The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1879-12-24
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
Orchard Hints from, The " asrieuIsuriss.'

Orchard Hints from, The =. aerieulturisf-'
Apples are a short crop; and IL is all
the more important for those who are
30 fortunate rs TO have them, 10 keep
them properly. The cellars. if separate
from the house, should be of 4 temper
ature just above freezing, and need no.
be ventilated. Those under dwellings
must be SO constructed thai the gases
rising from The ripening fruit may pass
away, otherwise they viii rise into the
rooms above and endanger the health of
the inmates.
Fences and gates should be kept in
good order: and there IS no better Zine
for Keeping gates and posts, etc, in the
shop than during the winter.
Cions are better If cut before they
have been exposed TO hard freezing. Sc
lect The most vigorous and well lipened
shoots, and Lie in bundles, label and
pack in fresh sawdust or sand, if that
canuot be had, aud keep in the cellar.
The application of manure to the Or
chard is too often neglected. Use well
rotted stable manure. 1t may be drawn
easily when the ground IS frozen When
spread. it should cover the whole
ground. and not be leaped just about
the trunks of tie trees. where there are
no small roots.
Pruning of small branches may be
done at any tune when the weather is
pleasant. 4 very little time spent on
young frees will bring them them into
good shape and deter.Iine their f.turc
form.
Seeds of fruit and of many ornamental
trees, are best kept in damp sand or
sandy soil, and should be in place so
cool that they cannot germinate.
Bsnes as q Fertilizer.
There is no question as 10 tie fact tliat
bones properly treated and properly 81
piled are one of the most valuable and
one of the most economical fertilizers
which the FARMER, WHO cannot produce
al! the manure he requires from the
stock of his farm, can apply 10 his crops.
But there has always been great diver
sity of opinion rs 10 the method of
treatment by which the best results can
Country Gentleman gives the result Of
his experience that the best way 10 con-
vert bones into plant food is TO take
ground bone in the proportion OF a ton
TO a quarter of n cord of good friahie
soil; place the two substances, The soil
at the bottom, in alternate layers IN
some convenient place under cover. lie
same quantity of each in every layer.
In forty-eight hours it will be too hot 10
week or ten days undisturbed, then
throw it over In day or two il will
heat again unless the previous ferInent-
/ alton has exhausted all the moisture OF
the soil and bone. Continue the opera
ton by turning over until ali the mois-
turc is thus exhausted and il does not
fernent any more, and You Lave ali the
equivalents of a ton OF superphosphaie
at half the cost of ton OF that article,
which can be packed in barrels and viii
keep for years without deterioration
and which, when applied TO The CROPS.
will have a better effect than any OF ti.e
superphosphates in the market msde by
the usual method of decomposing the
bone with oil 9f vitriol. There is
great deal of commen sense ia the plan
suggested above, and it has besides tie
merit of being in accord with the best
established theories of the scientists
massachusetts PloitghmaE.
Household Hints.
a little ginger put into sausage meat
improves the flavor.
If your coal fire is low, throw on Il
tablespoonful of salt, and it will help il
very much.
To clean wooden cloth, take equal
parts of spirits of hartshorn and ether
Ox-oall mixed with ii mnkes IL better.