Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1877-03-01
AGRICULTURAL.
LVFL UENCE or MAN on
CHINA TIE.


serves : 1.-The influence Of Man upon
climate has been a favorite subject Of
late years, and it has been demonstra-
ted that by cutting down forests and
draining the soil, man can mate
rally change the climate Of "A country
sometimes to his detriment. Some
recent experiments have shown the
extent to which woods will at
feet the rain fall. We cad in Bieder-
rnaann's Centralblatt that the most re-
cent experiments have been underta-
ken to ascertain to what extent the
rainfall may be affected by frs and
pines. Two observatories were estab-
lished for purposes Of comparison, one
over clump of Pinus sylvestris some
forty feet high, and the other over a
bare sandy plain three hundred me.
tres (three hundred and twenty eight
YARDS distant from the wood, and at
the same height above the level of the
ground. Twelve months observations
showed that of the total rainfall with.
in that period, ten per cent. more fell
ever the trees than over the bare sand
three hundred metres distant from
them. This result is regarded as all
the more surprising since experiments
of precisely similar nature in the
case Of oak and beech woods had Civ
en- an excess Of five per cent. only in
favor of the wooded site Of observa-
ton. Further, the mean state Of sat-
uration of the air over the wood was
found to be ten per cent. higher than
of that over the bare expanse of sand,
the former holding much more water
in solution than the latter The
ground, too, under the trees retained
far more water than the exposed earth
the evaporation from the surface,
thanks to its shade Of tress and moss,
being only one sixth Of that outside
their friendly shelter. The moral Of
all this seems to be that we should
plant pine and fir forests in sandy
and cholky districts, not only to en-
courage the water to come down, but
to keep it in position when it has fall
len, and TO assist to prevent floods. "
HAY For HENs.-The poultry
World advises the use Of hay in the
diet Of fowls in winter, as they eat
grass to advantage in summer. "Bulk
in food is required for health as we'll
for poultry as man OF animals. Rich
and concentrated food is not readily
digested and invites disease. Some
think a craving for bulky food is one
chief cause Of feather eating in winter
or among fowls confined. Now, just
try and secure good supply Of second
crop hay, short and, if possible, con-
tanning clover. Cure only enough to
preserve, and your fowls will eat a
portion Of it all winter when they
would turn away from stale cabbage.
What is not eaten will furnish untold
amusement in scratching over. Re
member in winter, if poultry stand on
one leg, unemployed, all day, they
are disposed to baye the blues. Idle
meditatlons lead always to bad habits;
while healthy mind, in a vigorous
body, suggests business, which, with
fowls, means winter eggs and early
chickens. Secure your rowen this
month before it is too late, if you have
not already attended to the matter,
and before severe frost if possible, for
it is injured in quality by being fl ost
bitten
The above advice is good, although
few suppose hens would eat hay if
given them, but this is because they
have not watched the habits Of their
poultry. We have noticed them often
picking short bits Of cut hay of almost
any variety, and hay cooked for cat
tie is eaten greedily by them. We
advise shortcut clover we'll boiled for
them. Clover is better than any 9TH
hay because it possesses egg-making
nutriment, besides fibre to separate
the particles of grain. 1t is not bulk,
as mere quantity that is needed, but
coarse fibre to separate the concen-
trated food in the stomach, so that the
gastric juice can circulate through the
mass. The stomach cannot we'll man
age solid food. Only a few minutes
will be required to prepare this hay