Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-05-26
SEASONABLE FARM HINTS.

A HORSE will not bite crib made of
hemlock lumber, nor will rats, mice or
other verm1n gnaw through it.
On clean land drills may give the best
returns, but If weeds are plenty, hills
will be better, as they allow of cultiva-
ton in two directions.
The amount of f1esh-forming food is
greater in oats and oatmeal than in any
other grain, being about sixteen per
cent, and the amount of fatty substance
is double that contained in wheat.
A FARMER in Iowa estimates that the
profit of raising one two-year-old short
horn steer for market is equal to that on
eighteen scrub steers which have to be
kept three years or more before they are
saleable.
The Connecticut Farmer says that
Mr.. e. Bailey, of Little Compton, r, l.,
has kept ], ZOO to 1000 hens DUR ing the
past five years, and realized from each
an annual profit of $1.15. Large focks
are not uncommon in that vicinity, the
poultry interest being largely developed.
WHEN putting up perches use some
Judgment, at least in placing them SO far
apart that the fowls can not peck one
another. This alone is fruitful cause
of many injuries happening them in their
endeavors to escape from their belliger-
ent neighbours
LAYING hens need a great deal of lime
In order that their eggs may have the
proper thickness of shell. Nothing bet
ter can be given than raw eggs crushed
| fine. They are of special value on &C
count OF the fatty matter contained in
their cells.
Few realize the necessity of manuring
orchards. When once planted, the trees
are to remain on the same soil thirty or
forty years at least. They in few years
exhaust the food in the soil that they are
most fond of, and then they will cease to
be productive and thrifty unless proper
ly fed.
AN early rolling of clover to settle the
roots that have been raised by frost will
be especially appropriate after the open
winter just passed. Fifty pounds Of
plaster per acre will often have as good
effect as the larger doses of 100 and 200
pounds that are recommended. Wood
ashes on many soils will be found use
full application.
Corn, unlike the other cereals, will
bear the direct application of manure in
| liberal quantities. For immediate re-
suits, well rotted manures are always
best, but that taken unfermented from
the barn-yard may be applied to corn.
Long manure may be placed under,
while short manure may be spread upon
the surface and worked into the soil by
the harrow and cultivator.
POTASH dissolved in water, or I've from
wood ashes, is the best wash for the
trunks and large limbs of fruit trees.
Whitewash should not be used, as it
closes the pores Of the bark, which
should be kept open in order to insure a
healthy tree. Potash or I've answers
every purpose which whitewash would,
with none of it's objections.
PICK up any stones that may have
been raised above the surface bs the &C
ton of frost. The roller may be used to
bring the surface into good shape for the
mower. Meadows arefrequently injured
by the tread of cattle before the ground
is fairly settled. The grazing of mead
ows in spring is at the expense of the
hay crop. It is better to keep cattle in
the barn until the pastures are ready to
furnish them full ration.
JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES are grOwingin
favor; they are relished by nearly all do
mestic animals. They may be left in the
ground all winter, and when dug in the
spring are crisp and fresh and the most
acceptable change in the feed. The
round, short variety called "Brazilian
is best. The seed is cut the same as
potatoes, burrows made three feet apart,
and the pieces dropped about twelve or
fifteen inches apart in the furrow and
covered with few inches of earth.
LAND for sorghum should be such as
would produce good crop Of corn, and
prepared in similar manner. The
ground for early amber is checked off
three and one-half feet each way, taking
care to check it regularly, so that the
crop may be easily worked both ways;
with these distances, about two pounds
of seed to the acre will be required. By
" hills" no elevation of the ground is
meant, but the term is In common use
for the spot, or place for the seed. For
sorghum the ground should be level
About ten or twelve seeds are to be
dropped in place and covered.
W. T. HEARNE, of this county, one of
the most successful as we'll as scientific
farmers in Kentucky, after testing the
valuable fertilizing qualities Of salt sown
with small grain, is convinced that the
yield of wheat is largely increased there
by. Last year he sowed salt with por-
ton of his wheat, and the yield was
much greater than on other portions not
sown with it. This year he has eighty
acres of wheat, on all of which he has
sown salt. He also applied tito his oats,
as he says it certainly ought to be good
for that crop also. The experiments
made by Mr.. Hearne have induced
large number of Kentucky farmers to try
this fertilizer, and we hear of its being
sown by farmers in other counties. Leo
daagtoaa (Ky-l Transcript
IT must be admitted by every one
familiar with farm work, that the labor
problem is difficult one, and it may
fairly, from it's Importance claim the
first consultation in deciding upon the
plan of operations for the year. The