The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-06-07
FARM AND FIRESIDE.

INDOOR GARDENING. As regards
plants, says the Scientific American, unless
the basket be large. or stand (Which, by
the way, can be made of soap box.
lined with zinc and mounted on feet) we
do not believe in any large variety of
plants in a single receptacle. 1t is
nonsense to mix exotics with wild ferns
and grasses, because the nature of the
soil that suits one is not beneficial to the
other; and very often the warm, uniform
temperature necessary for delicate plants
is fatal to the more hardy varieties from |
the woods and pastures. Fill basket |
entirely with Engli sh ivy or smilax, and
a luxuriant growth can be obtained,
particularly if too many shoots be not |
set in. City florists aim to cram as much
as possible into their baskets, and are
totally regardless whether the broad
leaves of the begonias shade the stems
and roots of the more delicate creeping
vines. In first setting in the plants,
however, place them for few days in
cold room until new shoots appear. Re
member also that plants, and especially
ivv, will not grow without light, par
ticularly in the house. THERE'S another
| fact that amateur house gardeners forget,
| and that is that the roots of plant
need plenty of air; and hence pretty
pots of painted china or majolica ware
will not answer to contain the earth for
their reception. If such vessels be used,
the common earthenware pot must be
set inside of them, with plenty of inter
mediate space between; while care
should be taken that the higher edges of
the outer pot do not shade the base of
the plant Weak vegetation may be re-
iuvenated with a little ammonia, but it
must be used with care, as too much
kills. About two drops in teacupful of
water, given once week, we have found
to be plenty for good sized plant,
particularly if the earth around the
roots be kept loose and not allowed to
pack hard.
BLAIN IN SHEEP.-This is disease
of the tongue ard its connections, at
tended with inability to feed :; a number
of vesicles appear on the side of the
5 tongue, and discharge of saliva from
the mouth, which sometimes becomes
bloody and offensive. Troublesome
: ulcers are sometimes formed, ant
these symptoms are occasionally attended
= with swelling of the head and throat
= which interfere with free respiration
There is little doubt that the disease
infectious, whether it appears as an epi
< demic or not; and, therefore, the affecte
e sheep should be Immediately separate
e from the rest of the flock. The vesicle
: should be lanced, and after being we
: cleansed with warm water, may b
= washed with solution of water; but
the discharge is in any way offensive, th
n mouth should be washed with lotto
n composed of one drachm of chloride
d lime dissolved in a pint of warm waite
r. The sheep should be fed on boiled foe
IL or cruel, and if it will not eat, it shoul
~ be drenched with about a quart
" Cruel two or three times daily, in whic
,e should be mixed, if the animal is wea
e, a drachm of powdered ginger and tV
r drachms of powdered gentian.
# ARTIFICIAL MoTHERs.-There oftt
s. occurs in the raising of chickens a ca
d. where the hen weans her brood too earl
g. or, by disease or accident. they are d
10 prived of her shadowing wing al
genial warmth. We may sometimes
able to repair this loss by dividing the
% among other broods; but such attemI
are often attended with risks we do n
to care to encounter, hen step-mothers n
10 being proverbial for amiability. T
best substitute is the artificial mothe
which consists of a board twelve
sr, thirteen inches square, sufficient for o
~ brood, to which is tackled loosely pie
Is, of long-wooled sheep skin. 1t should
or four inches high in front and two incl
he at the back side. Or, still bett
us arrangement is to suspend the &c smothe
ne four inches from the ground or flo
he leaving the two sides to be curtain
er- with flannel for ingress and egress, VIII
rs Is two inclined planes, slanting from
er. center (Which is within two inches
de the sheep skin), afford opportunity
ID ID the crowding" of the larger chic
ID. without the consequent smothering
au- the smaller ones, as may be the CT
,se ,ne when the frst-named plan is adopt'
1at Small holes for ventilation should
nd made in the sheltering-top, and sulph
he ,e sprinkled among the wool to prevent
ify collection of vermin.