The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-07-11

ing not,
Broken, selfish, narrow, triyial-lne becomes in
that sweet spot.
GOOD Words.
RURAL TOPICS.
Written for the HERALD by a farmer, gardener
and fruit grower Of great experience.
HOW MOST TO BENEFIT MY READERS
In preparing a weekly column, or
more of Rural Topics" to be of the
greatest benefit to the readers OF
them, it is necessary to give the
views, or opinions, of different men
on the subjects that | select. ! there
fore, embody in my Topics" to a
considerable extent. the cream Of the
Agricultural and Horticultural press
short articles that come right to the
points discussed. 1t is said that, Sin
a multitude Of counsel there is wis
dom; !" and though it cannot be ex-
pected that every subject discussed
will be Of interest 70 all rural readers,
| think | may say that it would be
very difficult TO lay before farmers
and others of the many States in
which these Topics" are circulated,
a weekly series of articles of more
advantage to them. | may also, per-
hsps, be excused for saying that /
have been q constant writer on rural
affairs for over thirty years, with an
extensive practical experience aud
being a reader of all the leading Ag-
ricultural and Horticultural papers of
the United States, l think my writ
ings and compilations ought to be Of
general interest and benefit to those
who do not read the agricultural pa.
pers extensively.
MILK VEINS.
An experienced dairyman says in
the OHIO Farmer: at is generally
considered q most excellent sign of q
good mixer to show large crooked
veins running forward of the udder
and entering the belly in two large
holes. There is some truth and con-
siderable fiction in this. 1t will be
borne in mind that these veins lead
from the udder and not to il. They
are made to carry off the blood that
the COW is not able to utilize in her
udder. To prove this, place the fin
ger on the vein, and if held hard and
long enough, the blood will swell the
vein between the finger and udder.
and the vein will correspondingly
decrease in size on the other side of
the finger, just as a stream that is
damned up, thus showing which
way the blood flows. / omit the sci
enti6c proof of this fact. In other
words, this vein is q mere sewer to
the udder, carrying off the water or
refuse blood. 1t is like judging the
working capacity of a carpenter by
the amount of chips he makes. 1t is
of course an indication, and q pretty
fair one, but by nc mean conclusive.
In my own experience, except with
old cows, | have found this point
very unreliable. In fact, / presume
the size of the veins is more a freak
of nature than q necessity, as the
veins are always large enough to car
ry the blood, and their display de-
ponds upon the thickness of the skin
and hair.r
WASH Fol FRUIT TREES.
Soloman Jewett, one of the most
noted farmers of Vermont, writes to
the Neac York World: apply a
wash of lime or soap to the bodies of
trees. 1t will save them from the
attack of many a pest which domi.
ellis in the bark and sap-wood. You
will find that the old bark will fall
of, leaving smooth, fresh healthy
wood on the surface. 1t is also q
good preventive from the attacks of
the several species of borer. Be
careful to wash very close to the
ground, and upwards.
Tar is not advisable. Do not sp-
ply it to the bark of any growing
tree; it is o common but bad prac-
tice. Tar penetrates the sap-wood,
checks the growth of bark at the
point at which it binds the tree, and
checks the circulation up and down
where applied. In 1926 | used a
barrel of tar, with a brush, running q
band around each tree. While chop
ping down the OLD treesa afterwards l
saw the effects. The bark and sap.
wood were colored. and the body was
smaller under the belt of tar. That
same year | assisted in destroying at
least 60 bushels Of forest worms"
much resembling the common
nest apple tree worm. Our trees
were saved ruin, and bore much fruit,
while the surrounding orchards stood
l~eafiess. and much injured. A long,
cold storm was pending, while the
worm in chrysalis was housed in his
cocoon that year, by tie million. A
long rain and severe chill killed them
of at that early stage. Orchards
and forests of maple trees have not
been materially injured since by this
species of worm.
ORCHARD GRASS.
At late meeting of the NewYork
Farmers Club. Q Long Island farmer
was present, with a sample of orchard
grass three feet high, showing what
good cultivation will do for it. He
said that this valuable, though much
neglected grass, is indigenous to the
soil Of America, and from its adapta-
bility to various soils. its early and
tate growth, luxurient foliage, and nu-
tritive qualities, is well entitled to an
equality with any grass. either ma.
tive or foreign, which is icing cult.