The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-11-23
AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

THE value of sewage manure may be
seen by the fact that the Earl of Derby
having offered to take the whole Of the
sewage of Dudley on to his farm free of
expense, and to find an engineer to un.
dertake the necessary works, the Town
Council has accepted the scheme. This,
it is said, will save the rate payers,
f50,000.
The Spectator pours balm upon the
ruffled soul of the British farmer by in
forming him that it is not the doryphora
decemlineata, but the doryphora juncta
that has arrived in England from
America. Not to put too fine point
upon it, tits not the potato bug but an
allied species-a sort of high-toned first
cousin, who is above potato diet.
In the condensed crop reports received
from the Commissioner of Agriculture of
Georgia, we learn that the cost of living
in the State is little more than half as
much as it was seven years ago, and yet
the farmers are saving but little money;
the cause of the latter condition of af-
fairs is attributed to a want of economy
or calculation in advance of what crop
is to cost.
LEAVES make the best kind of pro-
lection for partly hard stuff and if
gathered for this purpose should be cov-
cred with little earth or boughs to pre-
serve them from blowing away. The
writer has ,;dst taken lot of them and
packed about q bed of rhododendrons
and ozalias, placing little garden earth
above them to keep them in place during
winter.
The cultivation of peanuts appears to
be on the increase in those States where
this plant succeeds best. The crop in
North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee
for 1876, is reported to have reached
nearly eight hundred thousand bushels,
and it promises to be still larger for
1S76-77. From these statistics we may
safely conclude that there is either a
large quantity of peanut oil made. or a
good many peanuts eaten by somebody.
The first farmer was the first man,
and all historic nobility rests on posses
sion and use of land. Men do not like
hard work, but every man has an ex-
ceptional respect for tillage, and feel
his race; that he himself is only ex-
cused from it by some circumstances
which made him delegate it for time
to other hands. If he have not some
skill which recommends him to the
farmer, some product for which the
farmer will give him corn, he must him
self return into his due place among
the planters. And the profession has in
all eyes its ancient charm as standing
nearest to Ged, the first cause.-Emer-
SON.
WHEN rough. shreddy wool appears
in the fleece, or the wool drops off in
locks, the sheep are not healthy, or the
food has been dry and heating. Stop
the corn meal and give some linseed oil
cake meal; q few potatoes will be useful
if roots are not to be had. Give salt
frequently and freely. Keep nursing
ewes by themselves, and give scalded
bran or oat meal daily. Sugar beets, or
potatoes, sliced and sprinkled with a
quart of middlings or bran, for each
eve, will produce abundant and rich
milk. Keep lambs where they will have
plenty of sunshine. Pick of ticks by
hand this may be done very rapidly by
using pair of small, sharp scissors;
part the wool, and when tick is found
clip it in two.
WHILE at South Haven in September
the writer saw that several strawberry
growers had sown rye or oats among
their plants, and good growth was
starting up. This was for winter
mulch, and is said to be q very good |
one. However, not many have done |
this, and the next thing is to get some |
kind of winter covering for the plants.
Leaves are good, but easily blow off;
long marsh hay is probably the best
material away from the sea shore. The
product of salt marshes is said to be
best of anything. But any coarse litter
that can be easily distributed over the
patch will be of good service. Care
should be taken not to get it too thick,
as the plants will be smothered. A good
rule is to put it on just 80 as to hide the
plant, but not thicker.
The digest of the crop returns for
October, as prepared at the Department
of Agriculture, indicates reduction in
the yield of the wheat crop of nearly
one-sixth, while the quality is somewhat
superior. Every section of the Union
indicates a reduced product, except the |
Middle States. The figures point to a
yield of about 245, ,000, 900 bushels. Rye
is reported as four per cent. less than in
1875, but the quality is better; barley
is six per cent. less than last year buck
wheat full average; oats show falling
off of twenty-three per cent. Every
section of the Union is deficient. The
corn crop is deficient, but figures are not
obtained. The cotton crop will be large,
and is likely to approach the heavy yield
Of 1876. Sweet potatoes, a full average
crop; sorghum, a full production. The
tobacco report shows about the average
N rod duct;op