice, than if it |
were Ringerly dose of pure spring |
water. But rose-bugs and the steel |
blue grape-bugs surrender to its power !
incontinently. Every farmer and gar
dener ought to have G supply of this
soap on hand for use whenever necessa-
~. Apple and pear trees, we'll scraped
and then washed with the preparation,
will not only be freed from some of the
chief insects proving upon foliage and
fruit, but will sensibly feel its invigor-
ating effects.
Ro1LNo THE GRoUND.-On dry or
wet ground the effect of the roller is
found to be salutary. Plowed and pre-
pared for sowing, dry land is much
helped by the roller. The blades of
grass spring up sooner and retSin a
frmer hold in the earth. In a season
of drought, rolling has saved the crop,
when without it the seed would have
never sprung from the ground In wet
and heavy ground it is believed the
roller, smoothing and hardening the
surface, will have the soil Immediately
beneath the surface in n better condi-
ton to generate the seed. On grass
ground that has been heaved by the
frost, the roller has an excellent effect
in fixing the roots. Rolling the ground
is also good when the land has been
laid down unevenly the previous year.
III the land is too dry, wait till Just af-
ter soaking rain, and it will work cap
italy. 1t is good idea to roll plowed
sowed ground before narrowing, as it
presses down the burrows that would be
turned back, and makes the surface less
Uneven, and the harrow pulverizes it
much.
BUTTER WORKING. the drudgerv of
butter-working, which falls so heavily
upon farmers wives In dairy districts.
Is IN a fair way of being done away
with, II western example shall be
generally followed. An establishment
has lately been started near Beloit, Wis,
for putting into marketable shane I'M
washed and unsalted butter. The but
ter IS purchased from the neighboring
farmers just as it comes from the churn.
This, IN quantities OF from 500 TO 100
pounds, Is put into a vat made of two
inch PLANK, eight inches deep, twenty
four IL ches broad and eight feet long.
With wooden instrument the butter is
then separated into small pieces, when
moderately cold water is let in to cover
1t, and then wooden hoe stirs the
whole thoroughly together. Then the
butter IS put into another box with a
wire screen bottom, through which it is
forced by means of lever, at the ratG
OF LOO pounds in less than five min
utes. Winter butter being white is
colored the salt is added, after which
IL IS put through another machine, by
which the salt is evenly distributed;
and thus two men can handle and pack,
ready for market, from 1900 to 1000
pounds day, and the butter is of uni
form quality, sound and sweet.
SENDING PLANTS BY MA11..=The
cheapness and readiness with which
plants may be sent through tho mail
prompt these suggestions from the A0-
rieulturist as 20 the best method of
packing: Many contrivances have been
made for packing, but none are better
than sphagnum and oiled paper when
they can be had. Lay down piece of
oiled paper of the proper size, spread a
thin layer OF dry moss upon this re-
move all the earth from the roots of the
plants by washing, lay them upon the
moss, and roll the whole tightly then
enclose In a strong wrapping paper with
out sealing. Plants sent in this way
will remain in good condition for two
weeks at least. Where oiled paper can
not be had, the next best thing is a CT
gar-box, as it is light, and may be had
almost anywhere. The moss must be
dampened as for sending by express, as
evaporation will be more rapid than in
oiled paper. When plants are sent
either by mail or express, a portion of
the leaves should be cut of. and thew
arrive in better condition when large
part of the top is removed in the case
OF all trees and shrubs, with the excep-
ton OF evergreens. Herbaceous plants,
or those of leaves and stems of which
lie down, every fall, should be cut back
Co within two inches of the roots. Use
strong Irvine in tying the boxes, and do
not wrap in paper. Bulbs not in a
growing state must be packed in quite
dTy moss or chatf of any sort. When
plants are sent out during cold weather
or IN the fall or early spring. the moss
ought to be drier than that used durino
the summer. Those sent to us from
California and the far west need rather
more moisture, as they are on the road
SO long. 1t should be borne in mind
that more plants are ruined by being
packed too wet than too dry.
A BIT OF RoCK-woRK.-There is many
shady nook and corner in the vicinity
OF country homes which might be beau
titled with very little expense-nortbern
exposures, where the sun seldom shines
and which are left bleak and bare be.
cause grass and flowers refuse to grow.
Any time harness the old horse and
start for the woods to hunt up suitable
material for what our English friends
term "a pleasing bit of rock-work. Z" !
An unusually rough stone, all over an
gles ana uncouth projections, is prize; |
let such form load to begin with |
Next collect supply of the unctuous |
leaf mould which has lain buried be- |
meath its covering for many years, until |
1t has become as dark and firm as the |
most most tastidious plant can REQUIRE. |