Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-10-24
THE FARM.

CLOVER can be made TO answer u
three-fold purpose--for pasture, for hay,
and as fertilizer, In such capacity ii
is hrst-elass and, being easily grown, its
use should become universal.
MANY consider that ducks are more
profitable than hens for home use, tax
ing into account the number and size of
the eggs laid by them The solid mat
ter and oil in a ducks egg exceeds that
of a hens egg by fully one-fourth
BARN-YARD manure must remain, for
many years nj least, the backbone of
profitable farming; hence it should be
guarded with special care, Manures
should invariably be under cover, and
in absence of proper shelter they should
be protected Ivy thick coat of dry
earth, road scrapings, or snds and
mould
\ NEW insect pest is announced. 1t
Is II worm that eats the blossoms and
fruit of the cranberry. Its first appear
ance was on Cape Cod. where ii is al
ready regarded as a destroyer of 5000
bushels of cranherries, and is still AT
work. The insect has been examined
by Mr.. Taylor, micro."opist 10 the de
partmcnt of Agriculture He finds that
it can be cNtirpated by busting the plant
with miNtuce OF crude napthaline and
flour.
To MILK KICKING liElFER.-A dairy
man remarked that before sitting down
to milk kicking heiter he put II
strap attached to the end of rope,
into her nose, and tied the rope to "A pin
put into the scatlold girt over the man
ger, slightly clevating her nose, and she
stood as quietly while She was MIXED
rs the most gentle COW III the stable.
SMALL SHRUBS The owners of small
lawns and ornamental grounds are often
puzzled to know the best way To treat
small shrubs. If they are planted in
grass, they grow fecbly, and they do not
succeed much better with small dug
circles about them The best way is To
allot TO them certain distinct spaces
where they can be grouped together III
mellow, cultivated beds, and then to
adopt the methods employed in the gar
dcns of the Thames Embankmcnt in
London, the bare earth of the beds
being hidden by mignonette, Virginia
stock, and other small ANNALS. These
ANIMALS operate, 1t is true, somewhat rs
weeds in reducing the vigor of the
shrubs, but far less than grass surface.
TUE CARE OF GERASIUMs. The gcra-
NUNS which have lost their foliage
most probably need reporting. Shake
off all the earth from the roots, and set
them in soil which you have prepared,
press the fresh earth around the plants,
and give them little water, keeping
them in the shade for week. Cut them
back if they are well grown. They do
not require to be kept very warm only
SO that they will not freeze. The flow
ering maple must be taken out of its
pot, and the roots washed Scrub the
pot, and fill it with new earth, in which
reset the plant. Wash sluls off with
whalc-oil soap, and if this does not
prove etlectual, smoke the plant with
tobacco, by putting tobacco III n saucer,
with a live coal on it, and holding the
plant over the fumes.
WASHES FOR TREE. Charles Down
ing recommends soft soap rs wash for
the trunks and large branches Of trees,
put on as thick rs can be used. Potash
is equally good, pound being dissolved
in.six quarts of water, and put on with
n stiff brush-thc brush being kept in
water when not in use. Care is necx
sary to prevent the potash from coming
in contact with the hands or clothes
Mr.. Downing objects to the use of lime
wash, as giving the trees an unnatural
color, and forming, as an additional oh
lection. n hard, stiff coating on the bark
B The objection may be obyiated by us
ing fresh or sharp lime, and making the
wash so thin that it will scarcely color
the bark ut ALT will then do about rs
well rs potash 1t should also be borne
in mind that stronger wash may bc
used in early spring or in autumn while
the trees are dormant than during Wig
Orous growth; and that the soft thin
bark Of young trees will not bear so
strong or caustic wash as that on older
trees
HoRsEs Is THE FALL-Farm horses in
the fall are often ungratcfully ncglec-
ted Their hard toll in helping with
the heavy work OF the season over,
when only odd jobs await them, it is
too frequent custom to dock them of
their grain and allow them to shift for
themselves on the pastures, often with
out needed shelter from the bleak winds
and early frosts of autumn nights. At
ter feeding awhile the poor animals get
chilled, and run about in search of
warmth, which they often find only at
the cost Of stumble or fall, resulting
often III sprain or Il cut that Injuries
or distigures them for life. Then, when
warm and tired, they lie down to rest !;
no wonder if they rise no stiff, spirit
less and not rarely suffering from a Sc