The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-12-11
FARM AND GARDEN.

the right time, and the right time is
when they arc ripe. Break Il potato
open, and If 1t cXudes a gummy juice
and turns dark when 1t dries, it Is not
ripe, and will not keep, no mattor how
you hill 1t or protect it. On the other
hand, If it breaks dry and maintains its
white color when 1t Is broken, it will
keep, even in spite Of careless handling.
The best time to dig the potato Is after
to remain in the ground after q rain
long enough to take on new growth,
they will certainly not keep we'll. 1t
is not necessary that the frost should
kill the vines before digging, If a long
dry spell has already stopped their
growth. If, however, tho vines have
continued green and vigorous. and the
potatoes are IN Il sappy condition, let
them stand until tho vines are killed by
frost. In the next place, handle them
carefully in digging. DO not allow
them to be thrown about carclcssly
and skinned. Have them gathered in
baskcts, without being thrown in, car
ricd in the same baskets to the place
where they arc to be hillcd, and emp
tied with as little bruising as possible.
Select all the broken and cat potatoes
and keep them apart from the others.
Choose Il dry place for hilling them,
sufficiently elevated to prevent rain
from settling about them. Make bed
several Inches thick, of dry pine straw ,
or thirty bushels Of potatoes. Large
hills are Objectionable because when Il
hill Is once broken, it is more liable to
rot. Never put more than forty BUSH
els in hill-wc prefer twenty-five or
thirty. Having heaped the potatoes in
the bed OF pine straw, cover them com
plctcly with pine straw and unless the
weather is very cold let them stand for
two or three days, then single over the
hill, beginning at the bottom, with
pieces Of pine bark, so arranged as TO
turn water, and cover lightly with
cal th, leaving hole at the top, large
enough to admit the hand. This cov-
ering of earth must be regulated by the
temperature of the winters, the object
being to secure sufficient protection
against frost. OF course the covering
must be thicker in higher ATTITUDES.
In this climate Il covering of two in
chcs is sufficient. Now build shelter
of boards over tho hills to protect them
from rains and the job is complete.
LIME AND CRops. bulk of all
fertile soils consists Of three earths,
viz, silica, alImina, and lime. Un-
mixed with clay, sand or other organ
ic and inorganic substances, lime con-
mcnt calcium; and, as It enters into
the composition Of all plants, it ncccss-
arily occupies a large place In Natures y
laboratory. Proven by chen lstry, we
find that it has an affinity for water
and carbonic acid; when applied to
the land, rs Il natural result. 1t absorbs
the water, the two elements co. ming
ling and forming a third, which we
call hydrate of fine; again, this n.y.
dratc OF lime absorbS carbonic acid, go
that lime, although applied to the land
In Il caustic state, rcally y exists, shortly
after It's application. In tho form OF car
Donate, along with Il little sulphatc aud
phosphate, AZ previously mentioned.
Long years have elapsed since lime was
first used us Il fertilizer; when land
previously unwOrkcu is brought into
cultivation, or when worn out pasture
lard is broken up, lime is generally
applied. 1t effects chiefly the vegetable
matter contained In the soil, promoting
its decomposition, thus rendering 1T
available a' plant fcod.
Na"-hilbE loNSE ptIoES-H ulttlflott
Of shocing horses with raw hide has
long been In use on tho plains, and
found SO scrviceablc and convenient
that it might doubtless be found useful
In many places where there arc long
periods Of hot weather. There are al
so cases frequently occurring in which
diseases Of the feet might be a!lcviatcd
ny the temporary use of shoes cut
from raw-hide or properly prepared
sole leather. With these, that portion
of the foot which needs tho most pre-
caution, viz, the crust or walls of the
hoof where 1t meets tho sole, will be
preserved from contact with hard or
rough surfaces; while the frog, gcncr-
ally too much protected, will reach the
ground and become subjected to health
ful action. For warm work, upon
smooth soils, free from stones and gra-
vel, this kind of shoe will be useful
during the summer season. A simple
strip of raw-hidc or sole e-lcather, we'll
nlled with hot pine tar to make it hard
and waterproof, will be sufficient for
general use. A more durable shoe may
DO made of two or more thickncsscs,
fastened together by copper rivets,
IS YOUR hair falling ont or your
scalp dlseascd? Carbolinc, Il udcodorizrd
extract Of petroleum., us now imnrovoG