Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-10-24
RURAL ECONOMY,
Practical Notes.

Practical Notes.
A FEW pots of mignonette sown out
side in this month are very desirable to
flower indoors when the ground is COW
cred with snow.
MANY times florists, instead of remov.
ing plant to @nArger got, simply wash
the soil from the roots and return it to
the same pot, but in new soil.
Iowa farmers are topping their corn
as a prevention against early frost. They
claim that topping it-cutting off the
stock above the ears-insures its ripen-
ing at least two weeks earlier than when
not so treated.
WHEN swallows fly low wet weather
may be expected, because the insects
which the swallows pursue in their
flight are flying low to escape the mois-
ture of the upper regions of the atmos-
phere.
ONE acre of land will produce 1000
ugar will yield 1890 pounds of sugar;
or into vinegar, 5000 gallons; or into
proof spirits, 1000 gallons. Such are
the possibilities of an acre of ground
with proper skill and cultivation.
BELIEVE, from experience and OBJ
servation, that well-improved grass lands,
with many kinds of grass. not overstock-
ed in the dry season, and liberal sup
ply of hay, cut early and we'll cared for,
will produce as good if not better cattle,
than too much stuffing with grain, which
has tendency to contract the inwards
and prevent thrift when confined to
grain alone.-Spanglar.
"THosE who are DESTROYS of winter
ing their bees successfully, says Mrs. s.
H., of Peoria, ILL.,, should now keep a
vjgilant eye on their colonies. A differ.
ence of locality sometimes makes a diff
ference in the condition Of stocks;
apiaries that are only n few miles apart,
differing in the amount of stores gather
ed, one may be scarcely making a living,
while another few miles distant, may
be storing surplus-owing to local show
ers."
"CRows smell powder long way,
and cannot be got at with gun, though
without that weapon we can come quite
near" Acting on knowledge of this
fact Mr.. w. J. Fowler burned a few
heaps Of straw in different parts of his
corn lot, at the same time throwing on a
spoonful of powder and scattering a
little on the ground around, and he tells
the Country Gentleman that since the
adoption of this device he has not seen
crow near the field, though previous to
that they had been more than usually
numerous.
A VERY simple process is employed
for freeing woodland newly brought into
cultivation from the stumps of treess.
A hole about two inches in diameter and
eighteen inches in depth is bored in the
stump about autumn, filled with con-
centrated solution of saltpeter and closed
| with a plug. In the following spring
pint or 50 Of petroleum is poured into
the same hole and set on fire. During
the course of the winter the saltpeter
solution has penetrated every portion Of
the stump, so that not only this, but also
the roots, are thoroughly burned out.
The ashes are left in stu, and form a
valuable manure.
FARMING is a business similar, in its
broad features, to all other trades and
manufactures, and should be managed
on the same principles. It is unpleas-
ant, therefore, to observe that, while
manufacturing and commercial interests
have attained a distinguished position in
this country, agriculture has not met
with that consideration which its i'm
portance demands. Whatever the ma
terial prosperity Of the country may
be, it must be based on that which sup
plies the resources Of natural life and
gigor to the nation.
FODDER CORN is more generally grown
than any other one food for green feed
ing. 1t has very many good points to
recommend it. It will grow upon
almost all soils, may be planted at vari.
Gus times, is not SO much liable to rust
if planted late as the other crops men,
toned, brings the largest quantity of
food, and is succulent and in good con-
iition for feeding for some weeks. The
albuminoids, and this renders it highly
proper that it should be fed with other
more heterogeneous food. Second and
third crops of clover are found almost
everywhere. Glover is the most nitro
genous Of cultivated grasses. It furnishes
Just the proper balance of constituents
with green corn. One-third clover to
two. thirds corn will form an excellent
ration to feed on scant pasture. The
unfavorable opinions concerning green
corn for milk have arisen from feeding
it alone, when the pasture furnished
very little other food.
HORSES should be fed in proportion to
their work. An idle team may be win
tered upon good hay alone; when work
ing lightly feed of grain at noon will
be sufficient, with hay morning and
night. With heavy work, ten quarts Of
ground corn and oats, and chafed straw
or cornfodder, will be good feeding, and
in many cases, for small horses, less will
do. Good grooming is necessary for
health in winter. Ground gypsum
spread upon the floors which will prevent
the pungent odor common to stables.
This vapor of ammonia is hurtful to
horses eyes, and the frequent cause of
ophthalmia, and resulting in blindness,
| with which so many horses are trou2led.
Throw few pailfuls of water upon the
floor first, and then scatter around a
shovelful of the gypsum. Fresh air
should enter the stables at the bottom
and the foul air escape at the top. Make
small sliding doors for ventilation, and
cover them with wire netting or laths, to
exclude neutrality-suspicious..
How many farmers have ever taken
the trouble to make careful estimate of
the amount Of unutilized land on their
farms? There may be several acres oyer
grown with brush and each year becom-
ing more difficult to clear off and put in
productive condition, or there is a con-
siderable area from which the timber
has been removed but which has not
been suitably cleared of the brush and
resulting rubbish. IT is left to produce
berry bushes, and a great variety of
weeds, until the soil is so abundantly
supplied with the enemies to profitable
culture that it will require years of
patient toll to eradicate OF subdue them.
There are on many farms acres of valua-
bic land rendered utterly worthless by
! nermittinp the water from snrinos tn min