The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-12-27
TOPICS FOR THE FARM.

The Feathered Kingdom.-Henry
Hales writes to the Rural Netc Yorker:
In the wonderful economy of nature,
what great and important part is per-
formed by birdsl Few people, perhaps,
reflect on the immense field of study
and delight this topic affords. Quadru-
peds fill a vast space in the world; but,
after all, it is questionable to which
men are most indebted. At first sight,
one would be inclined to say the latter
were the most indispensable. In cold
climates they are most useful, while in
hotter climes, as in India, where many
people eat no animal food, they are not
so necessary, except for burdens; while
In all tropical countries the birds are
said by most naturalists to keep insects
within the limits of endurance by man.
Indeed, were it not for the birds, in
sects would destroy the whole vegetable
kingdom which man must have to exist.
Every root or leaf has its enemy in an
insect, and birds were wisely distributed
and adapted to every place where they
can be of benefit or even pleasure to
man. Although some, in return for the
often unappreciated benefits they confer
on him, take little tax from a man in
the shape of fruit or grain; yet even
these have been useful in other seasons.
Perhaps there are no birds whose only
mission is destruction. know of none.
Birds are so distributed as to cover the
entire face of the earth and water
wherever man can penetrate, from the
porch of his door to the most desolate
regions of the globe, ON land or water.
In the desert we find the pelican and
CT
panied by different varieties of gulls
and petrels, while the loneliest islands
are often densely inhabited by many
kinds of ducks, penguins, and other
| members of the feathered tribe. The
forest has its multitudinoust stuneful deni-
zens, while vast f1ocks or birds are COM
mon to every continent.
The great variety of substances on
| which birds feed is very remarkable
From the honey in the flower to worms
of the earth, they find sustenance. Some
live on the fish of the ocean, others on
| insects as they fly in the air, or on
| vegetation seeds and fruits of every
kind-and even on smaller genera in
their own kingdom. In fact, almost ev-
erything that can be converted into nu-
triment is by them utilized. They,
themselves, also serve an important pur-
| pose to man as food. The quantity of
| feathered animals consumed by him in
al. parts of the world is enormous. In
deed, in many regions, they constitute
his principal animal food.
| But what would this earth be without
| the beauty and music of bird life! The
summers sun would shine, but sadly
silent, on world without the accom-
paniment of the song and gayety of the
| feathered warblers. He would rise and
set in gloom, without these heralds OF
his movements. And man-what would
he do without those cheering songs, un.
mixed with worldly cares, that come
pure and sweet, from natures own
fountain of melody?
A Barn -Yard.-A correspondent Of
the Working Farmer gives us these prac
tical hints on barn-yards: The best way
in my opinion, to form barn-yard fol-
the preservation of manure, without it.
becoming muddy where the ground il
lower than some of its surrounding
| parts, is to plow and scrape from the
center to the outside, making gradua
descent from the outside to the center
Let the fall be one.half foot in ten, ano
falling little more as you near thu
center. Dig drain from the center t.
some suitable place without the yard
where you can construct vat to put il
leaves, sods, mucks, ETC., that will alb
l sorb and retain the liquor from tn
yard. The bottom and sides may b,
formed of plank, or may be more sub
stantially built of stone and mortar
The top of the vat should be made t.
guard against rains and surface water a
much as possible. The drain should fal
considerably, and should be made o
plank eight inches high and one foo
wide inside. The head of the drai
should be covered over with good
strong iron CRATE. The yard ought t
be we'll paved with cobble stone, and
with little pains, you can always hav
dry yard. The water from the bar
and shed roofs should never be allowe
to run into the yard, but should be Cal
ried by good eave-troughs to a large ci:
tern for the purpose of watering stocl
7 The Wagons.-But few people al
aware that they do wagons and carriage
more injury by greasing too plentiful
than in almost any other way. A wei
i made wheel will endure common wea
9 from ten to twenty-five years, if care
r taken to use the right kind and prope
t amount of grease; but if this matter
t not attended to, they will be used up
j, five or six years. Lard should never /
J. used on wagon, for it will penetrat
. the hub and work its way around th
e lemons of the spokes, and spoil the whee
: Tallow is the best lubricator for woo
S axle-trees, and castor oil for iron. Jul
s enough grease should be applied to tt
. spindle of wagon to give it a ligl
J. coating; this is better than more, for tt
IS surplus put on will work out at tt
: ends, and be forced by the shoulde
!; bands and nut-washers into the hu
e around the outside of the boxes.
r oil an iron axle-tree, first wipe Il
u spindle clean with cloth wet wit
r spirits of turpentine, and then apply
d few drops of castor oil near the should,
y and end. One tablespoonful is amp
II sufficient for the whole. Let the fiji
+ wheel of the carriage alone; if it graf
" tighten the king-bolt, but keep grea
e off from it,
a DOMES1ICs RECEIPTS.