The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-03-10


acre; then cut The vi2es from several
acres for hay for stock, and turn I'M
der the balance with two-horse plows
in the early fall. The advantage of
this rcnervator is its cheapness. as
compared with commercial fettili-
zers, and the saving Of transporting
and distributing stable and other
manures; and then it is so evenly
diffused over the whole snrfrce OF
the field Exchange.
BERMUDA GRASS FOR THE SouTE.-
This once despised grass is doubt
less the Doub grass, so highly priced
in India. Our people, in attempting
to eradicate it, little imagined they
we're entertaining ian angel una
wares 1t will grow on any soil
from the richest prairie to the thin
nest pine land, and will afford per
manent pasture. When necessary,
it can be eXterminated by turning
under the soil with two, horse piow
in mid summer, and after two or
three weeks exposure to the sun
break through so as to exposure al!
the roots to the sun. On rich soil it
makes splendid hay, sweet and nu-
tritious, losing only one half its
weight in drying. 1t can be cut two
and three times in season; yield
ing, by Mr.. Afileck's report from
Mississippi, five to aight tons per
acre; and in Greensboro, Ca, at the
rate of ten tons to the acre on little
experimental plot. A permanent
meadow of Bermuda grass, an early
and late patch ofrye and few acres
Of Lucerne, will give US green food
every day of the year for all stock.
Our native crab grass makes an ex.
cellent pasture; these, with other
green and dry foods, together with
hundreds of never failing spring
branches, take away the right to de-
ny that we have q, good a stock
country as can be found anywhere.
-[Dixie Farmer.
The WAY TO HANDLE SHEEP.-A
great many men will catch the sheep
by the wool on the back with both
hands, and lift the animal clear from
the ground by the wool only. We
have slaughtered a great many sheep
in years past, and when removing
the pelts of such sheep as had been
handled by the wool we never failed
to observe that beneath the skin
wherever the animal had been caught
by the wool blood had settled. In
many instances the skin had been
separated from the body so that in
flammation was apparent. We have
known proprietors Of sheep to be so
strict in regard to handling them
that they would order helper from
the premises, If he were to catch a
sheep by the wool on any part of the
body. When about to catch sheep
move carefully toward the one to be
taken u"til you are sufficiently near
to spring quickly and seize the beast
by both hands, then pass one Land
around the body, grasp the brisket
and lift the sheep clear FROM the
ground. The wool must not be pull
ed. If the sheep is heavy one let
one hand and wrist be put around
the neck and the arm pressed against
the leg. We have always handled
sheep in the way alluded to. We
never grasp the wool. Others seize
the sheep by a hind leg, then throw
one arm around the body and take
hold of the brisket with one. But
ewes with lambs should never be
caught by the hind legs, unless they
are handled with the greatest care.
+ Exchange.
Turkey RAISING. - For some
years I have followed the time hon.
ored practice of putting the first LOT
of turkey eggs under common hens
to hatch and raise, each successive
year bringing its share of death, dis.
ease and consequent disappointment
in the size Of the flock in the fall
regulated by the season, as it was ia.
vorable or the reverse. My coops
were built large and roomy, and kept
clean as possible, but every rainy
time was death to more or less of thu
little "moslems," in spite of all pre-
cautions. Last spring we had about
$50 with hens when the rainy spell
came on. After suffering the usua
experience, a council of deliberatiol