Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-09-16
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD,
Informal Questions and Answers.

Spread coal ashes around IL two or
three feet and rs many inches deep, and
tramp the ashes lightly down.
Which is considered the most exhaust.
ing crop to soils
Potatoes are the most exhnusting Of
crops usually sold off the farm. Yur,
nips, when sold of, rank next. Grain
crops, comparatively speaking, remove
but small quantity of the manurial
constituents.
What soils are most benefited by
green mauuring2
Clay land, long cropped, is greatly i'm
proved, ns are also all OLD, wornout soils
that have been kept under tho pillow for
years without mature. 1t is, further
more, beneficial ON an exhausted sandy
or river loan, or in fact any land from
which vegetable manure has been with
held.
Is there any way to break up nm in
veterate sitter-a Dorking hen that de-
votes herself to the business entirely9
Try n nest box placed foot or two
from the floor with split bottom, TINT
is, n bottom made OF lath or Stats about
two inches apart. This will cure her
over-fondness forthe nest in few hours,
after which there will be no more trouble
in that line.
Is it advisable to let fowls roost out,
or are they better in poultry house Mt
night
Many farmers advocate roosting in
trees until the cold fall weather, after
which they should have protection.
BOOSTING out in warm weather, especially
with young fowls, is thought to harden
them and make them healthy; they are
also less liable to be troubled with lice.
How often should corn be fed to
fowls {
Corn should be fed only in cold
weather, and then but once a day, and
that for the last meal AS rule, hens
will eat nothing else when they can get
corn. The result is an increase Of fat on
their bodies and decrease of vitality
and productiveness. Too much corn
interleres with laying hen; it contains
a surplus amount of fattening material
and not enough albuminous for the pro-
duction of eggs.
How are the best results obtained in
green manuringl
The best results come with grain
crop that is sown thick. In blowing do
not turn down too deep; few inches is
sufficient. This keeps the strength near
the surface, where the sun has a better
effect upon it, converting it sooner into
plant food. Do not SOW imme-
diately after turning down the crop,
but wait-especially if the crop be
advanced corn-until it has had time to
decompose and the soil has had chance
to act upon and with the crop. If the
crop turned down is quite heavy after it
is rotted, mix the soil and decayed ma
terial by using the cultivator.
Value Of Forest Leaves.
The effect of removing the litter of
mature forest is really far greater than
so many pounds Of nitrogen, phosphoric
acid, and potash. When the litter is al
lowed to accumulate from year to year,
and to undergo its natural slow decom-
position, the result is the formation of
forest soil exceedingly rich in humus;
the formation of such soil is often OF
priceless value to the forester A rough,
sterile, rocky soil becomes, when pene
trated with humus, capable of retaining
water, and thus able to Withstand
drought. BY the action of humus the
mineral plant food which the soil con-
tains is also brought into more soluble
aud available form; while the greatly in
creased porosity OF the soil protects all
solu bic plant food from being washed
out by heavy rains, calamity to which
the original rocky soil was constantly
liable. So great is the importance of
humus, that in many forest soils its
presence is the one ameliorating prin-
ciple which renders cultivation possible
Especially must this be the case on the
hillsides so frequently devoted to the
growth of timber. Nor in this case nre
tho advantages of the deep humus soil
confined to the trees growing upon it.
Owing to the enormous power of retain
ing water possessed by spongy vege
table soil, the adjacent valleys are eifec-
tually protected against disastrous
floods. Storm water is retained or de-
layod, is stored up in the forest soil for
Il . in summer drought, instead of de-
scending in violent streams, tearing mp
the soil and spreading havoc all around.
Tine careful maintenance of forests upon
hillsides becomes in thisview question
which is III many cases of national i'm
portance.
To produce in its fullest extent the
humus covering of the soil, it ie neces.
sary that the forest should be planted
sufficiently close; in open spaces admit
ting light and air the humus will rapidly
oxidize and disappear. For the same
reason care should be taken that plant
ing Immediately follows the telling of
timber; the ground, rs far as possible,
uncovered.
Kitchen Garden.
II any asparagus seeds are needed,
gather and allow them to ripen. When
the foliage begins to turn yellow, cut
and burn the old stalks. Give the bed
n liberal coat of manure, which should
be left on until spring.
Keep the late beets hoed, and Guilt
vate between the rows often, until the
tops prevent.
Hoe and cultivate beans as often as
necessary to keep down the weeds.
Gather limas, and pick and salt down
late string beans.
Celery should now be growing finely,
auu care muSI De taken TO keep uOWn
the weeds. Toward the end of the month
draw the earth up to the plants; do not
allow any to get into the center.
Hoo late cabbage and caulifower Of
ten, sowing little guano between the
rows before hoeing, and water occasion
ally with liquid manure.
Save few ears of the earliest and
best shaped corn for seed. Gut the
stalks from the early crop and dry for
fodder. Dry quantity Of green corn
for winter use.
Gather cucunbers for pickles every
other day, using none over three inches
long. The ripe fruit may be made into
sweet pickle or cucumber catsup.
Make all the manure possible by saw
ing house slops, washing water, and all
weeds which have not ripened their
seeds; turn and mix thoroughly the ma
nure occasionally, SO that it will rot rap
idly.