The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-08-09
TOPICS FOR FARMERS.

Use of Bones in England
the last eight years the use of bones
and bone-dust, as manure, has become
general throughout Great Britain, and
the present fertile condition of that
country Is in great measure due to
their use. Some authors estimate that
ten million dollars worth of bones are
annually imported into that conntry,
principally to be used as manures.
They are obtained in the ports of Rus
sia, Germany, South America and the
United States. After the bone-dust of
Germany had been fully tested, and
proofs of its efficacy were fully estab-
hshed, proverb arose that " one ton of
German bone-dust saves the importation
of ten tons of German corn" Through
out Great Britain bones are collected
from every possible source of supply,
and the markets of the world have been
ransacked to supply the demand created
for them by the strong conviction of
their value, which experience has i'm
pressed upon the minds of the British
farmer. Even the bones of battle-felds
have been collected and sold for this
purpose.
How to Set Hen.-Speaking of sit
ting hens, Mr.. G. E. Chase, of East
Freetown, Massachusetts,, gives the fol
lowing method as one employed sue
cessfully by him for several years
"Take a half keg, such as is used for
butter and lard, fill it two-thirds full OF
moist earth, press it down hard so that
the sides will be trife higher than the
| center; line it with hay literally sprink,
led with petroleum, put in a couple OF
| china eggs, set it in a retired place, and
| put the hen on in the evening, turning
| lath-coop over the whole with food
and water within reach. After a week
or ten days the coop can be taken of
without much danger of the hens go
ing on the wrong nests. If your hen is
anxious to sit the good eggs can be pu1
under her in two days; if not, turn hel
adrift and choose another. This methoo
will not injure the vitality of the eggs
and is proof against spiders and lice
but beware of using oil of any kline
about hen or nest during the remainde1
of the period of incubation, for it i
sure death to the chicks when hal
formed in the she'll"
The American Dairy Belt.-In on,
of his late lectures, Mr.. x. A. Willard
said concisely that the American dair,
belt lies between the fortieth and forty
fifth parallels of latitude. 1t stretche
from the Atlantic to the Mississippi
and possibly to the Pacific. Within it
limits are New York, Pennsylvania
New England, the northern parts o
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, the create
portion of Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa
Minnesota and a part of the Canadas
Of all this belt, probably not more thai
third of the land is adapted to dairy
ing. The dairy lands are quite irregu
lar in outline, not always continuously
together, but often detached, and no
unfrequently, if represented on tn
map, they would have the appearance
of islands.
The characteristics of a good dair
farm are a high, undulating surface
numerous springs and streams of never
failing water; soil retentive of mois
ure, sweet and nutritious herbage ths
springs up spontaneously and continue
to grow with great tenacity; rathe
) low average temperature, frequeI
showers rather than periodical rains {
droughts; sufficient covering of tl
ground in winter to protect the gra
roots, so that the herbag ge may be perm
nent and enduring.
: Interest the BOys.-How can v
teach boy business habits better tha
by giving him an opportunity to run
5 hennery? The accounts must be acc
l rately kept; there must be buying al
selling; there must be bartering; the
7 ought to be profit. A miniature bus
e ness springs up; and, inasmuch as it
real, why is it not as good as a busine
$ college? 1t may be better; for it MI
t prevent spending time in the streets,
$ away from home, perhaps among que
e tionable companions. A love of hon
e is fostered by the ownership of flower
a small fruits and poultry. A fondne
S for the finest things produced in our c
e mate-to cultivate them if belonging
q the vegetable kingdom; to breed, fost
d and pet them if belonging to the amin
J. is not only source of keen enjo
e ment, but indicates good traits and
l. certain elevation of character abo
e that which is british. Young peoI
% should be deftly guided, step by ste
y through pleasant paths, with here a
IS there little job of earnest work, ma
e easy by social frolic and recreatic
l, which come after in their proper pla
5. With a little encouragement, boys m
d become familiar with the points of {
y cellence in high-class poultry pigec
Is and other pets, and learn the b
y methods of breeding and manageme