Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1875-07-08
Agricultural Items.

The war OF determination against the
caterpillars should be continued TO the end
Of them all. IT you spare them. you lose
your fruit, and ii may be. trees also.
Calves should be well fed through their
first summer, to give them thriftiness of
growth. Ifpoorly fed while young. no
amount of extra feeding afterward-. will
fully repair the injury and make them a
large aud finely formed as they otherwise
would have been.
Cream should be strained before being
put into the churn. II portions of it are
thick and mingled with hard dry particles
as cream skins" the butter will be leck
ed throughout and not only have Il bad ap-
pearancc but also be OF inferior quality.
Strainer> are made on purpose for strain
inc cream. and one should be possessed by
every good butter maker.
-Churning cream in five minutes does
not make the best butter. such butter will
not keep 80 Nell as that which is prodnc-
ed by half or three-quarters of au hours
churning. The proper temperature for
churning is 81, and thermometer should
al,ruys be used. Sticking the finger into
the cream is not re liable guide even TO
the most experienced.
The harrow Is not used enough. It j.
good on meadow, pasture. winter or spring
wheat oats. barley or corn. If farmers are
fearful let them experiment. This year and
next year, be prepared 10 harrow every
thing, especially if the ground is baked.
The following remedy is given for
blight in pear trees: To half bushel of
lime add four pound s OF sulphur, slake to
the consistency of whitewash, and. when it
is applied, add 20 each gallon of the was
half all ounce of carbolic acid. Apply this
to the deceased part. Where the bark i
deceased. remove the cutter portion before
making the application.
An excellent gymna>tic i an hour
work in the garden just after sunrise, par
ticularly applicable TO all seqnentery per
sons. and others " no are occupied within
'corS most of the time. Nothing j. so
abundant as IIc>n ga. - -.
of it thousands grow sick and die yearly.
We are not exactly - too lazy TO breathe.
, but too lazy 10 take the trouble TO breath
, pure air, which amounts to about the same
thing.
Stir the soil frequently around all your
/ garden vines and vegetables. IL exposes the
( soil to the action ofthe atmosphere and
gives the soil a chance TO draw feriili1ing
elements from the air. Every thorough
stirring of the soil is equal to light ma
nuring of the plant. A manure fork is an
excellent implement for this purpose. BY
the use Of ii the ground may be thorough
I ly lightened TO quite depth and thus al
ford abundant opportunity for free
/ spreading OF the rootlets in search Of food.
I The ground in gardens frequently become,
( hard and unless thoroughly stirred To a
considerable depth. the plants will not
make very rapid growth.
WOOD ASHES FOR Strawberries. =
Wood ashes are said TO be the best ferti-
( iZer known for Strawberries The ashes
should not be mixed with the soil. bat
( spread upon the ground As top dressing
in the spring. Their presence upon the
surface would gather considerable moist
ture from the air. The rain would dis
I solve the potas "a and phosphate OF lime
which they co ntain,an carry them to the
roots OF the plants. over one-tifth part OF
the ashes of the fruit of the strawberry
consists of potash, one-twelfth part OF
phosphoric acid and one-seventh part OF
/ lime. All of these are present in ashes,
and are essential elements of food for the
plants. The ashes Of strawberry also con-
tains one-ninth part of SAT- and one-sev-
enth part of soda-clearly indicating that
it would be advantageous TO apply these
substances also.