Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1876-09-07
AGRICULTURAL.
SEASON TO CUT TIMBER


Various opinions are expressed on
this subject. A recent writer says :;
"If oak, hickory or chestnut timber
be ielled in August. in the second
running Of the sap, and barked, quite
a large tree will season perfectly, and
even the twigs will remain sound for
years; whereas that cut in winter and
remaining until next Gas thick as your
wrist) will be completely sap rotten,
and will be almost unfit for any pur-
pose. The body Of the oak split into
rails will not last more than ten or
twelve years. Chestnut will last
longer, but no comparison to that cut
in August. Hickory cut in the eighth
month is not subject to be worm eaten,
and will last long time for fencing.
When l began farming in 1902, it
was the practice to cut timber for post
fencing in winter. Winter oak posts
and black oak rails, cut at that time,
| found did not last more than ten or
twelve years. In 1903 | began cut
ting fence timber in the eighth month.
Many of the oak rails cut that year
are all sound, as we'll as most Of them
formed with chestnut. If the bark be
not taken off this month however, it
will peel off the second or third year
and leave the sap perfectly sound
The tops Of the trees are also more
valuable for fuel than when cut in the
winter or spring. Iadvise young far
mers to try the experiments for them
selves, and if post fences do not last
twice as long, forfeit all my expert
ence as worthless. -Practtcol Farmer
Opy1NG SWEET CoRN.-Sweet corn
may be dried and cooked in the win
ter and spring, and be almost as good
as the corn fresh from the garden. In
the first place, pick that which is in
good condition for the table, put it,
into kettle and scald it by boiling
about five minutes, then as soon as
cool cut it from the cobs, put it on
plates, and dry it in the oven, then
put it into paper bags, and it will
keep till wanted to cook, Another
way is described by lady as follows
"The corn is gathered at the most
suitable state for boiling, not too old
nor too green; thin slice is taken
off all around the outside of the ears
with sharp knife, taking Oft FROM
every kernel. Then with the back of
the knife the ears are scraped, taking
out all the inside Of the kernels and
leaving the skins and hulls on theI
cobs. The milky mass is then spread
on plates, and dried in a quick oven,
but not so hot as to scorch it. After
it is nearly dried, it is put into thin
muslin bags and hung up around the
stove until thoroughly dry
HEAVY WoRK.-The San Francis
co Chronicle inquiries what the people
of the East will think when they read
that in California a single machine
turns out an average Of eight hundred
sacks or sixteen hundred bushels of
wheat in day, while instances are
by no means rare Of two thousand
bushels being threshed in one day.
A paper published in the Russian
river section Of California cities sever
al instances Of this kind, and further
SAYS that the tract-twenty five thou
sand acres-on which the machines
are at work will average fifty bushels
to the acre. One field Of ten thou
sand acres of Propher wheat stands
five and half feet high and is turn
ing out an average Of seventy-hve
bushels to the acre.
The Rural New Yorker speaks OF
bulbs offered for sale in a New York