The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-28
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The experiment has been made of
sowing oats and wheat together with
view to obtaining a winter covering for
the wheat. The seed, in proportions OF
one part of oats or two parts of wheat,
was sown in the fall and the oats sprang
| up quickly and were killed by the early
frost, the stalks and leaves lying on the
ground all winter, keeping the snow
from blowing away and preventing the
sun from thawiDg the frozen ground. In
the spring the dead oats made good
top-dressing for the growing wheat. The
crop of wheat secured on the following
season was reported to be excellent,
while wheat on adjoining land planted
in the usual manner was of no value
Scsf6aer for September.
To Drive Away Hen Lice.-A cor
respondent Of q foreign exchange says
that the only reliable mears Of Kidding
the hen-roost and pigeon-loft of vermin
is preparation of sulphur and carbon,
technically known as sulphuret-carbon
In France it has been thoroughly tested,
and we are assured that it works like a
charm. 1t kills the insects which prey
upon pigeons and fowls, without injur-
ing the birds. A bottle containing the
solution will last several days, and the
cost of it is small. Put two ounces of
the sulphureJ of carbon in bottle open
at the mouth, and hang it by string in
a henhouse. at the end of eight DAYS
the bottle should be refiIled. The rem
edy is said to be infallible. If as good
as claimed to be, it should be known to
every farmers wife and poulty raiser in
the land.
Tendency Of the High Breeding Of
FOwls-So things are coming to this
pass, says a writer in the London Gar.
deners' Chronicle, that we are likely soon
to have in England beautiful birds,
too good to be eaten" kept like race
horses, not for their utility, but to gain
prizes while our markets will bs sup
piled with birds of no breed at all. For
if, as expect, exhibitions tend to pro-
duce pampered. tender birds, whose
eggs and chickens cannot be depended
on in bad winter like our last, those
who rear fowls for market will gradually
cease to buy their eggs, and will content
themselves with harder, commoner
birds; and the fine birds, of superior
! size and excellence, which were to have
| NCC1 lAtltuuGCN l1fCtCky yAIu d1lu
Ecottageg garden when sexhibi tons had
q drawn attention to then1, will but find
their way to our tables.
Winter Wheat.-This is the all
absorbing question with farmers. We
have been watching carefully the testi.
given literally in all our exchanges. A
| Iorra pup,hor in Tl1inoic
sowing wheat on oats ground. Turu the
oats under, harrow down smooth, and
then Immediately drill the wheat deeply
The oats will grow, be killed by the
hard frosts, fall down aud form pro
tective winter mulch. Professor Budd
after several years experience, recon-
with the wheat. But it will not do tt
other way every year. ALI any one cal
and then pursue that plan which sci
ence, reason and common sense dictat
is right and proper .-Lo,oa State Reg
/, ;aer.
} The Art Of Butter Making.-Neve
use your pans for anything but milk
wash well in two waters, scald and wip
: we'll with a clean towel; never ALLOW
your milk to stand over forty-eigh
hours: set your milk in a cupboard o
safe, with papers pinned over the wire
to prevent the air from drying tn
, cream, else there will be white specks il
the butter; when you skim, loosen tn
cream froEl the pan with the finger
: what adheres to the pan will not max
butter if scraped off with the cream
keep the cream jar in as cool an atmos
, phere as the milk; never allow either t,
freeze. Churn as often as every fourt
day. When the cream is ready, stant
near the stove, turning the churn, ant
churning to stir the cream while warm
ing; take out the butter and place it il
cold water, rinse we'll, salt, cover vel
}. from the air, and set away let it stant
twenty-four hours, then work over
!, press the butter while working insteat
= of smoothing, as pulling the ladle over i
- makes the butter oily IL these direc
: tions are observed with care, you will b
: repaid by sweet, yellow butter.
n Layering for Winter.-In Iayerin
S carnations and other plants, man,
e operators cut the leaves left beyond th
l. cut square off. This is not only unne
e cessary, but absolutely hurtful. Tax
r away those below the third good joint
: aud upon the surface that will be belo,
: ground cut slit about half through tn
G shoot and about an inch long; keep tn
/, slit open with a silver of wood, and pc
r it into the ground, covering it wit
about an inch of soil. Water so it doe
l. not get entirely dry, and the plants vii
e root nicely in about four weeks, whe
It they may be transferred to pots fo
e winter blooming. The same rule vii
|, apply to the layering of any plant
usually propagated from cuttings, b
regular florists, although plants Of
% succulent nature, or soft-wooded things
" like geraniums, coleus: achyranthus
herbaceous begonias, cactus, start S
/, readily from cuttings that they ar
better treated thus. In fact, durin
e July and August, almost any of tn
h plants usually propagated from cuttingl
t, If stuck pretty thickly about thre
e inches deep inasbed Of light loan ON tn
north side Of the house, and kept moist
will strike readily. A good way is t
build a low frame around them, SO ther
will be about four or five inches spac
J. above the plants. and cover close with
% small sash. This keeps humid atmo
o phere and prevents undue evaporation
Is Thus any person may propagate any G
d the plants usually kept in ro0ms.-
n Prairie Farmer.