The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-12-13
TOPICS FOR FARMERS.


Trained Steers.-A correspondent
writes to the Scientific Farmer: One |
feature this year l was witness to at a |
local fair that l must approve of, and
that has only good in it. I refer to the
exercises of trained steers. We always
think of steers or oxen as dull, and per-
haps may say stupid. The boys think
they will stand pounding very well.
Now | have seen a half-dozen pairs of
educated steers. Each yoke were twins;
unyoke them and they were driven as
well as if they were yoked. Put them
head and tail, and one would goforward,
the other backward, they keeping their
position. One lay down; the other
would stand over him and move to and
fro sideling. Bring out the milking
stool, and one would mount it with his
two forward feet. Bring out a large
stool, and he would gather his four feet
close together upon it. A steer would
mount a plank and balance it see-saw
fashion. Oh! how handy they We're.
Many positions they were made to
assume, and all was done so kindly and
at the hands of boys. Good training
this for boys as well as the steers. The
boys are learning lessons of kindness
and patience; and the looking on of the
crowd, twas pleasant to see. The
beginning Of the horse trot saw the ring
unbroken, and it was only when the
steers left the ring that the people dis
persed. don't know which pleased me
most-the crowd so we'll pleased over so
simple and farmer-like an affair, the
boys with honest, delightful simplicity
of character, making as much of their
steers as another boy would of his colt,
or the animals themselves, so submissive
to their young masters.
When 1 came home, and happening to
meet my three neighbors at the store,
that of late years don't attend fairs, ]
told them what I had seen. Such as had
boys said they wished they had gone and
taken them, for said one. "my boy
always made out to go to fairs, but
have not heard one speak of anything so
likely to improve him to see as this.
should like to have seen it myself"
Protection for Plants.-Samuel Pat
terson says in the Rural Nca0 Yorker: Il
is not uncommon to hear people claiming
credit for extra care given to then
plants in winter because they have
covered them with a barrel, or some
other close protection. Nothing is reall!
more injurious. The air, being confined
becomes colder, and concentrates it
effects on the plant until one might tern
it case of snothering with cold, |
such an expression we're admissible. Al
hardy, or even half-hardy vegetation re
quires, during winter, some of tn
influences that come with the free actiol
of the outer air, which also serves t
temper at the same time, the otherwis
| concentrated cold. Not only is sue
) close protection unsafe, but we shoul
seek the thinnest, lghtest covering tha
| will shelter from sun and sleet. A
, heaping of hay, earth, etc, too hig
! about the plant is to be avoided, and e.
pecially should care be taken to leay
a Untouched with the knife any growth {
4 plants, like roses, which require shar
pruning to develop fower-bearing wooc
3 Such excision only makes an entran(
f for cold and rain, to the conseque1
0 rotting or freezing of the heart of tt
: plant The pruning can be safely pc
formed in spring.
The safest method of protection is
heap moderate amount of earth abo1
the plant, from one to six inches dee
. according to its size and nature. Gov
= : this with light mulching of leaves
Il Il hay, and then apply sort of hood ov
: the top by means of evergreen bougl
u Il stuck in round about, and left sufficient
u open to allow free play of air witho
e too much exposure to sleet or sun. Shou
evergreen boughs be scarce, convenie
!, hood may be constructed by tying Il
! ends of bunch of straw together, al
!: Il then hanging it over Il stick somewh
ls taller than the plant and inserted i'll t
W ground alongside of it. This may be
u adjusted as to protect sufficiently t
II II foliage of the plant, which is all we he
II desire.
y y Such simple methods of protection a
u available for every one, and were the
a a employment more general, we shou
1'i ~ hear less of Winter-killed rhododendro
~ and other evergreens, planted perchan
y where we could hardly expect Norw
& spruce to pass unscathed. Fate seel
~ to ordain that beautiful and choi
S5 i5 plant, slightly delicate in winter, MI
"a be the very one to take the most {
uV ll posed and unsuitable position. WhereN
Lii i,n this is necessary, however, a judicic
n1g system of winter protection at le;
Gu should be followed.