The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-08-23
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.


+t'y'
Coal ashes, sifted very finely, thor
oughly ground, and mixed with oil,
make good cheap paint. Any coloring
matter may DO added.
The Springfield Republican counts
up some 2,4O0 acres devoted to tobacco
raising this year in Massachusett towns
Of the Connecticut valley.
The appIe.twig borcr is doing some
more Of his noticeable work this year
among the apple trees, rs the dead twigs
Indicate. The branches should be cut
OF and burned.
The Massachusetts, P'Oughman thinks
TINT barley is superior to yother grain
for fattcning horses. In Germany the
grim in ground into flour, and cakes are
made Of it for horses. The English far
mcrs boil it and feed at evening.
The best carly lambs for market are
obtained by crossing Merino ewes with
Southdown, Cotswold, or Leiceste or
bucks. They may come in December or
january. Good shelter and bountiful
supply Of good and succulsnt food are
requisite to bring them forward.
Potato bugs are playing sid havoc in
Massachusetts, fields, and college profess
sors WHO have been consulted say TINT
only hand-picking and planting III damp
soil can slvc the growing crop Of pota.
toes. College professors who know no
more than this should learn better from
the farmers.
The London agricultural Gazette
contains letters from several farmers
who shave seen it DONE" averring that
oats planted in the spring and cut from
time to time to keep them from flower
ing, will produce the following year, not
oats, but wheat or barley. This seems
to be something like the statement that
wheat will turn into chess.
Acorespondcnt of the Field commu-
uicates his knowledge Of the movements
of tame mole now in tho possession Of
ngentlemau i'll England. 1t is kept in n
large propagating glass that holds about
three pals Of earth, and in this it works
its subtcrraucous passages and throws
up the hills. It's food consists Of earth
worms and wire worms, and from the
careful observations made it consumes
daily about one hundred worms, which
are supplied every morning. II is quite
Mt home, and feeds freely ont OF the hand
of its master.
Household Hints.
WRTSKLED SnK.-To make silk which
has been wrinkled appear like new,
sponge on the surface with n weak solu.
ton OF gum-arabic or white glue, and
iron on the wrong side.
WASHING SUMNER DRESSES. -Common
washerwomen spoil everything with soda,
and nothing is more frequent than to see
the delicate tints OF lawns and percales
turned into dark blotches and mrd.
dy streaks by the Ignorance Of hun
dress. It is worth while for ladies To
pay attention to this, and insist upon
having their summer dresses washed nc.
cording to the directions which they
should be prepared to give their lauu'
dresses themselves. In the first place,
the water should be tcpid, the soap
should not he allowed ti touch the fab
ric it should he washed md rinsed
quick, turned upon the wrong side, and
hung i'll tho shade to dry, and when
starchcI-in thin boiled but not boiling
starch-should be folded III sheets OF
towels, and iron upon the wrong side
as soon ms possible.
TESTS OF WELhMADE BREAD.-Good
brcid will feel light in the hand when
lifted III it, which will not be the case
with that which has been imperfectly
kneadel. Cool bread when cut will re-
semble fine sponge Of uniform texture,
and be equally free from the spaces caus'
cd by large air bubbles and from the dark
strcaks which show either TINT it has
been made with adultcrated flour, OF
that it has been inattentivcly prepared,
or too heavily knca led when it was made
up for the own. The loaves also OF
wcll.made and wcll-baked bread will re.
tain their shape, and not spread about
like unsightly forms, rs they will when
the dough has been rendered too moist.
They will also be equally Drowned, but
not dark.colored and hard. Leaves
which have been carclcssly baked are
sometimes burnt i'll one part, while the
doughis scarcely set in another.
Fruit Garden.
As soon ns any signs of mildew appear,
apply sulphur to the grape vines. Tic
mp the now canes to the trellises with
soft cotton Irvine.
All surplus fruit not needed for family
Use or market may he canned or dried
for wiutor. 1t often happens that there
is glut of some particular fruit, and il
will not pay to send it to market; but it
can be preserved by GINNING or drying.
Remove NIL deformed fruit from
dwarf trees, aud il the trees are too full,
make final thinning, so that they may
not Over.bcar.
As soon us currants and gooseberries
have done bearing, give good dress
ing Of manure, md keep the weeds down
by cultivatiOn.-.igricnltnrist.
Curing Corn Fodder.
4 farmer in Ontario county, n. Y,
sowed oats broadcast, in the usual
amount, and then drilled in corn, using
three bushels Of corn to one Of oats.
When the oats were ripe, the whole crop
was cut like grass, and the dry oats
straw absorbing the moisture OF the
stalks, rendered the whole easily cured.
One Of our correspondents, last year,
stated TINT lie cured his fodder by plac.
ing it i'll the NOW between alternate
layers Of dry straw, and that his cattle
and horses devoured the straw with us
much relish as the fodder. As corn fod.
der is a difficult thing to cure when cut
green, these suggestions should be acted
UDou. when fodder ia mt in the harm.