The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-11-02
Homo aud Parn.

TRDDfISG HEDGEs-Thcre seems to be
q reaction from the method of pruning
hedges, which cuts them, in fact, every
year for several years nearly to the ground
The plan now proposed by many who
ought TO know seems quite sensible. 1t is
TO let the plants grow TOR couple or even
three years, getting good vigor Of root
which is not easily killed. Then when the
top is cut off near the ground there IS
strength sufficient TO throw up vigorous
lot Of shoots which can be trimmed into
shape easily, and there is less danger from
winter Killing, in case Usage orange plants
are employed.
PRE- sEED.-Who that has had garden
ana grown vegetables, but has time and
again been disappointed, in getting worth
less seeds, or sTch as turn out untrue TO
name. There are few leading sorts OF
vegetables that are Indispensable in a
kitchen-gafden, and to have these fail is
serious matter. To avoid such failures,
and always be sure OF such crops, there is
one measure which II put in practice is GER
tain of success. This is at the time of
gathering the crop to select a few of the
best specimens of the different kinds, from
which to raise the following spring. With
the exception of parsnip seed, these are
good for terms OF from two to ten years, if
properly kept. BY following plan Of
growing two or three kinds of seed each
year, q supply can be kept up at a small
outlay. In this way the constant annoy
ance and loss resulting from sowing seeds
not true to name can easily be avoided
Il. 7. Quinn, IN SeriJner far NoUember.
AUTUMN LEAvEs.-The delicate tints of
autumn can be easily preserved for winter
adornment, and the selection should be
made now, as the colors are forming. The
oak, ash, sumac, naples, sour gum, VIr-
gina creeper, sassafras, aspen, pear, hlck-
DRY and many Others are now developing
beautiful shades and tInts. Many will lose
their beauty, while many others will be in
jured in their after preparation, so it is well
to gather an abundance.
Leaves can be preserved by pressing and
then dipping them in melted wax or iron
ing them with q waxed iron. But the col
ors are much more 3rillinnt when ironed
and then we'll vanished, and they will keep
their color full as long. Gather the leaves
and iron them the same day, and iron
them dry. A little practice will tell you
how hot to have your irons.
The leaves may be made in bouquets, put
in frames or even tackled upon the walls IN
little fanciful arrangements, and add great
ly to the beauty of rooms.
WHAT Ruins COTTON GINS. Thousands
OF cotton gins are needlessly injured, if
not entirely ruined, by one simple cause.
That cause is permitting moat or lint cot
ton (that is, cotton that has been ginned)
to be mixed with seed cotton and passed
through the saws the second time. Such
lint cotton catches in the teeth, clogs the
saws, dulls the teeth, and bends or breaks
the ribs, wears the boxes, and strains the
whole gin SOFAS to make it produce a bad
sample, and speedily becomes almost
worthless. 1t likewise increases the draft
so as to distress the mules propelling the
gin, and creates 30 much friction as often
10 set the gin house on fire. Thus can be
explained the burning of many a gin house
by the supposed spontaneous combustion Of
cotton.
Hence every owner of gin house should
be careful about where his moat cotton is
placed, also about permitting the 'hyings"
or "hangings" to fall on his seed cotton.
Above all should he be particular in pre-
venting the ginner, or his assistant, when
returning from the lint room after "packiDg
the cotton back, ;" as it is called, from hav-
ing any lint on his clothing. The usual as
sistant at q gin to hand seed cotton and
'pack back" lint is a playful urchin, who
delights first to wallow in the lint room
and then, without divesting himself of the
lint adhering to his clothes, next to roll en-
the seed cotton. Oftentimes every boy,
black and white, on large plantation, at
ter a general frolic in the lint room, will i'm
mediately emerge therefrom and continue
their wrestling, rolling and romplng over
the seed cotton, with half pound of lint
stickIug to each ones ragged or wooden ap-
parel. Such play is of course delightful
to the boys, but it is dear sport to the
owners of the gin. In many gin houses,
too, while packing cotton for market, much
lint is mixed with the seed cotton, either
by careessness or by the wind.
A gin is costly machine, but it is not
delicate one or put out of order if pre-
viously ginned lint is kept out of the saws.
In fact, good gin, rightly managed, should
--withia little sharpening and small repairs
pick fifty bales Of lint per year, and last
a planter OF average longevity his lifetime;
whereas, most gins become useless, or
nearly so, in perhaps five years, from the
single cause / have indicated. No child
ever ought TO be allowed to enter lint
room where it can well be prevented.-M
@. Farmer.