The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-08-14
AGRICULTURAL NOTES,

ACCORDING to experiments detailed
in German journal, ants nests may be
broken up and insects repealed by ap-
plication of carbolic acid, one part to
100 parts water, stirred repeatedly dur
ing two days, and the scum skinned off
with tube or otherwise.
ONE-YEAR OLD grapevines, set ills
spring, should not be allowed to grow
more than one shoot. Remove all 9TH
ers, preserving of course the strongest.
Ii older vines were set, these should not
be allowed to bear, as it is necessary for
them to become thoroughly established
and prepare for fruiting. Keep all
shoots tied up to stakes or trellises. On
old vines the fruit will be greatly i'm
proved by thinning after the clusters
are set, leaving only two punches to q
shoot.
YOU'VE turkeys are sometimes raised
with difficulty, and at times many are
lost in spite of care. When getting their
feathers they are very tender, easily
take cold, and are injured by overfeed-
ing. Fresh curd is good for the m; so
are young onions chopped, and mix
ture OF linseed meal, four parts; ground
ginger, one part; cayenne pepper, one
part; and sulphur, one part, may be
given in small quantity mixed with the
food every day, with benefit. Exposure
to rain or damp is to be avoided.
MRS. A. c. THOMAS, who is success
fully managing farm at Tacony,
Penn gave reporter of the Philadel-
phia Press this hint for dairymen:
Z" Some people send boy after their
COWS in the pasture. I don't. When
it's milking time the hired man says to
the dog. 'Shep, 60 after the cows, and
away he goes, and in little while the
herd comes tinkling up. Why send
man to do boys work, or boy to do
that which shepherds dog can do Just
as we'll? The dogs don't throw stones
and put my cows eyes out, neither do
they bite. The cows understand them,
and readily come when they are sent
after"
SCRATCHES is the disease which af-
fects the heels of horses and is often
called grease in the heels, or mud fever.
1t is disease of the skin, caused origi.
nally by wet or filth, and the absorption
OF diseased matter in time produces
diseased condition of the blood which
renders cure very difficult. If it is not
very serious it may be treated by fire.
quent washing with warm water and
soap, and amounting with the following,
viz: Melt together 2 ounces of bees
wax, ounces rosin, pound of fresh
lard; add to this ounces of turpentine,
and stir until nearly cool; then stir in /
ounce of finely powdered acetate of cop
per, and well mix until cold. The heels
should be bandaged, to preserve from
injury or from irritating matter, mud,
sand, or filth. If the disease is unusu-
ally virulent medicine should be given.
This may be free saline laxative, as -
to 16 ounces of salts, and the usual an
tiseptic, hyposulphite of soda in small
doses, repeated daily until the disease is
overcome. If purging occurs, reduce
to ounce doses.
No family that lives on farm should
neglect the gathering of herbs for use
both in the household, the stable and
barn-yard. Much time, much suffering
and great deal of expense can all be
saved by q little labor in this respect.
The month Of July is the proper season
to gather all kinds of medicinal herbs.
After dog-days begin the herbs seem to
lose their strength and are more liable
to mold when drying. Thoroughwort,
wormwood, tansy, lobelia and burdock
leaves should have q place in every
farm house, as they are all exceedingly
useful both in curing diseases and in
wardiug them off. For sprains in man
or beast wormwood is the best applica-
ton that can be found, and lobelia for
cough or epizooty in animals is an in
fallible remedy. Mullen leaves powder
ed fiue and mixed with grain will allevi-
ate the heaves in horses, and it is said
it will in time ehectually cure them. A
knowledge OF the efficacy of herbs is
very desirable and useful and well worth