Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-11
Grist For The Farmers.
INTERESTING GLEANINGs FROM THE AGRIc,
IIRkl AND SCIENTiE EL,Ess

L
TURAL AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Points in Poultry Rdising.-A novice can
not, BY the mere use of money, take up poul-
try-keeping and make success. On the con-
trary, he will be more likely to lose all the
money he invests, if he suppOSeS that the bust
ness consists only in buying some fowls and
feed, and in selling eggs and chickens, by sim
ply permitting the hens to produce eggs while
he gathers them. Success only comes to the
long-eXperienced poultry man who knows pre-
cisely what is to be done to secure this result.
1t is best to begin with a few fowls, making
their keeping secondary business, until
these can be managed with success and prof
it; Then the number may be increased, and
attention may be given to it. II is more profit
able to purchase fowls than eggs. 1t seems
to me that the interest in poultry is increasing,
being absorbed by the insane idea that every
one is going to get rich by selling fancy eggs
at IS dozen, or poultry, ready 10 lay, at S. to
in winter, broifers in spring and summer, fat
pullets in autumn, and cap0ns in winter. In
these products there is steady and sure profit.
fancy fowls, but the number is limited and
they must have good judgment and keen pre-
ceptlons, with persistence and perseverance.
hy culture which is not likely to be overdone.
The art OF capOnizing is easily learned. Good
fat capons will bring 50 per cent more per
large capons much more than that. The con
ditiOns for success are the possession of hens
OF a large breed, and the use of iudicous
crosses to produce quick growth, with hardi-
ness OF constitution and aptitude to lay on
flesh. There is no doubt suppose, in regard
TO the advantage of cross, breeding, but what
breeds to cross, is a problem which has not
been Solved.-t american Agricutturist.
Keeping Butter.-Farmers are certainly
soyenly in making and preserving butter,
and much that comes into the market is very
inferior in quality; but if good, sweet, cleanly
article is purchased, it is often spoiled by the
conditions under which it is kept by the pur-
CHASER. Butter is substance extremely SEN
sitiye to surrounding influence, and any odors
In the vicinity where it is stored are rapidly
absorbed, even if it is in a closed firkin
Great complaint is often made by the pur.
chasers OF the gilt edged" butter. produced
from the famous dairieS in the vicinity of this
city, that the enormously high priced article
Is soon spoiled after delivery to the customer.
And no wonder! 1t is often placed in an un-
cleanly e-chest along with cooked or uncOok-
ed fish or meats and other OdorOuS bodies and
1t soon smells and tastes like the unsavory sub
placed in the ice-chest, it is often put i'm the
cellar with decompOSed vegetables or meats.
and hence the delicate taste and Odor are soon
changed Great care must be used to pre-
serve butter, and it will not do to trust it to
the Bridgets of the kitchen, who know moth
ing and care for nothing. Those fond of the
delicate freshness and sweetness of the best
butter should have a cool place in the cellar
where it can be kept apart from everything
else The wealthy can furnish such a place
with little care and skill, and few are SO
poor that they cannot contriye to keep butter
uuder better conditions than they dO.-[JOur.
nal OF Chemistry.
The abuse Of Ouer-Sh dding-Such an I'M
usually wet season as this last in the East.
showers falling almost every week ali through
the early summer, intenSlfieS the evils of our
over-shaded streets In many of those old
towns which are considered the glory of New
England, the trees have been planted so near
together and so close to the house. that sun
light is almost wholly excluded from the dwell
lnE, except at midday. Trees are not only on
hnt hay
planted so thickly that the branches interIace,
and no sunlight falls beneath. ElmS. that re,
quire 90 to 100 feet space for the full develop
ment OF their branches, are planted within 20
feet OF each other. and naples. that need near
~ as much room, are allowed but 10 or II feet
1T is gloomy and damp under such trees until
MD day., and the moisture steals into the
darkened sleeping rooms of the house The
carpets and furniture grow mOldy, and the
people who dwell in these over shaded houses
tive. If New England boasts of her tree crown
ed villages, she also mourns over the largest
RroopoTT1hloned , OF consumptiyes in her death.
a dryer atmosphere. The dwelling should
have the full benefit of the sun, and a free cir
culatlon OF the air upon every side of it, The
yards is the ak. Thin out until every tree has
room for full development and a margin of
sunlight beyond. 1t will make handsomer
trees and healthier men. We protest against
the abuse of shade.-[ Agricuuurist
A Substitute for Copper IN Greening Pic
kels.-Henceforth, the cook, instead of putting
piece OF copper or some soda into the sauce
pan, may send the vegetable to table perfect
~ green by simply adding to the water little
harmless extract, procured in the following
such plants, containing large portions of chic
rOphyll, are Scalded in hot water and chop
ped into mass, which is boiled in a solution
OF caustic soda until the leaves are dissolved.
From that detection, on cooling, green cake
is deposited. The vegetable pigment thus OBJ
tanned lSd1sSOlved in an ak aline phosphate (as,
for instance, OF potassa or ammOnia) and water
is added until the solution is reduced to the re-
quired strength. The liquid is then heated to
boiling point. and the vegetable matters i'm
mersed in 1t for from 10 to Is minutes, when
they acquire a fine permanent green; or as
we have indicated above portion NAV be
added to the water in which fresh vegetables
are boiled. AS this is simply using natures
own recipe for the cOlOring OF vegetables. it is
both sensible and harmless; and whatever
may be said of the safety of employing copper
for the purpose, we are confident that the
chlorophyll will be generally Preferred
journal Of Chemistry.
The Chemistry Of Hdy-An analysts of
straw and hay made by Prot. F. 81. St0rer for
he Bussey institute shows the following per
centages OF nutrition or albuminoids -
cd nay ................... 81
HHp"Sli ha! .'''.'.. .-..........-I l6l
Best bog hay cut in June .......... $50
PeSt SUI w. .:t I55
BEST salt marsh nay .................T TAI