The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-05-10
Agricultural Notes.

An exchange gives the following quick
method of testing garden seeds The vltal
ty of seeds may be tested by placing the
sample ol almost any Of the larger kinds Of
seed or grain upon a hot pan or griddle.
When the seeds are good and the vitality is
perfect, the specimens will crack open with
more or less noise on the other hand the
seed is not good or the vitality is defective,
it will remain still and burr. This is a
much quicker and surer plan of testing seed
than to plant in earth or warm water. To
test them in this way it is not necessary that
the seed be perfectly dry, although they
should not be too moist. Seeds should not
be kel too dryj an airy but moderately dry
quarter garret is the best place to keep them.
Some years ago l was detained in re
turning home by break in the railroad
requiring a detour of some twenty miles. In
order to make this hired buggy and dri-
yer. But the horse proved most aggravat-
baker He balked when there was no pos
sible reason or occasion for it. While we
were at certail point striving in vain to
set the beast going, either by the argument
of persuasion or by blows, an Adams express
wagon came along. The driver jumped Off
his seat, took the whip and gently touched
the animal under the belly, back and near
the loreleg, aud Immediately the horse went
on his way. We tried it repeatedly after
ward, aad always with success,
AT a recent meeting of the Farmers
Club at Mercer, Pa, the following recipe
for making grating was given; Three
ounces of tullow, two ounces of Beeswax, one
pound Of Iosin. Melt the tallow, then add
beeswax, and then the rosin, finely powder
ed and stirred gradually into the mixture
Work it well as the children do their tally,
and put away in convenient pieces. When
wanted to use, put piece in hot water and
work it over, when it will become plable,
The Corn Crop furnishes in May the
chief employment OF the northern and wcs-
{ I'm farmers, Planting earlier than the first
week in this month as scarcely advisable, us
the work. 1t is safer to leave the planting
until the ground is warm and the weather
settled. A crop pplantcd in April, may be in
June considerably behind one planted two
weeks later.
Grass LANDs.-Rolling the meadows
with heavy roller will level the surface by
reducing hummocks, sinking the stones and
sticks, or roots, and compact the soil about
the roots and so strengthen The grass. A
light dressing, 100 lbs, nitrate Of soda per
acre, for instance will encourage the growth
and add largely to the yield,
Glover Gelds will be benefited by the
application Of a bushel or two Of plaster, as
early this month as possible. Their is no
better place on the farm to put wood ashes
than on clover. Circumstances, already re-
ferred TO, are tending to make clover more
important crop than we have regarded it, el
preparation for wheat and for green feed
ing. For this use some of the annual vare
ties may be sown. ...
Cows.-Now the cows are fully ON III,
pastures supply tEem regularly with salt
one ounce a day is Sufficient, and it will pre-
vent possible injurious effect Of the fresI
succueut food which otherwise might ar
pear in the form Of severe and dangerou
disorders of the blood. a noon feed of ha,
with a quart Of cotton.seed meal will be use
fll this month, until the grass becomes les
slcculent.