Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-11-15
THE FARM AND HOME.

Martin Steufer living near West
Point, Neb., raised 2112 bushels of rye,
machine measure, from five acres, and
700 bushels of oats from twelve acres,
which in the spring he gave up as de
stroyed by grasshoppers.
Clover can be made to answer three
fold purpose-for pasture, for hay, and
as a fertilizer. In such capacity it is
tirst-class, and, being easily grown. its
use should become universal.
To PICKLE BEEF.-To each 100 pounds
of beef take six pounds of salt, two
ounces of saltpeter, one pound of sugar,
two ounces of soda and three gallons of
water. Nix together in large kettle,
and place it over the fire, letting it re-
main until it boils; take off the scum
and let it cool; pour it over the meat,
which should be placed in tight cask
or barrel, until the meat is entirely COW
cred. If there is not enough pickle to
cover the meat, add little more water;
but the above amount viii be sufficient,
if.the meat is properly packed. have
tried the above recipe, and found it to
be the best means for preserving beef
that have ever found. Beef put down
in pickle, pressed as above, will retain
its former freshness, and will be as
sweet and juicy for a month afterwards,
as when first put away.
WHEN TO PRUNE FRUIT TREES Long
| experience shows that when it is desir-
able to produce a free growth of shoots
and leaves, pruning should be done
when the trees are dormant, as in the
| winter season, or early in the spring,
before sap begins to flow. When fruit
trees appears to grow too rapidly, and
| to produce too much wood, they may
be pruned moderately in the summer
season, cutting away a portion of the
wood by degrees; but shoot growing
in an improper place may be cut away
at any time. An experiment made by
pruning apple trees every month in tt e
year, for two seasons, showed that the
wounds of the branches cut in Febru-
airy and March, at the end of five years,
when all had healed over, were found
| to be the least decayed under the heal
ed surface. When trees are pruned in
winter, or at any time, it is best to COW
er the wounds with Il hot mixture of
tar. and pulverized brick dust or fine
sand. A solution of shellac in alcohol,
as thick as can be applied with brush,
is considered by many as the best pre-
paration that can be applied.
Do BEES DESTROY FRUIT?-The Ian
caster, Pa, Leader has taken up the
often debated question, Do bees destroy
fruit? The writer of the article having
made a series of experiments and OBJ
servations, says: On the grapes of vine
growing in our yard hundreds of bees
were literally swarming their home be-
ing neighbours yard, not twenty PAGES
distant. We sat hour after hour watch
ing closely the proceedings of the in
dustrious insects. There was not a
single raceme on the whole vine but
was visited by dozens of bees, who ex-
amlned every grape on it in search of
a bursted or open one whose juices
were accessible. After most careful
search, and finding none such, they
would Immediately leave and continue
their search elsewhere until the berry
they desired was found On all the de
fective fruit clusters of bees were gath
cred, but we failed utterly in detecting
in single instance anything like an at
tempt at trying to tear open a perfect
berry; their investigations were hasty,
but thorough, and when the desired
spoil was not found no time was wasted
in useless delay. There can be no mis-
take n this matter; our observations
were careful and prolonged and must
certainly have resulted in detecting the
harm complained of had any been
done.
THE FUTURE STOCK FIELDS OF THE
NoRTHWEST.-In reference to the Vel
lowstone, Rosebud and Big Horn coun-
tries, the future great grazing ranges of
the northwest, the Black Hills Pioneer
says: The subjugation of the Sioux In
dian opens up to occupancy the finest
stock range of the continent, and the
enterprising stock raisers of the country
have already moved toward utilizing
them. Montana, the now settled por-
ton of it, is admitted to be the best
stock range at present occupied, and the
ranchmen all agree that the unsettled
portion of the eastern part of the terri
tory, that is the main Yellowstone Val
ley, the Rosebud, Big Horn and Clark's
Fork Valleys, are altogether superior,
as grazing ranges, to the Madison and
Gallatin valleys, in which thousands of
heads of cattle are subsisted. Many
| Montana ranchmen have moved over
and located ranches on the Yellowstone,
and some on the Rosebud and Clark s
Fork These advancing settlements to
the eastward are rapidly moving this
way, and will shortly reach the adj
vanced settlements to the westward OF
the Black Hills. We believe that bv
this time next year it will be possible to
get out on horseback from Deadwood
City and travel to the Yellowstone river,
stopping at rancho every night The
greater portion Of the intervening
country is pastoral in character, with
here and there agricultural districts. 1t
will, in few years, be thickly settled,
and be covered with all the embeIlish-
ments of civilization.
GATHERING SEED CoRN.-Few farmers
are aware, if we may judge by their
practice, of the advantages derived from
a timely and careful selection of seed,
upon which largely depends the profit
ableness of next years crop. A thrifty
and rapidly growing plant, permitting
early and thorough cultivation, goes far
toward helping on the desired result-a
| pIolIeaDle crop 1ulS MAY DC partially
secured by choosing the best matured
ears in the fall and placing them away
secure from the damp of the long win
ter months. that the germ may not be
injured by moisture or killed by freez-
ing. In selecting the ears for the seed
[ would recommend uniformity of type
grain even size and depth, rows
straight and as nearly same number as
possible, cob not more than one-half
diameter of ear, and ears medium
size. Do not shell until just before
planting. and then reject the tins of