Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-04-22
HOME AND FARM.
rom the Weekly Southern Farmer.
The Goose hone Wearher Sign.


The Southern Farmer meets with a |
warm reception at our house. Each |
z=rnber of the family are eager to get |
the entire contents. There is one thing |
that / would like TO know-that is, what
is the "Goose- bone sign of Kentuckyf"
Il Very respectfully,
Woods, Texas. A. B. KNIGHT.
THE goose-bone sign as published in
the Southern Farmer of February 9Th, is
thus described:
awe must take the breast bone of
last springs goose, none other viii DO,
for the prophecy does not extend beyond
the year in which the goose Is Matched.
Thanks TO a friend, we have such bone.
1t must be divided into three different
parts, which represent the three diyis-
ions of winter. The breast-bone of
goose is translucent, but at places has
cIoud-like blots upon it. These blots de-
note cold weather. Looking at the bone
before us we hud little cold weather
about the first of December, which we
have realized, and there is another blot
beyond the center OF the bone, denOting
cold weather about the middle of Janua-
ry; this cold we are passing now, and so
far our little prognOsticator has guided
us right. We are 10 have warmer wealth
er after few days, but the worst Is to
come. The darkest blots are near the
r-end 1.-THE bone, and If the prophesy fails
not, winter viii verify the saying COM
ing in like a lamb and going out like a
roaring lion. Our coolest weather will
come after the middle of February, and
our warmest fires will be required for the
parting days-of winter and the first days
of spring."
The recent snow storm and cold wealth
or all over the country has demonstrated
that the "goose-bOne sign" is a good one,
its prophesy not having failed in Ken
lucky for over fifty years. The goose
bones' has certainly beat Prof. Tice and
"Old Prob" out Of Sight this year.
THINGS FARMERS SHOULD Nor Dove
publish below short article from the In
diana Farmer, advising farmers what
they should not do. The only advice our
farmers have had proffered them lato1y
land it has come from every quarter of
the compass) was that they should plant
less cotton. Whether they have needed
this advice we cannot tell, nor will we
know until next fall. But we are sure
there are some good suggestions in the
following, that can be probably applied
to himself by every farmer in the south.
Let every one who reads it ask himself
the question, am not guilty2 as he reads
each suggestions; A farmer should not
feed his stock in the public highway,
thereby losing the droppings of stock,
and the time and trouble of hunting his
stock that may stray OF; he should not
let his open bitches become filed with
falling timber and decaying grass but
keep them quite clear; he should not
leave his pioughs and harrows out all
winter; should not keep more stock than
he eould feed well; should not put on go
ing to mill until the meal tub is empty;
should not put of hauling wood until
the wood house is empty should not 60
to town oftener than he has business;
and when he docs go, should keep away
- a.. -a1nr ~ hi
stock numerically; should not run his
wagon without grease; should not put
his ploughs away covered with mud;
should not cut wood with a dull axe;
should not bother his neighbOr too often
to turn the grind-stOne for him; should
not .let his wife milk in bad weather;
should not suffer gaps left down in the
fence; shOfild not throw the grubs from
the fence corners into the public high
way; should not let too much fence rot
down before beginning to repair; should
not keep scrub stock of any kind; should
not put OF ditching until ploughing time
thereby having two jobs on hand at once
and but one band to do them; should not
let corn stand out all winter as feed for
birds and mice.
How TO SAVE CLOVER SEED.-The first
requisite is to have good field of clover,
sown on clean land, and clear of weeds.
This will make all the difference between
clean and foul seed. Some weeds are
comparatively harmless. while others
may make years of work to Eradicate
The next year after seeding the field to
clover, let It be cut down closely about
the time of its first poisoning, which at
the north is about the middle of June
1t may be cut for hay, or it may be pas
tured closely. The first mode is rather
the most reliable. a second growth will
spring up and bear an abundant and even
crop of blossoms, which will ripen seed
early in autumn. The proper season for
cutting is indicated when most of the
heads have become brown. There are
different modes used for cutting. One is
to cut the crop with a moving machine,
rake 1t into quite small cocks, which are
to remain few days, the drying being
assisted by occasionally turning them
over, as examination may indicate. An
other and more systematic way is to take
combined moving and reaping machine,
put on the platform, sharpen the knives
we'll, and then with good hand-raker
keep the cut crop on the platform until
there is enough for a large bunch when
it is pushed OF. At the next passing,
drop bunch at the same place, so as to
make windows. When partly dry, cock
il, and Jet the drying process be compile
ted as already described. This plan OBJ
viates raling, and leaves the crop in bet
ter condition. Draw it in on dry day /,
clovef-huller. When a moving machine
can not be had, the crop may be cut slow
" with a scythe. If clover huller can
not be procured, let the hay become quite
ripe, and if it has been wet, it will she'll
the better, and resort to the more imper-
feet mode Of threshing and passing thro'
the tanning mill. The threshing is of
course most easily and perfectly perform
ed in sharp frosty weather.
LAMBs FoR NORTHERN MAKKETs.-Ten-
nessee farmers may derive profitable
hint from the following paragraph in the
Nashville American: Lambs to the value
of $4,000 were shipped from here north
during last spring, and this was but the
initiatory step toward a still larger bust
ness this season. One man alone propo-
SEES to ship 10000, while another will
probably send OFF 1000. 1t is estimated
that altogether from &c, 900 to 10000 will
go north from this and other points in
Middle Tennessee during the next few
months. Last spring lambs sold in this
market at SO 90, and il is believed there
will be slight advance on that figure
this spring. tennessee lambs can be
placed in the northern markets six weeks
earlier than elsewhere; hence the demand
and good prices.
LARGE YIELD OF CORN.-A Kentucky
farmer thinks the following the best way
work to the acre: ''For three years past
have planted my corn four feet apart
one way, and ~ feet apart the other
way, and left only one stalk in IA hill;
blowing it the wide way with the double
shovei and the narrow way with the
common shovel pillow, going once in the
row with the latter and twice in a row
with the former. There is no more work
IN TINS way than in the old way of plant
ing, except In laying or; and ten bush
els per acre more can 5e made on land
strong enough to make forty bushels i'm
the old way.''
CHICKEN JELLY.-BOil pair of chick
ems until you can pull the meat from the
bones; remove ALI the meat and allow the
bones 10 boil half an hour longer; stand
this in cool place and it viii become
jellieds the next day cut the meat into
small pieces, melt the jelly and throw it
in; then add two table. spo0nsful of Wor-
cestershire sauce, two of walnut sauce,
one tablespoonful of salt, pinch of pow
dered mace, cloves, and allspice; slice
4. 4. 4 4