Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-08-08
A r AND HOUSEHOLD.
The Farm.

LAMBS WITH THEIR MOTHERS. "A
Colorado shepherd says about ninety
days is a proper time for the lambs to
run with their mothers. and when a
flock is large enough to justify a driver
of the flock, the lambs that are dropped
the first three weeks can be put in one
flock, and the weaving can be done at
two times without any injury to the
younger lambs. He has always found
it best to wean lambs on the range they
have been in the habit of grazing over
with their mothers. They are more
c%ontented, and, by putting in "A few dry
ewes, will soon learn to herd and can
be managed with ease. Give them good
fresh food and don't let them lose their
lambs flesh, and there will be no diff
Guilty it wintering them.
A HINT TO FARMERs.-An excellent
scarecrow may be made by suspended
lo~oking-glass. Take two small, cheap
mirrors, fasten them back to back, at
tach II cord to one angle, and hang
them to an elastic pole. When the
glass swings in the suns rays, they are
reflected all over the field, even if it be
q L Ky ollt' anu thtii liit oltitSl itlltt
bravest crows will depart precipitately
should one Of its lightning flashes fall
on him, Another plan requires more
ingenuity. 1t involves an artificial
hawk, made from IL big potato and long
goose and Turkey feathers. The maker
can exercise his initiative skill in stick
ing the feathers into the potato SO that
they resemble the spread wings and tail
of the hawk. 1t Is astonishing what Il
Notwithstanding bird Of prey can be
constructed from the above simple
materials. 1t only remains to hang the
object from a tall, bent pole, and the
wind will do the rest. The bird will
make swoops and dashes in the most
headlong and threatening manner.
Even the most inquisitive of venerable
hens have been known to hurry rapidly
from its dangerous vicinity, while to
small birds it carries unmixed dis
may.
TIE ApPLI~ TREE BoRER.-Hardly any
advice that can be condensed into as
few words, is as important to those hav-
ing young orchards as "look out for the
borcr." All the other dangers to young
trees together are not 5 % great as the
mischief Of this little insect. His work
is done so surreptitiously that one is
never likely to suspect the damage till
his trees are past remcdylng. 1t is hard
to make one believe that what he is
doing with the kindest intentions to-
wards his trees will most probably lead
to their greatest injury. He has become
so used to the advice "mulch your
young trees. 'be bountiful of manure"
keep the ground loose" dress around
the roots with wood-ashes-they contain
potash, and potash is excellent for
trees" All this has been taught by ag-
ricultural doctors SO long that it must be
so. And yet this intended kind treat
ment, like ovcr-feeding the human svs-
tenn, breeds diseases, the medicine to
remove which does more injury than
the forcing Of food car counterbalance.
| had this position APPLY illustrated
within the last few weeks. a young
neighbor of mine has developed an en-
thusiasm for fruit culture for the love of
it. He has planted largely of most
kinds of fruit trees; but his pride is cen
tered in his young apple orchard. He
has read everything on fruit culture he
could get hold of, and sought the adj
vice of leading fruit men whenever he
could meet them. His trees have been
more cared for than some peoples ba-
bics. His orchard soil was Just about
perfection according to the books; n
finely pulverized mold, free from weeds
and grass, and about as rich in vegeta-
bile and MANURE matter as it could be
made; the trunks of the trees we're
secured with alkaline wash till they
were as glossy As a newly vanished sur
face. Yet from some cause many of
the trees which had been growing i'm
mensely for Il few years, suddenly
seemed to stand still and show a sickly
appearance.
Removing the light, mellow mixture
of ashes, chip-dirt and earth from around
the base of the trunk, the true cause of
the trouble was revealed in the little
cluster of worm-chips, and by raising
the bark 1t was plain that many Of the
trees were past remcdying. The treat
ment recommended for those worth
dOctorlng was to remOye all soil down TO
the roots, and after cleansing the trees
of worms, pile around the base to the
height of twelve to eighteen inches, a
mould of sand or clay free from vegeta-
BILE matter, packing in firmly. Trees
having but very slight connection of
live bark can be saved by this treat
ment, but will take several years to gain
fill yigor. Besides excluding borers.
which seem to enjoy u light, loose soil,
the mound of clay or sand is Il pretty
safe protection against mice, except in
very deep SHOWS; and also serves to
steady young trees during strong winds,