Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1879-04-19
Farm TOPICS.
HOW TO MAKE A LAWN.

5eadman says: In our climate, with |
its hot suns and long, fierce summer
droughts, deep, rich soil is essential
for 8 fine lawn. Thorough preparation |
In the way of draining, deep plough |
ing and liberal fertilizing are the pre-
paratory steps, and must be taken if we
would have our lawn maintain q con-
tinued green throughout the summer.
Il is the only foundation of success
with lawns in this climate. To avoid
the trouble of annual weeds II is good
plan to seed the ground in the fall. If
there has been much grading and Milling
in il is better to wait until spring, when
the settled surface can be smoothed
and the seed sown. II is n good plan
TO roll lawns, whether new or old, in
spring, to smooth the surface and tiller
the grass. Top-dressing is essential,
and finely decomposed compost should
be applied, or mixture of guano and
superphosphate of lime. Avoid all
coarse or lumpy manure. Keep the
grass cut short from the first, 10 cause
il to grow thick and form a dense car
pet. If you want fine lawn you can
not adopt the practice of letting the
grass grow tall and cutting it for hay.
After many trials can recommend the
following selection of seed as one that
will give the best results: For one acre,
two bushels of Kentucky blue grass,
one bushel of red-top, one peck timo-
thy and four pounds white clover.
Where the soil is very dry and gravelly
the white clover should be increased.
A PEST THAT MAY BE EXTERMIN-
ATEp.-In every barn-yard there will
be found at this season, upon examlna-
tioa of the backs of the cattle, a number
of small swellings or tumors. These
contain each one grub, which is the
larva of EStruS boris, the cattle gad-f1y.
This fly is something similar in shape
10 q bee, and worries cattle in August
and September by singing them along
the back and depositing eggs in the skin.
The cattle have an instructive dread of
this ily. and endeavor to avoid it by
darling hither and thither furiously
when attacked by it. This uswonted
exercise is great injury to milking
cows, and in many cases IS undoubtedly
the cause Of mysterious shrinkings OF
milk. Besides this injury, the poor
beasts suffer greatly from the irritation
caused by the presence OF the grubs I'M
der the skin, and when these are nu-
merous the animals may fall of greatly il
condition. There is but little difficulty
in extermiuating this pest, If concert
ed and general effort be made. Tit
gruhs are now TO be found inhabitins
the tumors, and in each swelling is .
small hole through which the insec
breathes, while it subsists upon the pu!
formed in the tumor in consequence o
its irritating presence. By gently
squeezing the swellingS, the grub MAY
be dislodged and destroyed, and Thu
will put an end to il so far. II ever,
farmer or cattle-owner in a neighbor
hood would do this just now, the file:
would become practically extinct IL
that locality. II this is neglected, tn,
lava will soon emerge of its own &C
cord from its hiding place and drol
upon the ground, form pupa, and il
proper season become a perfect fly
ready to propagate its kind once more
--Nslc York Times.
FArrENING POULTRY week.
is long enough to fatten fowls; and, tc
make it easier and more profitable to d,
SO, the birds should be kept growing
briskly from the start by liberal al
lowance of good feed, plenty of exer
else, and good care. A stunted bird OF
animal will not pay to fatten, as rule
While turkeys can not bear confinement
and will rapidly lose flesh when confin.
ed, as we have found out to our cost,
chickens, when properly handled, will
fatten more quickly, and will, conse-
quently, pay well TO take up to fatten,
for the simple fact that each day the
fowl requires certain amount of feed
merely TO sustain the functions of the