St. Landry democrat., 1879-06-07
FARM AND HOME.
FARM NOTES.

some imagine th1e euo PoA -
farming consists wholly in aptness tc
labor and strength of muscle.
A few drops OF ammonia added to q
GALLON of water and applied once week
tn all pots of flowers will do much good
and keep the pots and earth from souring
A New York firm has in operation a
hog-scraping machine which does the
labor of twelve men, and is capable of
scrapipg two thousand five hundred a
day.
Red clover hay safely housed and we'll
cured is the best article for sheep. With
a supply of this, and an occasional
sprinkling of corn, sheep will keep as fat
and as we'll RS On good pasture.
Sandy loans are best adapted to grain
growing, as a general rule, while grass,
either as meadow or pasture, flourishes
well on clayey soils. This should be
regarded in making selections.
Liberal feeding is true economy. The
aim should be to induce animals of all
kinds TO eat all they have good appe-
tite for and digest, by changing food and
also methods Of preparing it.
A small quantity OF 'uperphosphate
dropped upon potatoes when planting,
increases the yield, and is a remedy
against worms and insects, by which
scab and other diseases are produced.
Buy no fertilizers without knowing
precizely what they consist of. Peruvian
guano, and other reliable fertilizers, when
genuine, always have brand upon their
bags with statement of their analysis.
Good dairymen contend that milk is
partly absorbed when kept for long
time in the udder, also asserting that
COWS MIXED thrice daily produce more
milk and butter than if they were
MIXED Only twice day.
A barrel OF plaster should be kept in 8
handy place in every stable and manure
cellar. Where this is used constantly
there will be freedom from the usual
strong odor of stables and fermenting
manure, and saving of valuable material
which would otherwise escape.
A while ago hired man was smoking
a pipe while standing near the door CT
the stable. The door was suddenly
blown back, knocking the pipe out OF
his mouth and scsttering the fire in
every direction. The sparks were put
out, but we were reminded that pipe
smoking, even by the most careful men,
ought never to be tolerated about the
barn.
To prevent saddle gals the saddle
should be lined with some smooth, hard
substance. Flannel or w0olen cloth is
bad. A hard flushed, smooth rawhide
lining, similar to those Of the military
saddle, if properly fitted to the horses
bsck. there will be no gals unless the
horse is very hardly used. Calls should
be washed with soap and water and then
with solution of three grains of cop
peras or blue vitriol to one tablespoonful
of water. which will ha,den the surface
and help to restore the growth of the
skin. White hairs growing upon CALLED
spots can not be prevented.
In recent discussion of the profits of
wheat growing in England, the curious
fact was developed that the product of
sthe straw has become in that country
more important than that of the wheat.
This is not because the yield of wheat,
in proportion to the straw, is less than
formerly, but it is due to the fact that
straw is now so extensively used in
chopped food for animals, and enters into
go many manufactures, that there is q
demand for all that, is raised, and it
brings good price. This is true to some
extent in our older farming sections, and
especially in those towns near large
cities, where 8 considerable demand ex~
lists for wheat straw.
Few of us ale sufficiently aware OF
the true value of our insectivorous birds.
From early spring until late autumn
these restless visitors haunt the fields
and gardens in quest of food, prying into
every mock and crevice where the de.
stroyers OF our crops lie concealed, 8
countless host of which falls prey to
their busy search during the seasons OF
planting and harvest, Every bird that
frequents farm-if we except the hen
hawk and crow-comes to offer us an
unpaid service whose Importance we can
hardly overestimate. Let anyone who
doubts this watch phoebe bird or spar
row tor halt an hour, and see how, with
scarcely moments intermission, oul
little lnsect.hunter pursues his eager
task; and then let him reflect upon the
necessity, the duty, of afGording the
birds every possible protection.
HOUSEHOLD HELPS.