St. Landry democrat., 1879-08-16
@srm and plantation.
FARM AND GARDEN.

The mocking'brd is truly one of oul
most interesting and cheerful of ths
feathered tribe, but when We rear bis
varied and piercing notes we ofen think
of his dainty and costly living upon ou,
various garden berries and other pro-
ducts necessary for wholesome and in>
terestlTg dinner. We pay him and his
fsB.lly for their sweet and warbling
notes, and should remember that the
best music is generally the most costly.
We foot the bill with but little pro.
test, but are not 60 liberal in our forced
contributions to the blue, impudent iay.
bird and red.headed woodpecker, who
eat our berries and leave Us minus
swithou day" er thankyoudo,
A fine industrious garden gives health.
comfort and glorious independence to
farm life. In fact, it is one of the noblest
institutions known to the best senses of
the human family. It's the spot of in
teresting labor and communication with
the workings of nature for mans earthly
enjoyment.
North Carolina farmers have aho,1t
100000 sheep, which yield a YEARLY
profit Of something near $3.50, 900.
They had destroyed by dogs last wear
about 10000 sheep.
The dogs of the state number about
11200O, at annual cost of nearly $500, COO
to the people, sufficient to buy and
double the present stock OF sheep in the
state.
Iennessee's statistical exhibit of the
sheep and dog species differs very little
from the above. Taking into consid-
Grafton the difference between sheep
profit and dog cost, no one could assume
10 believe that dog masters are hard up.
North Carolina for many years past
has grown large quantities of the finest
tobacco known to the trade. VIRGINIA
manufacturers have moved into that
state for more convenience to the fields
of its growth.
New beds of asparagus ought to be set
81 soon as plants can be had. Strong.
vigorous eneayear old plants are best
In the best field culture the plants are
set four feet apart. With six feet be-
tween the RVS, giving each plant good |
supply III manure as it is set. In the
1amdy garden such wide planting is not |
Desirable. 1t is well to allow three feet |
between the rows, to allow some in col.
iectlng, and crowT the plsnts in the |
rows. Some set them twelve inches, |
ana some as near as nine inches, first
working in heavy dressing of well de.
composed manure. The crowns sbou1d
be at least four inches below the s,,rface,
Asparagus is not cut until the third
year.
Farmers should spare the birds.
While it is undeniable that they are
sometimes severe on the corn and sprout>
Ing grain, it is nevertheless fact that
they compensate for it by destroying in.
sects that might do more damage. The
swallow, swift and nighthawk are the |
guardians of the atmosphere. They |
check the increase of insects that would |
otherwise soverload it. Woodpeckers,
creepers and chickadees are the guardians
OF the trunks of trees. Warblers and
hycatchers protect the foliage. Black
birds, thruahes, crows and ,arks protect |
the surface of the soil snipe and wood.
COCK the soil under the surface. Each
tribe has it's respective duties to per
form in the economy of nature, and it is
an andoubted fsct that if the birds were
all swept away from the earth, the men
could not live upon it; vegetation would
wlther and die, insects would become so
numerous that no living thing could
Withstand their attacks.