The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-05-22

POTATOES, willsbel good TO secure the re
qlisite culture. and it may be sltcrnatcd
with wheat, rye and, oats. 4 twill tlien
be necessary to mulch the trees.
~ Any coa,se material may be used for,
this puIpose-l+forest leaves, fodder,
straw, etc, will do, and should be, ap-
piled to the trees us car around as tile
roots extend, and six to eight inches
deep; this will keep down weeds, and
prevent the ground from getting dry
around the roots, and when decomposed
will enrich the soil. Peach trees should
be examined every spring in order to
destroy the peach worm, which may be
found by the gum which exudes from
his abode near the roots of the tree.
Strong ashes or lime will destroy them
and is at the same time the best fertil-
izer that can he applied.--J. G. DoUis, in
Courier-,JOurnal. a-,. ..,..tteV 40
The Color of Clothes.
The color of clothes is not matter
of indifference. Whiteand light-colored
dark -colored materials absorb the heat (;
hence it is that in summer we wear light
colored dresses. But, after all, light
colors are really best at all seasons; for,
though black and dark substances alb
sorb heat best, they also radiate OF give
it off soonest. There is no doubt that
| white clothing retains the heat of the
body longer than dark clothing. The
coachman will tell you that his white
duflel coat is warmer in winter and
cooler in summer than any other kind
of coat, and the brewers drayman will
wear his white stockings all the yeaI
round. The true reason for our prefer
encc of dark-colored clothing in winter
aud during bad weather is economy.
1t is II question of soap and washing,
not Of comfort, which decides us to
choose those colors in materials which
do not bear constant washing, such as
wool and silk, which show the dirt least
and retain their color longest. In the
summer, when ladies wear linen and
cotton fabrics, which do not suffer in tho
washtub, they can indulge in their love
for white and delicate tints ofcolor.
How to Deal with Rats.
An exchange says: We clean oul
premises of these detestable vermin by
making whitewash yellow with coppera:
and covering the stones and rafters in
the cellar with thick coat of it, Ii
every crevice where rat might tread
we put the crystals of the copperas ant
scatter the same in the corners of thu
floor. The result was perfect stampede
of rats and mice. Since that time not {
football of either rats or mice has beer
heard about the house. Every spring a;
coat of the yellow wash is given to tht
cellar. as a purifier as well as a rat ex
terminator, and no typhoid, dysenter.
or fever attacks the family. Many per
sons deliberately attract all the rats il
the neighborhood by leaving fruits anC
vegetables uncovered in the cellar; an'
sometimes even the soap is left open fo
their regalement. Cover up everythin!
eatable in the cellar and pantry and yol
will soon starve them out. These pre-
cautions joined to the service of goot
cat will prove as good a rat eXterminato
as the chemist can provide. We neve
allow rats to be poisoned in our dwell
ing: they are so liable to die between til
walls and produce much annoyance.
Fiower-Beds.
The Cdnada Fdrnaer says: A few sim
pie rules in the arrangement of flower
beds will materially enhance the effec
produced. Among these are:
First-Avoid placing rose-colored mex
to scarlet, orange or violet.
Second-Do not place orange next t
yellow, nor blue next to violet.
Third-White relieves any color, bu
do not place it next to yellow.
Fourth-Orange goes well with blue
and yellow with violet.
Fifth-Rose-color and purple alway
rO well tOppthpr