The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1879-10-10
FARM AND GARDEN.

evil. Among other things the use of a
board covering over the trellis was sug-
gested. This year others have made
use of Manila paper bags, which they
| slip over the bunch about 10 days after
the blossoms appear. securely pinned at
the opening. Mr.. George Scarborough
put on 500 bags as an experiment. In
all eases when the bags were removed
the clusters were found perfect, when
the bags were put on soon enough. This
gentleman has also experimental with
the board covering, during the present
year, and found il to succeed so well
that he has determined To use it largely
next season. Mr.. ID. Rood has also had
$4,000 paper bags in use in his vineyard
with results equal to that of Mr.. Scar
borough. One man can put on 900
paper bags in a day. Col. Alex. w.
Pearson also used the board covering
with gratifying results, and he is well
satisfied that the board covering will
remedy the grape rot, and will next
year make wholesale use of the cover
ing, as it not only protects from the dis
ease, but from early frost. The first
cost is greater than the paper bags, but
this is counter balanced by the length
of time it will last.-Erchange.
STORING SWEET POTATOES.-Swect
potatoes designed for winter storage
must be dug at the right time, and the
right time is when they are ripe. Har-
vested previous to maturity potatoes
will not keep, no matter how carefully
A ii,
and maintains its light color when
broken. If on breaking it eNudes Il gum
my juice and turns dark as it dries, the
potato is unfit to be taken from the
ground. 1t is not necessary that the
frost should kill the vines before dig
ging, provided they have already ceased
their growth and the roots are not in a
sappy condition. Potatoes must of
course be lifted before the weather in
dicates a degree of cold sufficient to
freeze the ground. Dig sweet potatoes
in dry weather only, and allow them TO
air dry i'm the shade before packing in
winter quarters. Handle carefully, as
slight bruising from rough carriage
proves injurious to their keeping quail
ties. There are many modes in practice
for preserving this tuber. The prin-
ciple underlying them all is the exclu-
sion of cold air and keeping the roots
perfectly dry. At the North sweet po-
tatOes are usually stored in barrels or
shallow boxes placed in tiers, indoors,
with spaces of few inches between for
ventilation. Thus arranged, a uniform
heat is maintained from Il fire in the eel
lar or elsewhere. Not infrequently
sweet potatoes are stored in tight, dry
cellars, a portion of which is partitioned
off and the sides and bottom lined with
straw. When large quantities are re-
served for spring sale, houses
are erected expressly for their preserva-
ton. They are generally two stories
high and so constructed that the pOta-
toes can be stored in boxes placed in
tiers with spaces between for ventilation
and a heat by which a uniform temper
AZURE can be preserved. Thus stored
neither chaff, shavings or other packing
material is required. At the South the
common practice is to hill sweet pota-
toes in a dry place and protect them
from the weather by a matching of
straw, shingles, etc. The spot selected
must be sufficiently elevated to prevent
rain from settling about the hill. Large
hills are Objectionable, because when Il
hill has once been opened the potatoes
bushels in Il Hill is the rule. A method
much practiced is making a bed several
inches thick of dry pine straw or similar
material and heaping the potatoes in
this bed; they are next covered with
straw, and, unless the weather is very
cold, permitted to remain without other
protection for few days, then begin
ming at the bottom the hill is shingled
over i'm such manner as to turn water.
This protection is lightly covered with
earth, hole being left at the top large
enough to admit the hand. The cover
ing of earth must be regulated by the
temperature of the winters, the object
being to afford sufficient protection from
frost. A shelter of boards on the hills
to protect from rains renders the work
completely. Y. World.
POULTRY HABITs.-Of all farm stock,
hens are the most easily taught. The
education of hens can be commenced at
any age; but best while young. They
should be housed and shut in every
night, and not be allowed to roOst on
sheds, well-sweeps, or trees; even neg
lect to shut the door on them for one
night will cause the timid ones to seek a
higher rOost the next night, and that
can only be found out-of-doors. This
leads to laying out of doors-a great
nuisance-and to constant loss from
rowing night enemies. At sunrise every
morning call the hens around you, and
scatter full feed for them; let this
always be done on the same spot of
ground. Keep, in convenient place, a
reservoir of fresh clean water, if you
have no running stream. At certain and
regular times in the day, you will find
the whole flock there. Throw no scraps
of food around the dwelling, or you will
teach them to become house nuisance.
Burn all the egg-shells, or you will
teach the hens to eat eggs in the
nests. If you coop your chicks, take
hen and brood to the hen-house as soon
as the coop is dispensed with:
otherwise, when winter sets in you will
have to spend hours every night for