The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-01-23
SAVE THE TURKEY FEATHERS.

SAVE THE TURKEY FEATHERS.
Seasonable advice with regard to taking
care Of turkey feathers is given by Robert
Skene, Of Louisville, KY, which, as there is
demand for the feathers for making brush
es and busters, is called to the attention of
those who have heretofore allowed them to
go to waste. In saving the feathers of
turkeys it is recommended that they be
taken in bags like geese feathers, those from
the body, wing and tail being kept sepa-
rate, and each kind packed in box by ITSELF
For tail and wing feathers the box should be
little wider than the feather is long, and
the feathers laid in the boxes straight, care
being observed that sides and ends of the
feathers do not curl up, as this spoils them
for making busters, and thereby impairs the
the sale of them. In selecting the wing
feathers leave out the third joint, or that
part commonly used as fan, as the feathers
on that part of the wing are useless in the
manufacture of busters. Body feathers
should be kept as straight as possible, and
also packed in boxes. Keep all feathers
perfectly dry, as wet feathers are unstable ;
for this reason turkeys should be dry picked.
COVERING GRAPEvINES.
Ii some localities the hardest vines never
need covering. But there are occasionally
severe winters when even the most hardy
are benefited by protection. Intense cold
often blunts vitality when it does not de-
stroy. At such times vine which has been
covered will open its leaves in spring before
one which has been fully exposed has fairly
swelled Its buds. Many are deferred from
covering their vines because they take la
borious way for doing it. They need not
usually place earth Upon them. 1t is often
quite sufficient to PROSTATE them, holding
them in place by sticks of stove wood, or
with bricks, or with flat stones. An addi-
tional thin or partial covering with corn
stalks will be useful IN protecting from sharp
winds and in holding the snow. Earth, if
heavy and compact, tends to rot the butts if
they have not ripened well, or if left on a
few days too long in spring. Winter cover
ing has another advantage. 1t renders late
autumn pruning safe-an operation too Of
ten postponed till too late when left till
spring.
A CHEAP PAINT FOR BARNS AND OUT
HOUSES.
Put half bushel of good lime in clean
barrel, and add enough water to make
thin whitewash, stirring with flat stick
till every lump Of lime is dissolved then
add fifty pounds of mineral paint (the color
preferred), fifty pounds whiting, fifty pounds
road-dust. Add linseed oil and mix to
thick paste. Then thin to the proper con-
sistency for spreading with the brush, by
adding sweet buttermilk fresh from the
churn, in small quantities at a time, to give
chance for the Ingredients to assimulate.
MILK FOR FATTENING FOWLS.
To enable one to fatten fowls or chicks
quickly it is absolutely necessary to give
such food as will accomplish the purpose
best, and to this end we unhesitatingly re-
commend plenty of milk in any state from
fresh to thick. This should be fed in con-
nection with grain diet, for one counter
acts any possible deleterious influence of the
other. If kept in a darkened place and fed
unsparingly on milk, with grain in proper
proportions, you will soon have something
very choice to offer upon your tables to your
friends, as well as to your family. When
milk is fed, no water is required for fatten.
ing fowls.
Treat them generously and kindly, but Go
not keep them fat, unless they are to be
turned off for beef. A cow is machine, a
labratory for converting raw materials into
milk. If little be given, little will be re-
ceived. All animals should have exercise,
especially those kept for breeding. Some OF
them are naturally lazy, but they will be
the bettor for stirring about in the open air.
1t is cruel to keep animals tied up or shut
up for days at time. Direct sunshine
exerts powerful influence for good on
animals, as well as on plants. Do not over
look good supply of pure water to three
= times day; or good ventilation and proper
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frozen and covered with snow, it may be
well enough on pleasant dayf to scatter the
fodder, and allow the stock plenty of room
to pick it up mp, but when it is muddy, no
one but sloven will fodder on the ground.
Good racks should be made for the sake of
convenience and economy.
LOOK BEHIND AND BEFORE.
Many of the hints for last month are
equally applicable to this. Now is the time
to make plans for the campaign of 1879.
Take an inventory Of the farm stock and
everything on hand. II this has never been
done before, the proprietor will doubtless be
surprised to find how much he owns.
Strafghten up the books and little debts, and
collect those due from neighbors. Small &C
counts should not run long. Trust not to
memory. Arrange the books for the bust
ness of the year. Study over the plans con-
siderably in detail, and do not wait till the
ground is ready to plough before deciding
what to do. Look over the past and study
the good hints and the failures-whether all
was due to the best advantage whether
there was too little or too much help. This
should lead to better plans for the future.
Nothing can bring larger returns, for the
time, than a few weeks spent in accordance
with the above suggestions.
The Iron Interests
The american Many acturer and Iron
World, published at Pittsburg, Pa, gives