The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-03-21
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Items Collected for the Ben e6f OF the
Rural Population.
THE SOIL FOR CLOVER.

Clover requires, absolutely, drained soil,
else 1T will freeze out; in the spring the
plant will lie on the surface if the season is
a severe one for frost. 1t is hence that our
creek and river soil is good for clover, as it
is generally OF a sandy and grsvelly nature,
and therefore we'll drained Such land
takes manure well, and hence a top dressing,
narrowed in, will secure catch and the
atmosphere will do the rest, as clover de-
rives most of its strength from this source.
In this way the most barren hills have been
made productive, and paid all
along from the start. Let il
be considered what an amount of root ma
produce, and little more need be said as
to the benefit the land receives in this way.
Land which yields but little grain beyond
the amount sown, and scarcely any pasture
at all, may be made by clover during
period of Is months to grow large crops of
grain for several years, while the clover itself
will be highly remunerating. The land is
not only enriched in this way. but the crowd
OF the roots mellows the soil and aids in its
drainage. Thus our poorest land can be al
once brought up, paying well in doing it.
But it must be kept up. II the clover is
omitted for a long time and no manure
given the land, it will go back again to its
first unremunerating condition. But clover
will keep it up, and it may be used in sue
cession without any grain crop intervening
for many years, the land improving all the
while.
THE STRAWBERRY GRUBs.
G. Wright. in Gardeners Monthly: We are
much troubled here with ''grubs," which
eat the roots of strawberry plants in certain
localities, whether the ground has been ma
nured or not; and think the Larvae found
in manure heaps is entirely distinct from
that which destroys our strawberries and
other roots. The latter is more slender and
hairy than the other, and does not increase
in size so rapidly; besides l have never
found the young ones earlier than the mid
die of july. while full grown grubs are
found in the manure in June. If the small
est grub touches a root of strawberry the
leaves wilt in the sun, and we search
the rascal out and save the plant.
have a plot of ground two rods wide
and ten long, which have been sailing in
March for several years, using a bushel OF
salt broadcast on strawberries, and have no
trouble with ''grubs." The next plot, sepa-
rated by a row of peach trees, has only been
sailed twice and have taken out with the aid
of the chickens over a thousand grubs while
the next plot is literally filled with grubs, and
| have scarcely saved plant for two years.
None of this ground was ever MANFRED, but
has been garden since the prairie sod was
turned. Salt does not kill the Larvae, for
1 have kept them in brine for 10 minutes
and they crawled away as smart as ever; but
| think it must be unhealthy for the little
ones.
TRANSFORMING TREES.
In transplanting eyergreens, above all
things keep the roots from drying winds.
Even the delicate hemlocks may be removed
from the woods If the transition is rapid
enough to prevent the roots drying. As a
general rule, however, nursery grown hem
locks succeed best, as their roots, grown in
the fine earth, are in a compact body, and
can be removed without breakage. AS to
the time of year, spring and fall have each
their advocates. They can be transplanted
either in mid-spring or mid-autumn, if not
too large, and if care enough is used 10 pre-
vent their drying. Cutting back Is good
thing, but care should be used not to leave
big stumps, as evergreens of any kind will
bleed to death if large wounds are made
The safest plan is to cut all the limbs half
way back. There need be no fear of spelling
the shape of the tree, so far as hemlocks are
concerned They have so strong an upward
instinct and SO nice sense of equilibrium
that no kind of pruning will prevent their
balancing" after they have once taken to
their new home.
CAKED BAG IN cows.
Caked bag is a common trouble among
cows coming in at this sloppy time of year
and some cows have the trouble every season
as regularly as they calve. The cure is rub
bIng with softening oil-camphorated sweet
oil is very good for the purpose, but the main
thing is the rubbing, which should be gently
but steadily performed as long as any lump
remains in the bag. A common practice is
to strip the milk as dry as possible and let
the hungry calf butt and suck down the
swelling This, however, is a rude process,
and the butting sometimes causes infiamnla-
ton and bruises much more dangerous than
the caking itself. The milk should be re-
moved frequently as long as the cake re-
mains, every hour or two i: possible.
SELECTING SEED
Greater care should be taken than is GUS
tomary with most farmers in the selection
of pure seed, especially potatoes. 1t is be
coming exceedingly difficult in this market
| to obtain strictly pure varieties grown In
| this section of the state. What are sold a.
peach blows are frequently mixture OF
| that variety with some other. The early
rose is seldom found strictly pure. The
| Shaker russell and several other excellent
kinds are scarcely TO be found at all. This
same fact is true. to a greater or less extent,
of ether seeds. 1t is result of lack OF care
| in selecting seed, and is great loss 10
the producer, reducing the prices of his
crop, and lowering the reputation of his pro-
ductiors Suggested that farmers would do
well to club together and send to some relia
| BILE commission house in New York, and buy
| some of the French varieties that are being
imported in large quantities since the high
prices have prevailed there. We certainly
need pure, fresh seed from some source Il
take the place of the mixed varieties that
are now almost the only kind to be found.
THE CARE OF STOCK.
Regular attention to all live stock II
very important. If an animal is only bali
fed, il is better that 1t be half fed regularly,
as it will suffer less injury than if attended
to one day and neglected the next. But Il
is poor economy to stint food. THE hbera
| soul shall be made fat To see ones stock
contented, comfortable and happy, is moi
only a happiness to a good farmer, bu U,