The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-04-12
AGRICULTURAL.


WATER. CRIBS CULTURE.-WhereyeT
there Is spring water running In open
bitches or small brooks w~ater-cress may
be grown. The most favorable condl-
lions Of its growth, says the Toronto
Globe, are a gently flowing stream Of
water from three to six inches deep,
with a grayelly bottom, underlaid with
loan, and fed by springs Of uniform
temperature. On a neighboring farm
rises a strong spring, In which, some
four or five years ago, water-cress seed
was sown. Now there Is a complete mat
Of plants, not near the spring only, but
all along the stream for a mile or more,
pieces of branches and roots having oc-
~casionally been torn of and carried down
by the current TO some quiet places
where they took root. In the sheltered
bays and hooks Of this brook, when al
ternate layers Of muck and gravel were
washed on, the plants seem TO luxuriate
the most.
Where similar conditions exist natur-
ally but little labor Is necessary TO es-
tabllsh a water-cress Led sufficient for
home use, but when more extensive
plantations, otherwise than along the
margin Of a brook, are to be made, con
siderable labor may be requiIadw II the
land 10 be devoted TO this cN Re does
not contain enough gravel or coarse
sand, this element must be supplied be-
fore planting; a covering of from three
10 four inches will be sufficient. Where
the land Is entirely and constantly over
flowed all that is necessary is TO cut of
rooted branches of old plants and set
them out in places where the water is
about six inches deep, and TO place a
stone on each root to prevent 1t from
being washed away. A small stream
running through marshy ground, how
ever, offers the opportunity for a large
plantation.
In this case bitches from three TO four
feet wide and as many feet apart should
be dug r~ectangularly from the water
cress as far as the water will follow.
The depth of the bitches must be ar
ranged according to the medium level
of the stream, in such a ann that the
water in them stands at no season lower
than six inches. BY means of a dam
with sluiceway the water can readily be
kept at a uniform level. AT the bottom
Of each ditch the cuttings are placed
about two feet apart each way, or closer
if enough roots can be had. Where old
plants are not attainable seed may be
sown in the shallowest parts of the
bitches, and the plants grown therefrom
used for propagation, but of course a
year more time will be required to
establish a plantation from seed than
from cuttings. The month of Sep
TENDER is the best time for sowing the
seed as well as for planting.
Mr.. STEWART, of Buffalo, is an advo-
cate of soillng cattle. He finds that q
quarter of IN acre of clover will sup
port a COW from 100 to $50 days. He had
100 acres, 80 of which was fair meadow
and 60 in corn fodder, oats and clover.
He put up twenty steers, three and four
years old, eight cows and six horses.
he began cutting the clover when eight
inches nigh, of which there were five
acres. Two acres were in oats, and
three in coTn-fodder, which was fed as
needed, and grass cut from the ninety
acres; but there were siXty-five tons OF
hay put into the barns. The grass was
cut with a machine, raked with a horse,
and drawn to the barn in a cart, one
man being employed six hours each day
in cutting and feeding and about two
hours of horse labor. The total cost of
the extra labor amounted to $50 for the
season. The siXty-fve tons of hay were
sold at the barn for $9.72. The cost of
cutting and putting this hay into the
barn was $97. 80, which, taken from the
cash received for the hay, left a profit
in favor of soiling we pasturing of
$797.5O. The twenty steers sold for
$3.50, and the 100 loads of manure saved
was worth double what it would have
been if left on the pasture.
WHATTHE BIRDS D~o.-Farmers should
spare the birds. While it is undeniable
that they are sometimes severe on the
corn and sprouting grain, it is never
theless a fact that they compensate for
it by destroying insects that might do
more damage. The swallow, swift and
nighthawk are the guardians of the at
mOsphere. They check the increase of
insects that would otherwise overload
1t. WoOdpeckers, creepers, and chica-
dees, are the guardians of the trunks of
trees. Warblers and fycatchers pro-
tect the foliage. Blackbirds, thrushes,
crows and larks protect the surface of
the soil; snipe and woodcock the soil
under the surface. Each tribe has its
respective duties to perform in the
economy of nature; and it is an un
doubted fact that if the birds were all
swept away from the earth, men could
not live upon it; vegetation would
wither and die, insects would become
so numerous that no living thing could
Withstand their attacks.
HORSE CoLLARs.-The VALLEY Farmer
says collars are, or should be, so made,
as to throw the chief force on the lower
part of the shoulder. The horse can
apply but little strength on the upper
part, and for this reason breast collars
are coming greatly into vogue, as the
strength is eXerted on the lower part of
the shoulder. The collar should be pur-
chased Of the proper size. Just before
putting it or the first time, immense it
in water letting it remain about a min
ute, and Immediately put it on to work.
The collar, by being wet, will adapt it
self to the shoulder, and should dry on
the horse. When taken off, it should be
left in the same shape it occupied on
the horse, and ever after you will have
a snug fitting collar and no wounds.
WHITE HOLLAND TURKEYS. - The
Poultry journal and Record says: '"This
variety of turkeys is becoming more
popular as the public become better ac-
quainted with their excellent table
qualities and beauty; for certainly a
large, clean, healthy white turkey is as
beautiful a fowl as any one could wish
to see. They are pure white in plu-
mage, with pink legs, and of good size,