Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-08-21
AGRICULTURE.

How TO MAKE CUTTINGS GRow.-lt
has been ascertained that cutting Will
develop roots in moist sand better than
in rich soil. But the sand cannot main
tain its growth any time. To prepare
pots for raising cuttings they should be
filled nearly to the rim with rich gar
den loam-dark and porous, clayey and
soggy; then pour in one inch in depth
of securing sand, or sea sand will do as
well. Wet this thoroughly, and place
the cutting, from which all but three OF
four upper leaves have been removed,
close to the side of the pot; the contact
of the wave against the stem Of the cut
ting promotes its growth. Press the
wet sand firmly around the tiny stem.
A great deal of your chance for success
in raising slips of cuttings depends on
this. Plant as many cuttings as the pot
will hold, from six 10 a dozen, accord
ing TO the size of your pot; when they
are firmly set in sand, two or three can
be inserted in the middle of the pot. Set
them away in a dark, warm place for
twenty-four or thirty-six hours. Thus
cuttings Will grow quickly in hotbed
because the temperature is not dry.
Their growth depends great deal on
light, heat and moisture. If a bud Is
close at the base of the cutting 1t will
strike the root more easily and Is not so
apt II decay. The roots shoot from the
bud, and the lower down il is, the surer
your success. When the leaves drop,
the plant is commencing to grow; If
they wiIher on the stem it has begun TO
decay By following these directions
no one can fail 10 grow all kinds of
hOuse-plants. Roses and the rarest
flowers of the greenhouses are propa-
gated in this manner. Many cuttings
damp of on account of the soil being
TOO moist.
OUGHT HORSES 40 BE SHoD.-The
question whether horses should or
should not be shod, is again under dis
cussion- The proposition will come up
AZ intervals until rational view of the
subject is taken. As matter of physio-
logical fitness, nothing more indefeDsi-
bic than the use of shoes can be
imagined. Not only is the mode of at
taching them by nails Injurious to the
hOOf, il is the probable, if not the evil
dent, cause OF many OF the affections of
the foot and leg, which impair the use
fulness and must affect the comfort of
the animal. Whether horses could
work on our roads without some pro-
lection is another question. We think
il would be found that the natural
structure would adapt itself to any ordi-
nary requirement. There Is, however,
a wide difference of opinion upon this
point among authorities on horse man
agement, and the problem is not likely
10 be finally solved until the expert
ment has been tried. There can be no
doubt as TO the additional power of
grasping road surfaces which would be
secured, TO the advantage of rider or
driver and the relief OF the horse, if
shoes were not used. Meanwhile, we
should like to see the trial made. 1t
should, however, be understood that the
experiment must be tried with colts
that have never been shod. This is an
essential condition of the test.
WHEN the disorders of babyhood
attack your baby use at once DIR. Bulls
Baby Syrup and notice its rapid and
beneficial effect. Price % cents.
The LIME AND SALT mixture recon-
meRded by Professor johnson is made
by mixing one bushel of salt and two
bushels of dry lime under cover, and
allowing the mixture to decompose
gradually, thus forming an intimate
chemical union of the two materials.
For this purpose the mixture should be
made at least six weeks before use, or
still better, two or three months, the
heaps mentioned being turned over oc-
casiOnally- This salt and lime mixture
when applied ct the rate of twenty or
thirty bushels per acre, forms an excel
lent tOp-dressing for many crops. 1t
acts powerfully on the vegetable matter
OF soils; fifty six bushels applied to a
turnip crop have produced as large a
crop as barnyard manure. 1t is also
very destructive TO grubs and insects in
the soil. Like salt ii attracts moisture
from the air, and is useful against
drouth- Its decomposing power is re-
markable, and II three or four bushels
Of il are mixed with load of swamp
muck, the latter will be reduced to a
powder.
THE examination of diseased wheat
straw, by the aid Of a good compound
microscope, demonstrates most conclu-
sively that the rust consists entirely of
minute fungi, resembling small mush-
rooms or toadstools and propagating
their species by proper seeds. 1t is
shown by the microscope that the fungi
begins to grow inside of the straw, and
Immediately on its bursting or splitting
il protrudes outside.
The quantity of seed they contain is
very great. Ii is this that forms the
fine red dust which floats in the air like
vapor, in badly rusted fields of wheat.
1t resembles the smoke, or more prop
erly, the seed of that well-known fun
gus, the puff-ball, and may be carried
by the wind from one farm to another.
These seeds are so exceedingly small
that they can pass into the plant through
the stomato or air vessels of the leaves.
and are carried with the descending sap
into the stem.
FAT HORsEs.-There is a tendency at
this season to feed much grain and get
the horse too fat. This is done at the
expense of muscle, because an animal
kept constantly at work will not get
''hog fat" the food going to furnish |
tissue and muscle used up and de-
Not so with an animal kept |
in stall and given no exercise except, |
perhaps, that obtained while being led |
TO wafer. The amount of grain fed |
should be reduced and plentiful sup
ply of hay kept in the racks at all |
times. When possible the horses should |
be given the free run of the yard every |
day. If only given their liberty occa-
they are liable to run and jump
10 excess. Many valuable animals have
been lost by rupture OF. fall obtained
through giving exercise TO exuberant
animal spirits.
The House-Wren.