Connecticut western news., 1874-01-16
Farm, Garden and Household.

E~E8 Ez1z<LzLx - The, New Fork 1ksasne says. We 2G aeteiy interyiaTsf fxaS hfactica1 farmer who for several years past has taken the first prize for his potatoes. In re- ply to inquiries as to his mode of opera-l tions, he saia that the largest and best shaped tubers are always selected for, planting at digging time the previous b7o7year and he finds that they have been : io7 gfadualiy increasing in sizsI until his 9d 1poEatoes are, w now. W'. ehormons. - Sod ground is chosen for the crop it is very carefully and deeply plowed, and st,' thoroughly pulverized with the spike sou harrow! Ii Previous to breaking up, sd' however, the whole surface is Heavily ]o smBnured, and this roantreA 1rakaad, into ab the furrow as the plow passes, drio;iuad. oi The tubers are cut into quaTt few days before planting, and dropped in the rows sixteen or. eighteen |, inches e apart. The rows are struck aout with = ..a- r the plow about three feet distant, and ,J the seed is covered with a good depth auIof soil, A roller, passed Iover the vIbj ground, levsling and smoothing the .Ia, surface, to be followed in short time vua by the spike harrow. As soon as the ,tl ayoungs plants appear above the ground the cultivator is started and kept going paefrequently throughout the growing sea- l,i' son. Every weed is pulled up as soon as it makes its appearance; for, to use his own expression, he is l" too poor to grow weeds" As the plantsw wax strong, slight furrows are thrown up to them with q small blow, and these are still further increased afterward by,a ,repeS titlon of the same process. In Adig- ging, great care is taken not to skin or bruise the tubers, but to handleJ othem all carefully, and this enables the owner f0 rrnsnrvo thopn unToh haitian %l,n,, 6o careless farmer who throws his potatoes about as If they were cobble stones. This is the only magic he employs. Careful choice of seed, thorough prepa- ration of the soil, frequent stirring of the surface, and total extinction of weeds-these are the secrets of his success. fl .s7}i 70 @3i44
 The Fattening of Sheep.
 Mir. L. A. MorreH read before the American Farmers Club paper on the Fattening of Sheep" in which he said Quietness is indispensable to rapid fattening of sheep, cattle, and swine, and to contribute as much as possible to this end, regularity is re- quisite, not only in the quantity of the food but the time in which it is given. It is not a little surprising how quick animals, es-
 
 stated hours when their food is to be supplied and if it is transgressed. they become restless, which, to a certain degree, retards the process. The ob- seryance of this, with full measure of food, is of paramount importance.
 Again, it is essential that the sheds or buildings in which they are confined should be often supplied with fresh litter, and plenty of it in short, every thing must be. done to promote conn plete rest and contentmeTt.
 Sheep, when fattening, should not be fed oftener than three times day. namely, at sunrise, at noon, and an hour before sunset. The interim be- tween feelings will enable them to fill themselves leisurely, and to, have time sufficient for that quiet digestion which IS interrupted by more frequent feed ing. Water should be given without limitation, and that immediately after meals.
 The Profit of Cov-Keeping.
 Before the American Farmers Club was read a communication from E, D. Stoddard, Pultneyville, Wayne county,
 I will ask and answer the question. Does 1t pay for poor man to keep 8 COW?