The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1879-08-28
FOR THE FARMERS HOUSEHOLD.

Preparing sumRc for Market.
To bring the best market price, sumac
should be gathered while the sap is still
in the leaf and before itturns red-and
in no case after it has begun to dry
up or deaden, or after the least frost.
The red berries must always be thrown
ont, also all sticks. The small stem on
which the leaves grow may be broken
off with them, but in no case should
any of the larger, woody stems be taken
from the bush. 1t should be cured in
the shade, as the sun will turn it white
and destroy the green color, which it is
very important to retain. Keep it per-
fectly dry, and cure in small bulk, 80 as
to prevent heating and musting, either
OF which destroys its color and strength
and renders it valueless. II should be
cured on a tight floor, raised 30 as to
let The air pass under it, which facili
tates the drying, and also keeps it clear
Of sand and dirt, which are very obiec-
tionable and very easy to detect. 1t
should be very well dried before send
ing to market, the leaf as well ss the
small stems, which latter should in no
case be over three-tenths of an inch
large, and should be thoroughly dry, so
as to snap off like a clay pipe stem, or it
will heat and spoil. This should be
carefully observed.
However long sumac may have been
gathered, or however dry it may be, it
will draw dampness from the air in damp
weather, and must not be packed until
perfectly dry again. 1t must be dry.
Sumac should have the sam green,
bright color and fresh appearance when
cured as when taken from the bush, and
must not be bleached nor look dark and
dead, nor smell musty. 1t is just as
important to have sumac gathered at
the proper time and in good condition
when sent to market, as anything else.
If sand or dirt Of any kind, or any other
kind Of leaves are found in it, it is worth
less, and by mixing poor with good
spoils all. The leaf is what is wanted
and not the sticks; putting sticks in
very often spoils the whole, as the sticks
take longer to cure and keep the leaves
damp. Sumac cured by the above direc-
tions will always meet with ready sale
and bring the highest market prices.
The Panpns Grass.
Few plants are more attractive for the
lawn and-form a more conspicuous fea-
ture than the pampas grass, and sinceit
ia entirely at home in the lower South,
one is at a loss to make out why it is so
rarely met with, especially when one re.
fleets that almost every Southern nurse
ryman has it for sale, and that it is held
at prices by no means high. The com
p~aratively few who have it growing on
their lawns or in their gardens are loud
in praising the beauty of its long, slen-
der leaves. which form bundle Of sheaths
at their base, and rise to the height Of
six OF eight feet, when they gracefully
curve outward, giving the plant the ap-
pearance, at q distance, of a hemisphere
of beautifully curved lines. Toward
autumn when the leaves have attained
their full development, the flower stems
appear from the centers of the strongest
sheaths, shooting up perpendicularly
three or four feet above the mass OF
foliage and gradually unfolding q plume
of elegant, feather-l like flowers, which at
first are of a silky whiteness, but as.
sume a darker tint as the season ad-
vances. OF course the reader will un.
derstand that pampas grass is cultivated
only for ornament, and that, therefore,
one or two tufts ia all that a person
would be likely to want. A single plant
set out will soon form n tutt. II kills
down in winter at any point above the
frost line, but being perennial rooted
soon springs up into conspicuousness
the next spring.
To Stop Bleeding.
Asa Kemper, Boss county, Ohio, says
that bleeding from q wound on man or
beast may be stopped by q mixture Of
wheat -four and common salt, in equal
parts, bound on with white cloth. II
the bleeding be profuse, use a large
quantity, say from n to three pints.
1t may be left for hours, or ever days, if
necessary. In this manner he saved the
life OF a horse which was bleeding from
a wounded artery; the bleeding ceased
in five minutes after the application. 1t
was left on three days, when it worked
loose, and was easily removed from the
wound, which very o o healed.
Planting Trees.
Trees should be planted not only by
dwelling houses and along roads, but
they should be in every pasture and by