Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1875-12-24
AerifultnraI.

WINTER PROTECTION TO LAND.-The past
severe winter tested one thing it has shown rs
that the effect of the protection OF the land from
the FROST Seldom has such havoc been made in
any one winter. The drouth following in the
spring made things worse
There was a general lack of good crops of
winter grain and grass, the grain excepted in
this immediate vicinity. There were some fields
OF grass that turned out well, but oftener to
parts of fields was this applicable. 1t was the
winter, including the severe spring, that had
such an influence in bringing this about. As
is always the case, the neglected land suffered
the most; well drained soil suffered the least.
and it is the only soil that contained the sue
cessfu, or partially successful crops of grass or
grain; and the greatest BARN seems TO have
been done by the unusually severe frost of the
the spring, hurting the plants in the first push
of their growth. The exceptions were-and they
are interesting. because their principle is more
or less subject to our control-where the snow
still formed cover, and where the fall growth
was protection. Meadows having this were
saved if on land not too moist especially was
this the case where the coat was good oDe
Even heavy stubbIe of grain was a protection
to the thin seeding of grass and clover. for uu-
fortunately heavy growth of grain is unfavor-
able to the yonng grass crop. There was an
other thing that engaged my attention; what
fields that were put out easiy-and that was
the case here mostly--mad good growth
the covering of which saved the crop
| Particularly was this the case with a field
worked by Mr.. Walrath, one of my neighbors
W ho put his land, of good natural drainage, in
the finest of order, (ground toIerably rich and
dcep,) and put the seed in the latter part of
August, the good condition of the soil pushing
| it forth, so that in eight or ten days it showed
| above ground. This made good Covering for
winter, during the fall, and was eficacious in
the spring, soon occupying the ground with the
growing crop, which farther protection
against the drouth which followed The best
policy is to let the plant protect itself, whether
of grass or of grain. need not say that nature
designed this: it is her successful habit, and we
do well if we initiate her, and improve upon her
IL we can-and We can. We can add much
which meets the priuciple-a mulch of straw OF
coarse manure, which is an excellent where fer
tility is needed When the two muIches-th,
imanure Cor straw and the crop tself-arc
,, united, all the better. In no case, therefore
should meadows or pastures be deruded, anc
wheat or rye should go into winter quarters IL
the same protected way. Sow early, or if at the
usual time. have the land in the best condition.
drained and rich, with a mellow surface, and
insist on a coat of manure as a rule, particu
arly where forage seed is to be sown, either il
the fall or in the spring. Protection is the word
as the past winter has plainly demonstrated
aud as almost every winter aSundantly testifiet
in this northern climate.
EFFECTS OF COLD IN FATTESING.--A producer
of pork in Muskingham county, o., who ha,
made an experiment with hogs, with view tC
ascertain how far cold retards the rate of fa.ten
ing, reports the following results: Carefully
, weighing the hogs fed, and the corn fed to them
and estimating pork at four cents per pound
he found that what he fed out during the frs
week in October, returned Gin pork) so cent:
per bushcl the first week in November, 81
) cents; the third week, 40; the forth week il
November and the month of December, %; tn,
fiist half Of January, 5; the last half, 0. II
the October week of the experiment the weather
was pleasant and warm. 1t gradually grew
colder till the latter part of November, frou
which time it remained about stationary till tn
first of January, after which it ran down to Zero
and below in the latter part of the month. Tn
hogs, were well sheltered in good pen will
plank khoor.-AJricultnral Report.
, THE Oregon Granger says there are eight o
n ten fecks Of Angora goats in Dongoa an
Jackson counties, Oregon, of from fifty to tw
hundred each that they are heathful and d,
We'll, and that there has been good demand 70
the leeces this year at from 75c. to S1.25 pc
pound, the fleece of three quarter bred goat
being from one to one and a-half pounds each
of full b!oOds from fonr to seven pounds.
THE Ohio Farmer says, ssCorn-fed hens do no
lay in winter for the simple reason there ism
any albumen material in the corn. Whel
wheat is fed, there is fat enough in it TO suppl
all that is needed for the yolk, and CLUTTER
enough to make the white, and lime enough t.
furnish the shell it does not thus seem difIicul
to understand why corn-fed hens should not lay
as they do not, ard why wheat-fed hens shoult
lay as they do.
A FARMER in Ontario county, New York
sowed oats broad cast, in the usual amount, ant
then drilled in corn, usiT g three bushels of corr
to one of oats When the oats were ripe tn
whole crop cut like grass, and the Cry oa
, straw, absorbing the moisture of the stalks, rem
dcred the whole easily cured Another cures hi
fodder by placing it in the NOW between alter
nate layers of dry straw, and his horses AM
. cattle devour the straw with the same relish II
!, the fodder.
AMONG the useful plants in New Mexico is thu
il soap-weed, the roots of which are used soap
The Mexicans prefer it to soap for washing
wooden goods. 1t extracts all dirt and greas
and restores the Iustrc of the goods.
OVER 100, 900 acres of land have been loeate
in Mason county, Texas, within the past thre
months, on account Of the discovery of grea
= silver vein. Two shafts are already in opera
tion, one bringing up ore yielding $3.50 the ton
IT is satisfactory to learn that many of th
- New England farmers are beginning again t,
u grow their own corn instead of buying wester'
corn. 1t is found by those who have fairly ex
pcrimented that ii pays better to grow it than tt
buy il.