Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-03-01
HOME, FARM AND GARDEN.

When a householder keeps his ashes
in a wooden box, within few feet of his
dwelling, it is fair to presume that the
property is fully insured, and the owner
prefers money to houses; or else that he
is thoughtless blunderer, who will not
learn caution until it is beaten into him by
misfortune.
-Brooms are intended to be used, and
are not the worst weddings gift that can
be sent. When purchasing, buy several !;
one fer each important room in the house.
Before using, dip them in hot soap suds,
and set them away brush end up, and the
broom portion will be found much tough
er and more durable. A place should be
provided and the broom should be Kept
there. The broom is the woman's weapon
against soil and dirt.
Prof. Arnold recommends soaking
butter packages in hot brine to cleanse
barrels also. Mr.. Arnold thinks that
Western butter fully equals that made in
the East. Western butter-makers take
care to maintain an equable temperature
for their cream, and do not let their cream
get sour. The Western butter makers also
feed grain to their COWS, which improves
the quality of butter.
in years past the feeding of steers for
Eastern markets has been pursued in a
very wasteful and thoughtless way Strew-
ing corn upon the ground in large guam
| titles, for the animals TO run over and
soil, is not an economical mode of feed
ing. This careless practice is being bet
tered, and, of course, more meat is made
from the same amount of feed Formerly,
the chief reliance was corn, giving poor
hay or straw, or turning the animals into
| stalk-feld to fill their paunches. Many
| feeders now feed less grain, feed oftener
| and, in addition, give good hay. 1t is be-
lieved that, by improved processes in feed
| ing, nearly one-half the grain formerly
used may be saved.-Detro6t Tribune.
Oats are, of course, most important
article in the stable management; and
| these should be, of the finest quality 1t
may be thought that the weight of oats is
not matter of great consequence, nor, in
| fact, is it to common horses of little value !;
| but it is quite the reverse to such as we
| are particular about as to stamina, wind
and condition. Good oats ought to weigh
| close on forty pounds per bushel; for we
must recollect that, in the first place,
| horses are fed by measure, not by weight !;
consequently, in giving light oats, we
actually rob the horse of his proper
quantum of meal, giving him husks in
stead and if we fed him by weight, 60
ing on the principle that pound of lead
and a pound of feathers are both pound,
the principle would be very bad one as
regards oats; for, in that case, though the
horse gets his pound weight, if he gets an
undue portion of it in husks, he is only
| filled with that which is of no use to him !;
so in every way light oats are bad for
choice horses. Some persons, indeed
many, object to black oats. The only OBJ
| lection that we ever found to them is,
they are apt to be tally; but if they are
neat, short and round, we think them
quite as good as the white-indeed, in one
particular, better, as such as we describe
as good, are generally skinned
| Factofg and Farm.