The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-11-27

litter of some kind. and you will have
strawberries to your heart content. !"
will stand a grade higher IN the estimation
of YOUR neiohbors. as we'll as IN your o"h
eyes.
LPHU AS AN ~SsECTICIDE:
II writer in the Vine and Frut Rec0TeieF
saws he has discovered from practice tlat
sulphur, one ounce to a gallon OF water. anu
sprinkled or syringed over grapevlnes' just
at nightfall will destroy insects ana mn
dew and leave no bad show afterWaIu.
When sifted as a powder it has an unplea5
ant and oftentimes in curious effect, although
it is acknowledged a specific manure OF
value, even when applied broadcast upon
the soil.
TABLE FLOORS I.
Mr.. J. Wilkerson, a rural architect OF
much experience, in the I"pJ. Ftetd dno
FreLd, has hit upon the following plan TOT
improving the construction Of stable 1looiS.
The floor is made level, fore and ait, put
leaving Il gentle slope from each OF the two
sides to the centre, or half the width OF d
stall. The plankS are laid crosSWlsc, IN
Ginning to the centre, leaving an opening De
tween the end in the centre, just VIDE
enough for the urine to drain through .
metal gutter under the floor, which con-
ducts it outside the building to a hogshead
or to the manure pit. This prevents It from
being absorbed in the bedding, which 9th
erwise is wet. fetid and uncomfortable to
the horse. The cleanliness Of this arrange
ment of floor is another advantage, as 1t
admits of the animal lying as he always
does, where he can in pasture fields, L. e.,
with his back up the grade. Then the
floor. being always kept dry, makes a good
bed for the horse without litter. during the
summer months, besides being cooler and
freer from the ammonia which the latter eX-
hales.
FALL FEEDING OF BEES.
Indiana Farmer.
BEING among the bees almost continual
lv, scattered over a large extent Of territory.
enables ne, [ think, to form pretty correct
conclusions relative to the average condi-
ton of bees in all kinds of hives. Hence |
would say to all, attend to your bees before
too late, or you are likely to fare worse this
winter than last, as thousands will surely
starve to death if not helped to food this
fall. For the benefit of those who don't
understand preparing food for the bees. as
it should be, and ] find the fewest number
that dc. [ will here add the best known re-
cipe: Dissolve four pounds of A coffee su-
gar in two pounds of pure. clean water.
boil and skim as long as anything rises on
top; then feed. | will here take occasion
to add, further. than from the consumption
Of this kind of food bees will secrete and
build as nice white comb as any one need
wish to see. They must be fed enough,
however, to make them feel the necessity
of building comb, the same as during a rich
honey harvest from natures flowers.
FARM NOTES.
%Stagnant and impure which cows drink
while at pasture, is one of the most promi-
nent causes of bad odors in milk
The great secret in keeping verbenas and
petunlas through the winter is to have them
struck early, and planted either in boxes or
pots by the middle of September, so as to
be established before winter.
a plant grower of considerable expert
ence tells Us that a strong solution OF cop
peras in soap sud water is very invigora-
ting to ornamental shrubs and pear trees.
1t will also destroy the small grubs that in
lest the roots OF pot-plants. Ammonia wa
ter, OF the strength of one teaspoonful Of
spirits of ammonia to two quarts of water,
Is also a good remedy for the white grubs
IN pot-plants, while it is very inyigorlting
to the growth Of the plants.
Fuchsias, after being exhausted with
blooming, should have the terminal shoots
of all their branches clipped off; then set
for two or three weeks, giving very
little water; then report in a soil composed
of we'll -decompnsed leaf mould. mixed with
q sprinkling of good garden soil, il few rus
ty nails, and a LAYER Of charcoal ut the bot
tom of The pot to secure good dra nlge.
In a few weeks new shoots full of flower
buds Will start all over, growing very rapid
ly.