The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1879-09-10
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD
baths for runners.

FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD
Baths for Farmers.
One very great reason why farmers
become 'sstiff and old'' before their
time is from their lack of bathing and
thorough muscular exercise. The pro-
fessional man who is fatigued in body
seeks to restore his wasted energies with
cold water, and the use of dumb bells,
which, no matter what mans occupa-
ton may be, straighten out the muscles
and bring them all into action as moth
ing else does. But the farmer, when he
is fatigued, what does he do? In nine
ton in activity. He goes to bed with
out bath, and begins his days work
without bath. Once a week, like Aunt
Chloe, he has a g clcarin' up time" by
making himself clean
And what is true of the farmer, is, in
large part, true of the farmerine. To
take bath requires time and trouble
SO does everything else that is of value.
1t should not be taken when one is ex-
tremely tatigued at night. But in the
morning, after a nights rest, what is
more invigorating Salt should always
be added and with freshly-drawn waite
one has no need to go to the seaside for
bathing. A sponge or towel bath agrees
with many people much better than the
immersion of the body in a tank-tub
But what is very atisfaetory-especialiy
after one becomes accustomed TO it's
he hip-bath tub, in which one may sit
and with a mug or pitcher pour the wa
ter over the shoulders. The largest size
of these tubs should be chosen and the
material should be strong and well put
together. Zinc is the best. Those of
tin are not worth buying A good zinc
tub costs about $3.50, If in daily use
it will need to be taken once a year
probably to the tinsmith to have a
small leakage in the bottom stopped,
unless, indeed, the owner has the happy
faculty of doing his own "tinkering"
To be able to solder basins and pots and
pans is an accomplishment well worth
the trouble of boys and girls to acquire,
and the tools necessary for the work are
few and inexpensive. Hair mittens are
excellent for producing friction on the
skin, after bath, but the bath towel,
which is of large size, of heavy quality
in cotton, is preferable for everyday
use. 1t costs from twenty-five to thirty
cents. A pair of hair mittens costs Sl.5
1t is a custom in some parts of Ger
many for the head of the household to
pay the family physician a certain sum
is good plan. The doctor drops in now
and then, asks about the diet and sani-
tary habits of the various members of
the family and so has it in his power TO
apply the ounce of prevention. 1t is
quite true that if people took half the
trouble to keep in health that they take
in order to get well when once i'll. there
would be comparatively little disease.
And one of these sanitary 6 troubles is
the daily morning bath, which soon be-
comes a luxury. The time consumed in
=, IL l., l.
strength and vigor it imparts. And if
one cannot afford the bath tub, use
large basin that win hold at least six
quarts But have the tub if you can.
One had better go without a Sunday
suit than a bath tub. - Rural Neao
Yorker.
Cultivating the Pear.
A Young farmer informs us that few
years ago, observing the reports of the
high profit obtained from pear tree cul-
ture, he was induced to set out several
thousand. They have had good culture;
they grow well; but they refuse to bear,
or make him any returns. Some of his
friends at the time regarded this as a
wild speculation, and now annoyingly
remind him of his failure with the hack
neyed q told you So" He wishes to
know what he can do to persuade these
trees to bear fruit, and to give him at
least some slight return for his invest
ment. He would be satisfied with but
a small percentage of the returns he ex-
pected when the trees were purchased.
The only advice we can offer under
existing circumstances is to keep the
trees in moderately growing, healthy
condition by Il proper degree of cultiva-
ton, and not despair of some day gath
ering an abundant reward. EXtraordin-
aries excepted, he would doubtless thus
provide for himself handsome and val
liable piece of property in the future. If
the trees are too thrifty, they will be
more apt to be injured during winter
and blighted in summer; not attain good
size nor bear any fruit. In order to
graduate properly the degree of culture
which they should receive, the length of
the annual shoots should be observed,
and if it is much less than one foot in
crease the cultivation by mellowlng the
surface and manuring, II needed Ii
much more than foot in length, neglect
cultivation or even allow the ground
to be covered with grass If a young
orchard can thus be kept in a healthy
state, there is no doubt but that it will
bear abundant and profitable crops In
time.
Again, there may be certain untavora-
BILE conditions of soil which good man
agement cannot obviate. a quicksand
subsoil we have found bad for pear or
chard A good strong clay well-drained
subsoil is the best. T 81
We would advise these who contem-
plate cultivating this fruit TO examine
these particulars upon engaging in it,
especially to the extent of anything like
heavy expenditure for the purpose of
trees and planting. If an orchard of
some years standing is found now to oc-
cupya soil not properly drained, no time
should be lost in placing tile at depth
of two and three-fourths to three feet,
and midway between the rows, unless
they are quite near together, as with the
dwarf varieties, in which case alternate
space may receive the drain.
Do not give up the pear trees. 9 told