The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-06-29
FARM AsD F1REsIDE.

C~ULTIvATING THE 0sAGE.-C. A.
Hinkley writes as follows to the Chicago
Inter Ocean: Inoticed an article copied
into the Inter 0cean on the cultivation of
the Usage hedge that l think is calculated
to mislead the inexperienced. The
hedge question should be better under
stood. 1t is from the development of the
old hedge that we are to gain informa-
ton, and winter is the time for farmers
to discuss all such questions. The cor
respondent says "Set the plants eight
inches apart in the hedge row." There,
1 think, he makes a grand mistake. They
should never be set less than twelve
inches apart and l should prefer four
teen inches. By setting fourteen inches
the plants will develop a strong and
vigorous root. more so than when they
are set closer, and, when cultivated, will
make a fence sooner. You cannot make
a perfect fence without looping down,
and when that is done they will fill all
space. They should be cut as close to
the ground as possible, and not before
the hedge is three or four years old.
And in the cutting is an important
point. By cutting clean, without split
ting the stock, the cut will soon heal
over and make a perfect joint, and the
branches that arelooped down will retain
a full flow of sap to give life and vigor to
the hedge. By planting close the plants
will make a feeble growth, and ooner or
later the smaller plants will die out and
make the hedge irregular and uneven.
In the last Inter Ocean a correspondent of
the Indiana Farmer says From No
vember till the first of April is the time
to plant a hedge" The ground is
generally frozen in the winter, andif his
twenty years experience will tell us how
to get hedge plants when the ground is
frozen, we would like the information.
He says " many have made a failure in
the cultivation of the Usage plant from
the lack of experience" We want to
know in what respect.
KILLING SMUT IN WHEAT.-A farmer
asks the Farm journal if there is a GER
tain remedy to prevent wheat turning to
smut7 We answer no, for the reason that
wheat does not turn to smut. Smut lisa
fungus or parasitic mushroom, destroy
ing or replacing, where it develops, the
organs in which it is developed. The
seeds-spores-are exceedingly minute,
and cannot be recognized singly
except under a considerable magnifying
power. 1t attacks the leaves and stems
of plants, of all the grains, but is es-
pecially destructive to the seed itself;
and seemingly develops preferably in
oats, barley, and Indian corn by the
farmer, since smutty ears of corr may
be easily thrown out. In barley it is
separated by washing before mailing, SO
that only in our bread grains are means
usually taken to prevent its rayages.
There is no conclusive evidence to
show that the various compounds used
for soaking wheat actually kill the smut.
On the other hand, evidence would seem
to show that any wash strong. enough to
kill smut-medo-will also destroy the
vitality of grain. The probability is,
rather, that as smut terminates quickly
the soaking and subsequent Inning gives
the proper impetus to terminate them,
and, the lime forming a proper indus,
material growth ensues; and, subse-
quently, having no proper substance to
sustain itself, it perishes before the smut
is enabled to seize the growing plant.
Klippart mentions placing smut balls
in a solution CT nitrate of potash, dilute
nitric acid, sulphate of iron, of copper,
and of zinc, and even in dilute sulphuric
acid. The smut go treated invariably
manifested undoubted signs of vitality
when surrounded by proper conditions
Therefore, it is not safe to simply moister
wheat with lime and other washes.
The simplest and surest plan to pre-
vent smut in wheat is to make a solution
by using one pound of blue yitriol-sul
phate of copper-to every two gallons o.
water. Make a sufficient quantity so il
may. stand above the wheat. Stir the
whole to allow the light material to arise
Skim, and at the end of an hour spread
the wheat on a dry floor, and sprinkle
with quick lime, previously 50 Stacked
with chamber I've as to leave the lime in
powder. So continue until you have all
the wheat treated. If the wheat remains
damp, it must be still further dried be
fore sowing, if it is to be drilled, 50 il
will pass easily from the drill.
Many farmers use brine. In this case
the solution should not be stronger than
a pound of salt to the gallon of water.
Proceed as before directed, and dry with
lime.
Some persons claim good success by
sprinkling the wheat with a solution Of
five pounds of blue vitriol to six gallons
of water, using this quantity for twenty
bushels of wheat, turning the same until
every grain is moistened, and sowing
without further trouble. The way we
have indicated is the surest, and in the
end the cheapest, since the liquor can be
used over and over again until ex.
hausted.
Household Helps.
DOM PIATT MNcE MEAT.-0ne
quart boiled beef or tongue, chopped
fine; one quart suet, chopped fine; one
quart apples, chopped fine ; one quart
c~urrants; n quart %citron, sliced; one