The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-04-17
FARM, GARDEN, AND HOUSEHOLD.
The Use of the Harrow in spring:

plorable. After many alternate changes
of freezing and thawing, the plants in
late-sown fields, or where the stand has
not become well tillered, will be found,
in great part, nearly drawn from the soil,
and with their roots exposed. If thus
left, the first drying wind completes the
damage and destroys the weakened
plants, This may be avoided by an
early narrowing of the ground with a |
light harrow, the teeth of which should
slope backward at an angle of forty-five
degrees. These teeth not only stir up
the soil and press the roots into the
ground but they draw the soil over the
plants and cover the exposed roots. The
benefit is two-fold. The damage. and
threatened loss are prevented, and the
plants are stimulated to quickened
growth. After several years experience
in the use of such harrow in the spring
upon fall grain crops, we do not hesitate
to recommend it rs a beneficial work.
1t is question if it would not be advisa-
BILE to add rolling to the narrowing,
which may be done without trouble by
attaching light roller to the harrow by
short chains. 1t would add but little to
the draft, but much to the effectiveness
and usefulness of the work.
Another use for the harrow at thi
season is to loosen up the surface of
clover or grass fields. By thus scarify-
ing the surface, the grass roots are In
duced to spread and thus thicken the
herbage. This effect is greatly aided by
spreading some fresh seed, some new
variety, perhaps, and giving fair dress
ing of fine manure or artificial fertilizers,
such as guano, nitrate of soda, dissolved
bone, salt, plaster, wood ashes, or any
other that may be chosen or found con-
venient. AS rule, our meadows and
pastures are neglected and consequently
poor; but by giving them attention in
this way at this season their condition at
haying time may be found much more
satisfactory. The harrow is also useful
in spreading manure which has been
carried into the stubble or plowed
ground through the winter. The Jumps
are broken, the long litter is torn, the
heaps are spread and mixed with the
soil very thoroughly. If the harrow
gathers the litter into heaps these may
be spread again, and again narrowed
until the whole is broken up and proper
ly distributed.
The roller should follow the harrow in
all these operations. Even should the
meadows need no loosening up of the
ter for a thorough rolling, which will
| Slllh tll lullS, SlOlltS vi otilNl pNVi-
ments to the mower into the soil, and
cave Il smooth surface to work upon.
Household Hints.
CLEANING CIsTERN-W ATER.-Addt two
ounces powdered alum and two ounces
boraX to twenty-baIrel cistern of rain
water that is backened or oily, and in q
few hours the sediment will settle and
the water be clarified and fit for washing,
| and oven fpr pOokinr nurpOSeS
MEALY POTATOES.-Selectth the potatoes
so that they will be nearly of a size; do
not put them into the pot until the water
boils. When done, pour off the water
and remove the cover until the steam is
gone; then scatter in half teaspoonful
of salt and cover the pot with a towel.
Watery potatoes will thus come out
mealy.
CLEANING DIsHEs.-Dinner dishes and
plates which have had greasy food upon
them may be rubbed off with little In
dian meal before putting into water.
They are thus prevented from making
the water unfit for continued use, while
the meal, saved by itself, is good for the
pig or the chickens.
A STRONG CEMENT.-A cement par.
ticularly adapted for attaching the brass
work to bottle-necks, lamps, etc, is made
by boiling three parts of resin with ont
of caustic soda and five of water. Th,
composition is then mixed with half it
weight of plaster of paris. 1t sets firml.
in about three-quarters of an hour. 1t j
said to be of great adhesive power, no
permeable by petroleum, low conducto
of heat and but specifically attacked b.
hot water.
LET THE BEDS BE AIRED.-It is ba'
plan to "make up" the beds immediatel
after breakfast. The sleeping apartment
in the house should be aired every day
: Beds should be opened every morning t
, the sun and to the atmosphere. Do nc
be in too much haste to get the cham
bers in order. Let the sheets and blanket
be spread over separate chairs, the mat
: tresses lifted apart, and the pure mornin
; air be allowed to get into every nook an
Granny of the room before the beds al
: made. Better to endure little delay j
getting the house in order than loss
health.
Seeding and FertiliLing in Spots.
), Mowings and pasturage, when seede
l. and manured, are treated usually on
C once for all, and as whole. We hay
C often wondered why it was that farme
+ allowed bare and sandy spots to go u
Ii attended to until the baroness, or Il
o weediness, extended so as to cover
p large proportion of the soil. This is, v
d know, altogether needless. We are a
II quainted with at least one eXtensi'
y farmer and dairyman who, not conte
\, with keeping his pastures free from 6
n sorts of brush, never permits n bare
Z seedy spot in them. If from the settlil
Of of water, the effect of frost, or the pay
a ing of animals, bare spot appears, it
e. at once seeded, and in some cases ev
7e sodded, so that the turf is maintain
at unbroken. Similarly, where the gra
in gets thin and weeds begin to appef
n manure is applied to that spot, and t
III enfeebled grass thus stimulated to !
I'll occupy the ground. In this way p;
to ture of hundred acres presents at
til times sod of pure, thick grasses,
We like of which it would be hard to find
ct this side of the Atlantic. Yet there 6
C. thousands of farmers as well situat
to and as well able to have such pastur
IT if they only would, and the same pr
d. ciples are equally OF more applicable
EST moving lands.
IRE The result is not only a matter
of looks, but of profit. The cheese of
n farmer above alluded to is sought
20 and taken by the high-class restaura
is and hotels of New York and Phila6
om phia at fancy price. Much of its
cellence is doubtless due to his heredit
skill in its manufacture, but certai
the excellent quality and perfect l
formity of this cheese are due, in
la small degree, to the fact that it is m
Il