The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-09-03
FARM NOTES.

w. A. BROOKS, of Hamilton Town
ship, Franklin County, Iowa, has 215
acres OF flax as an experiment. He is
satisfied flax is a more profitable grain
than wheat, and predicts that it will take
! the place of wheat III few years in
Iowa.
AN Ohio wool-grower noticing that
another fiockmaster complained IL at he
could not rid his sheep of ticks, says he
was troubled that way once, and advises
wetting salt with turpentine when sailing
sheep. He finds this eifectual, without
clipping"
WEEDS on gravel walks may be de-
stroyed and prevented from growing
again by copious dressing of the cheap
est salt. This is better method than
manipulating, which disturbs the gravel
and renders constant raking and rolling
necessary. One application early i'll the
season, and others as may be needed,
while the weeds are small, will keep the
walks clean and bright.
A QUICK and effectual method to de-
stroy plantair and other weed pests on
lawns, is to cut the plant off at he
crown, and drop on the top of the root
two or three drops of kerosene oil. The
lawn will not be defaced by digging, and
the work is Mt once and completely done;
the root dies as surely as if struck by
lightning.
EVERY farmer knows that exposing po-
tatoes too long to the rays of the sun, OF
to too plenty of light and air, will soon
ruin them. A good farmer will dig and
dry his potatoes mt the proper time, as
quickly as convenient, and take them to
his dark cellar without delay, being care
ful not to have too many In one bin.
Potatoes which are fine and mealy when
dug, treated i'll this manner, will remain
good until new early potatoes are rip
49, Er.
The experiment Vas been tried in Iowa,
1t is said, of sowing in the fall, upon one
acre of land, two bushels of wheat mixed
with one bushel of oats. The oats shot
up rapidly, and were, of course, killed
down 10y the frost. But they furnished
n warm covering for the earth, and when
the snow fell among the thick stalks and
leaves they kept it from blowing away
This covering prevented the winter-llill-
ing Of the wheat. and the rOtting oat
/ leaves and stalks afforded rich top
dressing for the cropthe following spring.
! The result was an abundant Weld of
wheat, while land precisely similar along
sole, and treated III the same manner
with the exception of emitting the oats
was utterly worthless.
The destructive currant worm has for
many years been held IL subsection by
/ the use of white hellebore, and although
this substance is quick and sure i'll its
operation, and by its use enables one to
speedily rid his currant and gooseberry
plants of the depredator, yet it is little
difficult in some cases of application
when the worms are working on the
lower part of bush. 1t is with much
satisfaction, therefore, that we learn the
announcement of more convenient and
not less certain agent for the same pur-
pose, and this is carbolic acid Two
teaspoonsful of carbolic acid mixed in
three or four gallons of water gives a
liquid of proper strength to sprinkle over
the bushes. II is said to kill worms
quickly and what is more, it is reported
to be equally valuable in destroying the
rose-bug when applied to rose bushes
Vick.
EVERYBODY about q farm knows that
animals will not eat the grass which
grows up rank around their own drop
pings; it has also been observed by some
that hay from meadows heavily enriched
is not eaten SO readily as that from other
fields. 1t is the practice, usually to put
such meadows to other crops, but if lime
be applied instead, will restore the
ground To- proper condition quickly.
Lime laid on for such purpose would
do more to sweeten foul pasture In
three months than if it was shut up for
six months, and left to the ordinary pro-
cess of cleaning. This is about one Of
the most important uses to which lime
could be put, correcting as it does all
sourness and ranlness III grass, reducing
almost Immediately all noxious eflluvia
from the manure deposited, and there
fore presenting food, which, being rel
ished by the stock, is converted into that
which will lay the foundation of profit
1t is more especially on bog pastures
that the use of lime is particularly bene-
fetal, for besides its action on cattle
droppings, it destroys moss, rlishcs, and
all sedgy or other coarse growth, whose
places become occupied by other more
nutricious grasses. After the lining of
pasture, cattle will eat the grass read
lily, which before they would not touch,
showing the beneficial change the lime
had brought abouS.