The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-11-13
TOPICS FOR THE FARM.

TOPICS FOR THE FARM.
Plaster is a valuable fertilizer for
corn and clover.
The mealy-bug Car be removed by
it with feather dipped in al
cohol.
A blade of grass is like note of hand
simply from being matured by falling
dew.
Easy plants to grow in the sitting
room are the calla, wax plant, cactus,
ivy and dracena.
In husking corn leave no silk on the
ears for mice to build nests of, when the
corn is stored.
Less labor is required by both man
and beast if ploughing is done in the
cool fall months.
Manure and dig flower beds and leave
them rough for the action of the frost
through the winter.
Attend to all loose boards, rickety
shutters and doors about the building
before the cold and stormy days set in.
A poor tool or implement is not worth
taking as gift; with a good implement
we have half the work accomplished.
In the orchard all fruit should be
gathered carefully; pack after they have
gone through the sweating process, if for
keeping.
Land designed for oats next spring
should be plowed this fall, just before
winter sets in, left rough, and sown to
oats early in the spring.
supply, leaving the balance of the crop
in the ground for spring. Farmers
should grow more parsnips for cattle.
How few farmers know what ingred-
tents are required in the soil to raise
abundant crops of grain, hay, fruit or
vegetables; or what those crops are COM
posed of.
Never try to get heavy days work
out of team. Moderate and steady go
ing are what count in long race, and
the farmers race is long one. 1t takes
but few hours, or even a few minutes,
to tax a horse SO that he is out of fix for
months.
Worn out lands are greatly benefited
by turning sheep upon them; the i'm
portance of fertilizing the land in this
way is becoming more apparent to the
farmer every year. 'The tread of the
sheep is golden"
1t is estimated that nine thousand
acres along the line of the New York
railroads, between the rails and fences,
are made to produce corn and potatoes
by six hundred families living in shan
ties on these squatter farms.
A natural arbor can be made by plant
ing the Usage Orange at equal distances
apart, in any form desired, and, as they
grow, interiocking the branches, and
bringing the tops together to form the
roof, trimming inside or outside as re-
quired.
During the past eight years wool
growing in Colorado has increased
nearly 500 per cent, and the territory
has now zoe, 900 sheep, which will yield
the present year nearly 8 100000 pounds
of wool. Leading fiocks number from
1000 head up. r'F ~-
We hope a good supply of carrots have
been grown for the horses; half oats and
half-carrots make excellent feed, gives
the animals smooth coats and keeps
them in healthy state. Cows fed upon
carrots produce excellent butter, well
colored in winter.
In storing potatoes in the cellar use a
chute or wide trough, running from the
wagon through the cellar window into
the bin, and it will save many back.
aches Farmers should not be so ready
to waste their strength. Use a little
thought and then go to work. Don't
make yourselves beasts of burden.
In wintering bees great deal depends
upon the condition of the colonies at the
commencement of winter; they must bt
populous, full of young bees, which con
dition will always be secured bv com
mencing in time; they should have no
less than twenty pounds of honey t.
winter on to each hive, and it must b.
pure and sweet.
Poultry should have warm quarters
Eggs can not be expected unless fowl
| are housed comfortably. In addition
they should be we'll fed with wheat
meal mush and scrapings from tn
kitchen. If the swill were fed to tn
fowls as well as the pigs, more prof
would result from the practice.
Some farmers laugh at the idea o
currying and brushing COWS, but if the,
could see the COW that the writer owns
which was brought into good condition
in flesh, slick coat, good looks and goo
temper, (not speaking of the extra yiel
of milk and butter), from a poor scru
of thing, their faces would relax int
serious anxiety of inquiry to get at tn
facts of the management which produce
such a wonderful change.--EGchange.
Within a very few years past the shee
industry of North America has mad
greater progress than perhaps any othe
save only that of dairying. Both of thes
are likely to continue their growth fc
many years to come. because of our cs
paclty TOR their development at merel
nominal cost, and because we have bot
a good home and foreign market for a
the butter and cheese, wool and muttol
we can produce. And these two togetht
will in all probability progress at til