The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-03-28
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Gleanings From Agricultural Ex-
changes and Domestic Manuals.
CONCERNING FISH CULTURE.


Report of the Connecticut Fish Commits
sioners: There are few enterprises enjoy
ing public attention at the present time that
promise more profitable results than the
multiplying OF food fishes in fresh water
ponds. 1t is the belief of all who have
studied the subject, that fresh water fishes of
all kinds can be multiplied almost indefinite
ly, and so cultivated as to be improved not
only in quantity but in quality, and made
the cheapest of cheap food. This fact should
be repeated over and over again, until every
one who has patch of water on his premises
large enough for tadpoles and sinners
will make it yield an abundance
of wholesome fish food, and at not half the
trouble and expense with which he cult
Yates like patch of ground. The food thus
produced is too much neglected by the farm
ing community; it affords elements of nour-
ishment necessary TO healthy condition of
the body, for which no cheaper available
substitute can be found" The report de-
cribes 256 ponds of 5 to 1000 acres EACH
aggregates 81 604 acres in Connecticut alone
These contain considerable number and
variety of food fshes-although probably
not a thousandth part of what this may be
made to produce at little expense of time
and money. Beside these 1850 large ponds
there are a great number of ponds of less
than 5 acres each, that are in like manner
capable of development"
PRUNING eRAPEvINEs.
A practical grape grower writes to the
Rural World: The wisest course, as usual,
lies in the middle between short and long
pruning. i have for years pruned much
following reasons:
l. 1t does not throw the vines out of
balance so much as short pruning
p. The best developed fruit buds are gen.
orally about the middle of the canes and on
the strongest of the laterals.
3. 1t allows more room to spread the vine
and free circulation OF air.
T. The lower buds on the young canes are
seldom good fruiting buds; by longer prun-
ing they can be dispensed with, and only
those allowed which will be two feet above
the ground at least.
5. If any buds damaged by frost, L
have better chance to have full crop.
My plan is to have on a well-established
vine, say about three arms of old wood
about eighteen inches high. On each of
these l have young cane and spur In
pruning, | shorten these canes from three
to five feet each, according to the strength
of the vine, variety, ETC.. and If they have
any strong laterals. shorten them TO one-half
or three buds; have space of two eyes
each arm. These three canes are distributed
evenly over the two upper wires of the
trellis. As soon as the young shoot appear.
go over them, rubbing off all on the old
arms; take away the lower buds on the
shoots, rub off all but the one that is strong
est; and if, in your judgment the vine has
still too much fruit, rob every second bud,
leaving about forty to sixty lunches on a
good, strong vine. Pinch the remaining
shoots to Just above the last bunch, Just as
soon as you can get hold of them with your
finger and thumb, leaving only one shoot on
each spur unchecked for a new cane for next
year As soon as the laterals begin to push
on the fruit-bearing branches, pinch them
back to one leaf; at the same time tie young
shoots left unchecked-for new canes
TO open space, and pinch their tops
when about four feet long to encourage
and strengthen the laterals from them.
This is all the summer pruning they should
have, and il this is strictly followed out,
believe we can prevent a good deal of the
rot, even in the most unfavOrable seasons.
The main secret is, to give each vine Just
what it is capable of bearing and maturing
well; neither more nor less-and the nearer
we come to this the better will be the crop.
But when you follow long pruning you
must be determined to thin severely. Let
no false squeamshness prevent you from
taking off a hundred punches, il necessary
and have no more than you are sure of ma
turing perfectly.
THE CARE OF EWES
A correspondent of the Agricultural Ga
1ette. England, gives the following in rela-
ton to the care of sheep which is as appli-
cable here as there, except this: We do not
have to counteract the effects of watery food
as they do, from the feeding of large quanti-
ties of turnips. II there is no permanent
yard, temporary one can soon be erected,
by setting down double row of hurdles and
stuffing them between with straw. We
begin a month before lambing to remove
our ewes every night from the turnip
pen TO the yard, where they have a
foddering of straw, night and morning,
in the cribs; the yard is supplied with
fresh litter daily. Here they have dry,
comfortable bed. Ample breathing space
uncOntaminated by nOxious vapors.
gentle exercise, and a moderate supply of
pure water are conducive to health. Ii is
surprising the quantity of barley or oat
straw flock of ewes will consumes; the dry
food has a salutary effect in counteracting the
watery influence OF the turnips When the
food of the breeding eve consists principally
of turnips during the last six weeks of gesta-
ton, the difficulty, and consequently the
danger, OF yeaning is greatly increased
During the latter period of CESSATION. the
nutriment derived from the food is princi-
pally expended in increasing the size of the
fetus in atero, instead Of being stored up by
the mother, hence the increased difficulty and
danger OF parturition. In order to strength
en- the eve and enable here To safely with
stand trials through which she must pass.
and to encourage the flow of milk mix
ture of oats and maze-half pint 20 a pint
per day-sbould be given for month before
lambing. ha
BREsKfse OXEN.
The Golden Rnle says Of breaking in oxen:
Take the steers in winter after they are a
year old. and for several days tie them to-
gether with a.rope, not more than 20 inches
apart: let them run In theyard tO get accus-
toned 10 being fastened TO each other. Then
put single y,lke, not like work yoke. but