The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-10-17
FARM TOPICS.

WINTER PLANTS.-In winter my
plants are in my kitchen, where they
have an abundance of steam and the
benefit of wood fire. l have not much
faith in gas-heated rooms for plants ;
then on Monday l just roll out the table,
and give them q first shower bath of
suds, then of clear water. For bottom
heat nothing easier; just turn those
shelves, which most housewives have on
their stoves for bread-raising, etc., so
there will not be too strong a heat, and
you have it; or if the aforesaid shelves
are otherwise occupied and all at once
you are inspired with the idea that some
of their toes are cold, just set them in a
saucer of hot water. 1 generally take
it when boiling, and have never yet kill
ed any, and let them suck up all they
want, then after while throw out what
is left. Never let them stand in water
for long time. Whenever bottom heat
is mentioned in this article, just mag
inc them either on the shelves or stand
ing ankle deep in hot water. 1fany one
is Skeptical about the hot water, Just try
it first on some poor specimen that
wouldn't be a great loss, and see how it
works.-Kd,aSdS Farmer.
OLD WAGoNs.-As a general thing, q
new wagon is very much to be preferred
to an old one A very old one is some
times during the first year after its pur-
chase great deal more expensive than
new one. Better pay $50 for a new
one which will run five or 10 years with
out costing a cent for repairs than to
pay $40 for an old one which it will
take $40 a year, and cause a great
amount of Inconvenience, and the loss
of much valuable time to keep it in or
der; and which by the time the new
one would need its first and inexpensive
repairs will be utterly worn out and
useless. Better run in debt q little for
a new one than to buy such an old one
as that. Indeed, very old wagons are
generally expensive, property. No re-
lance can be placed upon them. They
break down when mostly needed for
use, and it is an almost constant ex-
pense to keep them going at all. lived
in the house with man who repairs
farm wagons, and must say it is as
tonishing how often they break down.
When one part is mended so as to be
strong and durable, something else is
sure to give way. | have sometimes
thought that before would pay out as
much as some men do in the fruitless
effort to keep old wagons in repair, l
would make them into ire-wood, and
either hire or buy something which
would prove more substantial York
ing Farmer.
To TELL THE AGE OF FowLs.-If a
hens spur is hard and the scales on the
legs are rough, she is old, whether you
see her head or not, but her head will
corroborate your observation. If the
under-bill is so stiff that you can not
bend it down, and the comb thick and
rough, leave her, no matter how fat and
plump, for some one less particular. A
young hen has only the rudiments of
spurs, the scales on the legs are smooth,
glossy and fresh colored, whatever the
color may be, the claws tender and
short, the nails sharp, the under-bill
soft and the comb thin and smooth. An
old turkey has rough scales on the legs,
callosites on the soles of the feet and
long, strong claws; young one the re-
verse Oh all IneSo mdrkS. w H6H tne
feathers are on the old turkey-cock has
long tuft of beard, young one but a
sprouting one; and when they are off the
smooth scales on the legs decide tie
point, besides the difference in size in
the wattles of the neck and the elastic
shoot upon the nose. An old goose
wnen alive is known by the rough legs,
the strength of the wings, particularly
at the pinions, the thickness and
strength of the bill and fineness of the
feathers, and, when plucked, by the
legs, the tenderness of the skin under
the wings, by the piniens and the bill
and the coarseness of the skin. Dncks
are distinguished by the same means,
but there is the difference that duck
ling's bill is much longer in proper, ion
to the breath of the head than the old
ducks. A young pigeon is discovered
by its pale color, smooth scales, tender.
collapsed feet, and the yellow long down
interspersed among its feathers. A