The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-08-16
farm and flantation.
raRnr AND GARDES.

The rnock1pg-bird 10 truly one OF our
nost interesting and cheerful of the
gaathered tribe, but when we hear his
xried and piercing notes we often think
i his dainty and costly living upon our
vsrieus garden berries and other pro-
,ucts necessary for a wholesome and i'm
aeresttng dinner. We pay him and his
tamilv for their sweet and warbling
netes and should remember that the
5basf music lie generally the most costly.
i've foot the bill with but little pro-
lost. hut are not 30 liberal in our forced
contributions to the blue, impudent Jay
bjrd and red-headed weodpecker, who
.est our berries and leave us minus
yithou dsy" or thRnkyoudo.
A fine industrious garden gives health,
comfort and q glorious Independence to
harm life. In fact, it is one of the noblest
kiustitutiens known to the best senses Of
1.-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 about
49O, 900 sheep, which yield a yearly
profit of something near $50, 900.
They had destroyed by dogs last year
about 1000 sheep.
The dogs of the state number about
l12j 900, at annual cost of nearly s500, 900
] to the people, sufficient to buy and
double the present stock of sheep In the
state.
Tennessee's statistical exhibit of the
sheep and dog species differs very little
from the above. Taking into consid-
Grafton the difference between sheep
croft and dog cost, no one could assume
4 to 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 ito growth.
New beds of asparagus ought to be set
s' soon as plants can be had. Strong,
vigorous ene.year old plants are best.
In the best field culture the plants are
set Jour feet apart. With six feet be-
tween the rows, giving each plant 9 good
supply of manure as it is set. In the
family garden such wide planting is not
desirable. 1T il we'll to allow three feet
between the rows, 10 allow some In col.
Letting, and crowd the plants In the
rows. Some set them twelve inches,
and some as near as nine inches, first
working in heavy dressing of well de.
composed manure. The crowns should
be at least four inches below the surface.
Asparagus is not ent until the third
year.
Farmers should spare the birds.
While it is undesirable that they are
sometimes severe en ghe corn and spreuts
ing grain, it is nesertheless q fact that
they compensate for it by destroying In.
sects that might do more damage. The
swallow, swift and sighthawk are the
guardians of the atmosphere. They
check the increase 81 insects that would
otherwise Overload it. Woedpeokers,
cfeepese and chickadees are the guardians
POI fhe trunks of Trees. Wafbless and
fycatchers protect the foliage. Black
birds fhrushes, crows and larks protect
the surisce Of the soil : saipe and wood
cock the sod under the surface. Each
sfi0e has its respective duties to per
'ofm In tie economy of mature, and it 10
an andoabted fact that III the birds were
@H swept eway from the earth, the men
could net live upon IT. yegetation would
'Sather aaS die, insects woSld become 90
Numerous chat no living thing could
~sshstand their attacks.