The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-12-28
FIELD AND HOME.

REFUSE HAIR FROM TANNERIEs.-A
correspondent of the Rural New Yorker
inquiries concerning the application OF
refuse hair from tanneries, and whether
it Is of value for grass lands. The refuse
hair from tanneries is generally mixed
with lime. 1t is a valuable fertilizer.
When spread broadcast its action is slow
but an Immediate effect is produced from
the lime. The better way to apply hair
to land is to pour 1t under or work 1t in
the soil. The late ZadOck Pratt, Of
Green County, New York, well known
for his butter dairying experiments,
greatly increased the fertility of his
dairy farm by the application of hair
and other refuse from his tanneries. de
experimental with it in various ways.
and found that the best results were oh.
tanned when it was poured in or mingled
with the soil. We have experimental
with hair for turnips and cabbage by
digging hole with spade and putting
in a double handful of hair, then cover
ing with earth and planting the turnip
seed. The turnips make great growth,
far surprising that from barn yard ma
nure. 1t also makes good manure for
cabbages. The waste from tanneries can
often be utilized with great profit by
farmers living in the immediate vicinity
of these establishments, and this refuse
can not unfrequently be had simply for
carting it away.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE DEPART
MENT OF AGRICULTURE.-The complete
report of the Department of Agriculture
for the months of August and September
has been issued. 1t contains the follow
ing important information relative to
the crops:
Our August returns indicate that the
corn crop of the country was full aver
age, the deficiency in the great corn-pro-
ducing States of the northwest being
compensated by the superior conditions
of the other sections. All the New Eng
land and Middle States fell off except
Rhode Island and New Jersey. Insect
injuries and premature frOsts also affected
the crop in some of the more northern
counties. All of the South Atlantic
on the whole considerably above the av-
erage. The Gulf States all declined ex-
cept Louisiana, which shows very con-
siderable advance upon the low condition
of August. All of the Southern inland
States are above the average, and all
have improved during August. North
of the Ohio River all the States report
an improved condition at the end of Au-
gust except Michigan. Ohio and Wis
consin are above the average, while the
great corn regions of Indiana and ILL
nois show a gratifying improvement,
greatly reducing the decline appre.
hended at the close of July. On the Pa.
cific coast the condition Of the crop i'm.
proved at least five per cent. during Au
gust.
In the July report an improvement,
was noted in the condition of winter
wheat, bringing it up to 50. The Au
gust returns indicated that spring wheat
yielded less than three-quarters of 8
crop. 1t was still further reduced dur
ing that month by insect ravages and un
favorable conditions of growth ant
ripening, so that the condition of the
whole crop averages but 81. In New
England only the small crops of Massa
chusetts and Connecticut were in goot
condition. The grain did not fill well
and hence was short in both weight anC
bulk. In the Middle States the larg,
crops of New York and Pennsylvani,
were below 100, the former twelve PEI
cent. and the latter four per cent. New
J Jersey and Delaware indicate high con
dition, but their surplus is not sufficien
to meet the deficiency of the two large
States. Maryland and Virginia arr
each two per cent. above 100, but tn,
other South Atlantic States show de
ficiency, which decreases with the lati
tude to minimum of &C in Georgia
The crop was very poor in all of the Gul
States. All the States north of the Obi
River indicate low condition, rangin
, from SO in Ohio to SO in Wisconsin
Winter wheat was here considerably re
r duced by winter killing. West of tn
Mississippi the crop is also below loo
ranging from 81 ia Iowa and 81 in Mis-
! souri,. The Pacific States were also be
|, low 100.
The condition Of the oats crop, whic
, averaged sc on the LIST of August, d.
, clined to 81 on the 1st of September.
The condition of the rye crop is belo'
|, 100 in the great majority of the States
The barley crop is in full condition O
above in only few of the States, viz
t Vermont, Rhode Island, South Carolins
e Georgia, and Alabama.
The September returns of cottor
while averaging higher condition tina
: is usual i'm this month, are lower tina
|. those of August. This decline is usual
) it is almost inevitable. In North Care
lima the cecline has been from 90 to 90
i South Carolina, 81 to 81; Georgia, III
e to 80; Florida, SO to SO; Alabama, 10
! to SO; Mississippi, 90 to 81; Texas, 10
!. to 81. In Tennessee and Arkansas tn
decline is but one per cent. In Lot
isiana there is a gain of one per cent.
The September potato returns repol
1 extensive injuries to the crop in Angus
$ The condition falls largely below 100
nearly all the States producing heav
crops.
The larger tobacco States report a 10
e condition, indicating a reduction in Al
!. gust of eight per cent. in Maryland IN
! Virginia, four in Tennessee, and nine
a Missouri, but gain of five per cent.
/, Kentucky, three in Ohio, and no chans
in Nerth Carolina. The condition ave
!, ages better in States producing le
i. quantities.
l Sugar growing in some parishes
3 Louisiana appears to be extending.
the fourteen counties making returns ft
) cane the condition averages SO. Return
!. from Georgia average 1Ol; Florid
i 100; Alabama, ia; Mississippi an
9 Texas, 10Y; Arkansas -four counties
G ITO.
}, The number of stock hogs reported O
: the LIST of September is greater in u
!, South than at the same period last yea
- and less in the central corn belt of I'll
[ West. In the Eastern and MIDI
Q States the numbers are slightly reduces
: The returns from the several Stat,
y for the condition of apples September
5 give promise that on the whole plent
: full crop of excellent quality will
a gathered.
n The USE OF CLAY IN CLARIFYING
d H. M. Otley, Iowa, writes to the Chicat
d Inter. Ocean: / notice in your paper
correspondent from Kansas asking abo'
the process of clarifying the sap of can