Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-11-02

out the least danger. Whether the
stacking of hay in England accounts
for it's superior QUALIFY do not know,
but although the last season was an
unfavorable one, it seemed to me that
all the hay had occasion to observe
was better than the best we usually
see at home, greener. and more savory.
Owing to the projecting topand thatch
of the stack, there seemed no appre-
ciablc injury to the hay from weather.
ing.
A Cistern or Water.Hogshead7
A writer inthe' 'American,Agricultur.
ist says:
When I came into possession of the
premises now occupy, FIVE years ago,
there was a large iron.bound cask at
the back of the house, holding some
four or five barrels. This stood under
the ladder from the roof and caught
rain water for the family washing.
The we'll water was hard and the soft
water from the skies saved 4 good deal
of soap and labor on Mondays. But
the use of the water from the cask
was accompanied with some difficulty.
It had to be carried into the house by
the pailful, and this was work. In
winter it was frequently frozen, and
sometimes 50 hard rs to push out the
bottom, and the services of the cooper
were needed for repairs. The melting
of ice chips made slow work of wash.
ing. Occasionally in summer there
was q drouth, and the cask was empty
The cask was Il blessing, but with many
drawbacks.
thought cistern in the cellar
would remedy all these evils. It was
placed Immediately under the sink
room, in one corner, SO that the walls
had to be built ON two sides only. 1t
was made about seven feet by five up.
on the the inside, and the walls were
carried up four and half feet high.
The brick was laid in cement, and the
wall was made double, and the inside
cemented. The whole cost was thirty
dollars. A pump was put in, with
about eight feet of inch pipe, which,
took the water into the sink-room.
The comfort in the household of this
little expenditure was very great.
There was no exposure to the weather
on washing days, no freezing of water
and bursting of casks. There is an
abundant supply of water for the fam
lily use for at least three months. even
if not drop of water should fall from
the skies. An overflow pipe near the
top of the cistern carries off all ex'
cess of water in case of heavy rains
so that there is no danger of flooding
the cellar. In the absence of good
we'll, should put brick partition
through the cistern for a filter, and
have good drinking water. Ordinarily
a cistern can be built for less money
than a well can be dug, and the filtered
water is pure and wholesome.
If black bees. it might take some
time. A half-dozen pounds of sealed
honey-which must be guessed at
will be sufficient, if the spring is fav'
orable the age of the combs, if any
where under twelve years, should be
no objection if clean, and not much
moldy, they will do. Bees may be
moved this month with less danger of
breaking combs than when heavier,
The box-hive must be turned bottom
| up, and covered with wire-cloth
heavy factory-muslin will do for a
short time, but they will bite through,
in two or three days, sometimes they
should be carried on springs. When
changed to new locality at this sea.
son, the distance should not be less
than mile. Let the apiary be pro.
tected from the prevailing winds, and
the hives face east, southeast, or
south, when possible, and convenient.
ly near the dwelling, as it is well to
look at them every day !; especially un.
til familiar with their movements. BY
observing closely when all is healthy,
anything wrong is more readily de.
tected. Better look at them fifty
times for nothing, than fail to see a
mischief just commenced. Bees car
be moved in summer when kept
out of the sun, and we'll ventilated
when the distance is two miles OF
more. New swarms before flying on,
after being hived, can me moved any
distance from two feet to many miles
Try and become better acquainted
with the pets every day study thei1
habits and disposition in health and
disease, and means of pacityihg them
until it is easy to 60 into their ver,
midst without a supreme dread OF
stings.
Look Out for Patent Swindlers.
The American Agriculturist the edi
tor of which is terror ito swindlers
says: .....- =.
IA farmer sees a gate, a clevis, o,
some other useful continuance illustra
ted in the Agriculturist or some othel
paper, and it meeting bis wants b,
makes one like it and uses it. Hi
neighbor living several miles off see
the affair and makes one like it, AM
so the thing gets into use throughou
large section of country. At Length
/ ~ -.