The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-12-25
TOPICS FOB THE FARM


nearer than we think.
TOPICS FOB THE FARM
Spurious Artificial Manure. - In
France they use annually artificial ma
nures to the value of goa, 900, zoo francs,
and NJ. de Molon considers 100000, COO
worth of this is fraudulent mixtures.
He thinks if farmers could be certain of
the useful quality of the manures, tEey
would purchase double the quality NJ.
de Molon now produces manures from
the decomposition of sea weed, such as
is found abundantly on the French
Coast, and powdered sulphate of lime
They are mixed and placed in pits until
thoroughly decomposed. The manure
thus made is very suitable for asricul-
tlral purposes, as it contains, besides
phosphates of lime, nitrogen, mineral
salts, soda, potash and magnesia.
The health and comfort of horses have
of late years been greatly improved by
the better construction of stables. They
are made more roomy and lofty, ana
provided with means of thorough ven
tilation. In many new stables lofts are
done away With, or the floor of the lofts
is kept we'll above the horses heads, and
ample shafts are introduced to convey
away foul air. By perforated bricks
and gratipgs under the hangers and
elsewhere round the walls. and also by
bav windows and ventilators, abundance
of pure air is secured for the horses );
while, being introduced in moderate
amount and from var Gus directions, it
comes in without draught. Too much
draughI is almost an unknown stable
luxury. To secure constant supply of
pure air horses require more cubic space
than they generally enjoy. Even when
animals are sttbled only at night, a
minimum of 1,200 cubic feet should be
allowed. In England the newer cavalry
barracks give a minimum of 800 feet,
with a ground area of fully ninety
square feet per horse, and the best hunt
ing and carriage horses have more
room.-Journal Of Chemistry.
Cheap Drainage.-The thorough
drainage of land so as carry off the sur
plus water is Low acknowledged by all
to be necessary, and was glad to notice
that attention was called to its inlpor-
tance in an editorial in late number of
the Farmer. In many ca es drainage
will treble the value of land. When ]
came into possession of the farm where
/ now live, had piece of land so wet
that could not go on to it with cait
to get the little, stunted growth of
meadow hay that grew upon it. But,
after draining, and year or two Of cul-
tivation, took off about thirty bushels
of barley from an acre, and the next
year about two and half tons of good
English hay, that sold for $50, al hay
was high that year. Like results can
not always be attained. This was q
mucky and springy swamp. The oxy-
gen was almost entirely excluded from
the grass roots, and it is well known
that the presence of oxygen is all i'm.
portant to vegetable growth. Wood
will not rot when it is exclu led BY water
and vegetable mold will not move in the
process of decay, as it should to prepare
it for plant food. There are thousands
of acres of land in this State that are
annually plowed and sowed or planted
that produce almost nothing, ON account
rid of this surplus water cheaply and
make these wet places the best OF
the farm, is an important matter. Or
rocky land the way is plain. If there
is larg, amount of surplus water tt
be carried off, ditch should be dug Al
least two feet wide ad two and a hal
teet deep, and side stones laid so as tt
leave and open space of about six inches
in the middle, and covered with stones
of sufficient width to rest securely OF
the side stones. / made drain in thi
way on the land | allude to, abou
twenty years since, and although ther,
is at times quite brook of water rush
ing through it, 30 much that it owe flows
and for an hour or two spreads over
large space, yet it does no damage, bu
is "a benefit, and the drain remains a
when made. Where but little wate.
has to pass the drain, stones thrown il
promiscuously will, answer, as l hav,
tested it. But there is a-large acreag,
of land in the State that has hard ella,
subsoil, with ho rocks in reach, tina
needs draining, and thus far tiles hav,
been considered the only mode of ain
ing such lands. | am now engaged il
have hit upon plan that requires bu
a few, and stones or tiles may be dis
pensed with altogether. dig drail
two feet wide and lw1 feet asep aut
reach hard pan. In the center Of thi
L make a narrow ditch six inches il
| width and six deep, and on the sides o
the main ditch 1 lay thin, fiat stones
not wide enough to interfere with tn
under drain. Then place thin, fla
stone, about wide enough to lay hrml,
| on the foundation stones at the bottom
and cover lightly with slate, then stones
On this put my little, stones, and I'll
up as far rs 1 think will leave room fo
the piow. Those living near The slat
quarries could utilize The waste in thi
way 10 great advantage, and this vast
might be transported long distance fo
the purpose OF draining, where there al
no stoAes, and thus draining come
cheaply, as the drains could be uarrowe
and shoaler than by the commol
mode.
But if out OF reach of stones al
together, plank LAID over the cente
dram leng gthwise would make a chea]
drain, as a loot wide and eighteeI
inches deep would be sufficient, viii
tue drain six inches wide and six deel
below this. 1 am confident that TIM
mode of draining will be great saving
and l am trying il, and If life al
health are spared will give results
Meanwhile. brother farmers, if you hav
lands that need draining, try it for your
selves; it will not est you much.-
Lovid Bros0n, in 11uine Farmer
ToPfcy for the Household.
For roughness of the skin: Mix tw
parts of brandy with one part of rose
e.