Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-03-24
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
Orchard nui Nursery.

snow and ice must be sawed Off to make
y n smooth wound, and this covered witt
paint, v,rnish or wax. Barking by mice
| or rabbits often looks more serious thar
it really is. The majority of cases will
. recover if the wound is protected by q
: thick poultice of COW dung and clayey
! loan, bound on with piece Of coarse
Q material. In very severe cases the tree
9 may be saved by connecting the bark,
above and below the wound, by means Of
. twigs of the same tree; the ends are
chnmfered, and insei ted under the bark
above and below, to bridge over the
wound, covering the exposed parts with
> grating wax.
Protecting cut surfaces is well done by
, the COW dung and loan plaster above
mentioned, but it is not so neat or SO
easily applied Us some other. Something
for this use should be always in readi-
J ness. Either thick white lead paint,
tinted by little umber or other color;
grating wax, melted, but not too hot, or
shelac varnish, may be used.
Grating wax used in grating is made
of wax three parts, rosin three parts, tai
low two parts. These are to be melted
together in an iron vessel, kept for the
purpose. ut rs low temperature as will
serve. 1t may be applied with brush
to wounds. When used in grating it is
more convenient on cloth; old cotton,
calico or other fabric, that will tear read
lily, is torn into strips, made into rolls,
soaked in the hot wax until thoroughly
penetrated, drained of the excess of wax,
and when cool is ready to use.
VARNIsH.-Place shellac in n wide
mouthed jar use strong alcohol enough
to cover it and set in a warm place until
dissolved OF set the bottle in sauce
pan of cold water, with some sticks to
keep it from the bottom, and set ON the
stove to gradually heat it will dissolve
in short time. BE cautious of fire. If
too thick, add alcohol. Keep the brush
in the varnish, with the handle through
the cork.
In planting, trim broken roots, cut the
top back from OF e-third to one-half.
Spread the roots equally, working fine,
rich top soil well in among them. A
tree properly set needs no stakes.
Manure is hauled to the orchards much
more readily when snow is on the ground
than later. On old orchards manure the
whole surface. Close around the trees
is where the manure is least needed.
Roor CRAFTS. s.-Set in nursery rows,
when the soil is ready. See that the
earth is pressed down firmly and in close
contact with the whole root.
OTHER NURSERY MATTERS. back
stocks budded last year, within three or
four inches of the bud, If that has taken.
Those in which the bud is dead may be
grated, except peaches and cherries.
Out back young nursery trees to form
properly shaped head before vegetation
starts.
VARIOUS ORCHARD MATTERS. - Cut
cions before the buds swell. Do not
graft until the buds begin to swell.
Necessary pruning should be done be-
fore vegetation starts. Washing the
trunks of trees is best done in damp
spell scrape if need be. Soft soap,
thinned with water to work we'll with a
brush, we prefer to lye or solution of
soda or potash. Apply thoroughly to
the trunk and larger branches, and leave
the rains to do the est.-Agricu,turist
Keeping Stock Clean.
1t ought to be the duty of the stock
man, says live stock journal, to see
that all cattle that are kept constantly
tied up should receive a thorough brush
ing daily. Stock that are accustomed to
have their heads tied get very dirty
about the neck and shoulders unless they
receive a careful "grooming." Cleanli-
ness is very essential for cattle always
under cover, not only because disease is
thereby prevented from making it's in
roads, but also because stock thrive bet
ter and reach maturity great deal
quicker when carefully rendered than
when they are not. Cattle kept in ham
mels or loose boxes do not, perhaps, re.
quire so much attention as those whose
heads are tied to the stall, as they can
with freedom lick themselves, but they
should not be neglected on that account;
and the careful stock farmer will do well
to see that his stockman gives them
proper attention. 1t frequently hap
pens, however, that cattle do become ,
very dirty about the body-whether
rom neglect or natural predisposition ,
% get dirty it is unnecessary to consider.
In such cases a good remedy is to apply :
% the affected parts a mixture of fish oil :
md flour of sulphur, in the proportion +,
If four ounces of sulphur to quart of !
Ill. This mixture should be vigorously
ubbed into the body, and about three
lays after this has been done the affected ,
'arts must receive good washing with
oft soap and warm water. The oil and \
ulphur may be applied once more in the
anne manner as before, the mixture 7
,eing made little stronger should there !,
'e little observable improvement from ;,
he first washing. This mixture applied !
vice generally suffices to effect COM .
lete cure of the ailment.
Petroleum Shingles. a
In regard to applying petroleum to 81
hingles to preserve them, writer says /: lc
enters the pores of the wood at once, W
nd as it hardens makes it more compact 81
1 texture, and rather less liable to take ii
re. The petroleum also prevents the
urface of the shingles from rising in
owny fibers, OF "fuz," and it is on the nj
hole not so liable to fire from sparks CT
hen treated with it. Wehave tried the in
zperiment with shingles oiled some st
me previously, and find they are not 50 dc
asily ignited by outside fire, although di
hen once burning, they will, of course, fe
roduce more flame than the wood with su
1t the petroleum. Petroleum is also tel