Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-08-08
AGRICULTURE.

ripe.
MILK paint for fences or barns is made
by mixing water lime with skim milk
to a proper consistency to apply with
a brush. 1t will adhere well to wood
whether smooth or rough, to brick,
mortar or stone, whether oil has been
previously used.
MORE than 100000 cans of corn are
now packed in Maine annually and sold
IN every part of the world, yielding a
business TO the state Of about 81, $780,
900; and giving profitable employment
to from 5000 to 10000 people during
the packing season.
THE Paris cattle show promises to be
the most imp0rtant ever held IN France;
the entries include 1,7G0 head of cattle,
of which number England sends 101;
Belgium, 106; Switzerland, 60: Holland
80; Portugal, 20, etc. The sheep num-
Der $50 rams and lots Of three sheep;
and there are 301 lots of pigs. The to-
tai number of entries for the British
section of the live stock show, which
begins on July Z, is Cattle, 101; sheep,
176; pigs, 106; poultry, 37S; rabbits, 10;
pigeons, (couples) 1S-Prdirie Farmer.
DISEASE IN BUTTER.-Upon the sub
ject that a high temperature is the on
y means of disinfecting fats from dan
gerous germs. the London Grocer says:
As the germs by which diseases are
conveyed are destroyed by tempera-
ture some degrees below boiling water,
the milk that we add to our tea and
coffee is disinfected; but not so with
butter except in the cases where as in
Devonshire) it is made from scalded
cream. 1t is true that but one COW in
10000 or more can thus infect us, but
that one may do serious mischief; and as
we know nothing Of the origin OF the
butter or the sanitary cOndltiOnOf those
who handle it, we are never free from
risk. Those who keep their own Alder
neys and their own dairymaid are of
course quite safe, but this does not hap
pen to all mankind. Our own exper-
fence proves that anybody with a
healthy and fairly sensitive palate may
soon learn to recognize the peculiarlties
of the oleOmargarine as at present pro-
duced. and. once this power is acquired,
may readily detect it when used as an
adulteration-far more readily and sure
ly than by any method Of chemical an
alysis yet known.
How OFTEN TO FEED WORK HORSES.
There is a conflict of authorities on
this subject, but writers agree that all
horses ought to be fed as often as once
in about six hours, during the day
some say four hours. No doubt
horse may eat his fill and digest it in
about six hours, and be ready for
another ration. They may be managed
so as to be ravenous for food all the
time, and yet eat more than enough
and one set of horses will be in good
condition, will do about twice the work
of another set on half the feed. | have
been watching the working of an ex-
periment-if so it may be called
which furnishes a case in point: A
long established firm in New York en-
ploy constantly, and have heretofore
owned about five One-hOrse truck teams
That is, five horses have done their
work, a considerable part of the time
one having but little to do, but necessary
in case Of an emergency. Some months
ago the entire stock of horses, trucks,
stable, furniture, harnesses, ETC., was
sold to an employee, who has since then,
added no new horse to the stable done
the same work, done the carting
for another house-in fact got nearly
double the work out of the horses-and
yet they have been constantly improv-
ing in looks and in ability to do work.
At first the feed was not essentially
changed. The horses had better care,
and the eye of master, who was their
owner. though not the driver. The
truckmen, somehow, felt more interest
in their work and in their horses, and
this made a difference; but ali
things combined must have pro-
duced their legitimate result within
two or three months.
CLOVER HAY.-When cured right it is
the most valuable of all kinds of hay.
But that is the difficulty. One days
sun will not cure it, and if it would,
such curing would nearly ruin it. 1t
will pay to do it right. But it takes
work and care and wisdom. If cut in
| the forenoon, it should be raked into
windrows before the leaves begin to
break If the weather be fair and set
tied, it can remain in windrow until the
next afternoon, when it should be put
in large cocks and stand one day and
night. During this time it goes through
partial sweat. Then spread it out TO
air and keep it moving so that no part
of it will get too dry. Then haul to
barn or stack and it will not heat or
blacken. But there is no safety in cut
ting or curing clover hay without mus
lin caps for the hay when in cock. AT
ter the clover is partially cured, no
matter whether in swath, Windrow or
cock, if rain comes it is ruined without
covers. A large number Of careful
farmers who cut clover hay have mus
! lin covers made Of four yards of muslin
yard wide, making the covers two
yards square. They are hemmed all
round with a strong cord in it, and holes
in each corner for sticks to pass through
and stick into the hay to hold the COW
ers. twenty-five covers would be
enough for four tons of hay at time
And one ton of clover hay would pay
for the covers, and if taken care of they
will last twenty years. But when once
procured for the clover, the farmer will
soon find their convenience and profit
for his timothy as Well Muslin is cheap
and they can be made in the family if
the organ is not IN the way. Very lit
| tie clover hay is saved in Iowa in good
condition. Much of it is worthless. If
we could be assured of as clear weather
as they have in California in the sum-
mer, there would be no demand for
hay caps; but with our tickle weather
much timothy and nearly all clover is
spoiled, much of which could be obviat-
ed with few caps.-IoaCa Register,