The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1878-02-16
Farm Notes.

| alu0S and Insects, dust the Dusies
with white powdered helibore; best
to apply it while the dew is on the
bushes.
Oiled sawdust exposed to the rays
of the sun will be very likely to
burst into flames. Do not leave 1t
carelessly about, lest your buildings
should be burned down at some UNI
lucky time.
Good Mouse Trap.-Fill the bowl
, of clean clay pipe with cheese; put
/ il under the edge of tumbler IN
such "a manner that slight touch
will cause the tumbler to slip Off
the bait and mouse, of course, I'M
I derneath.
{ Those who keep the smallest num-.
Der of fowls together generally OBJ
tain the greatest proportionate mum
her of eggs. This is easily account
ed Tor when we call to mind the fact
that they are very filthy birds, aud
when kept in large numbers within
limited space, theyvery soon sour
their premises. They are filthy, not
by nature, but by habit. The size
of the flock must always depend up
on the accommodations, and the
smaller the flock the more easily can
it be kept clearly and healthy; aud
| in proportion as these conditions are
observed, are fowls profitable.
To Prevent Handles Splitting
All carpenters know how soon the
butt ends of chisels split, when daily
exposed to the bow of a mallet or
hammer. A way TO prevent this
consists simply in saving or cutting
off the round end of the handle, so
as to make it fiat, and then attaching
with few small nails .on the top of
it couple of round pieces of sole
leather, so that the end becomes
similar tn the heel of boot. The
two thicknesses of leather will pre-
vent all further splitting, and if, in
the course OF time, they expand and
oy erlap the wood of the handle, they
have simply to be trimmed off all
around.
Feeding Mich Cows.-Give eight
pounds of bran and. corn meal daily.
If it can be thoroughly cooked with
cut hay, it increases its value about
one-fifth, by actual experiment. A
dairyman produced from fifty cows
five hundred quarts of milk daily, on
ten pounds of feed mixed as above
and thoroughly cooked. He then
changed to dry feed, and it took
thirteen pounds of the same mixture
to keep up the flow of milk. Brew
ers' grains produce an inferior quali
ty of milk. If not SO situated as to
he able TO cook the food used, con-
siderable benefit would arise from
soaking it, even In cold water, from
six to ten hours before feeding.
Salt for Cows.-Give youT cows
plenty of salt, is a very common add
vice to dairymen.. The philosophy
of feeding salt to mich cows is very
rarely inquired into; few persons
care to know the why's and where
fOres. Give them cause that will
produce, as a rule, certain sought
for effect. and they are content. The
most plausible reason we ever heard
for feeding salt to milch cows, was
the very natural one that it makes
them drink large quantities of water
and hence more milk will be the re-
suit. One dairyman says the milch
cow should drink six paiiiuls day.
He would thus follow the by 40
means uncommon custom of mixing
water with milk, though he thinks
the mixture should take place at an
early stage of the milk-forming pro-
cess.
To Hive a Swarm of Bees. Make
the small end of a long pole bulky
by wrapping paper around 1t until
about the size of u mans arm and
half as long; then bind black cloth
around it, or draw an old WOODEN
stocking over it, secure it with cord,
then, when the bees are swarming.
as soon as they attempt to settle, put
that end of the pole in the place
where they are about lighting, and
usually they settle on it almost i'm
mediately; but should they persist
in settling on the limb, or whatever
it is, jar it, sd as to disturb them,
and they will leave it for the pole;
then lay it gently down and set the
hive over them. Sometimes, when
fastened pretty firmly Oh the pole, it
is expedient to shake it little, to
make them leave it for the hive. 1t
is good plan, and seldom fails in
bringing them down.
Greasing Wagons.-Few fully APP
preciate the importance OF thor
oughly lubricating the axles, ETC., of
wagons and carriages, and still fewer
know what are the best materials, or
the best methods of applying them.
| A l., 81 x.-.D