The Russellville Democrat., 1880-11-18
FACTS FOR FARMER..s.!
Bedding Cattie--Materials for Roads--An g~ooss of Apples--Agricultura Notes.

neu0tuk Catttf--materfnis TOT hoauS--An
 s~soss of Apples--Agricultura Notes.
 BEDDING FOR CATTLE.
 There is no farm work, considering the outlay, that pays so large dividends as the procuring Of some sort of bedding sui the cattle, for it not only keeps them clean-a great point in itself-but also promotes their growth and thriftiness, and the additional accumulation for the manure pile will more than pay for the labor. There is usually large amount of litter that goes to waste, that if thus utilized would be of great service. Straw, oats, cut corn buts, etc.. are valuable. and fine sand IS not objectionable, for in it. self it is one of the most cleanly of beds, and as it is large absorber of liquids, and is of real benefit to clay land, there is no solid reason why few loads of il may not be judiciously used. A farmer of our acquaintance late in the fall takes his trucks, puts in long stakes, and makes a four foot deep box and gathers forest leaves. One man gathers them with rake and basket These leaves are stored away in an unused stable, and, what can be crowded Into a bushel basket, makes fine bed for stable of cows for Il couple of nights, and are fine absorb ents. There is no farmer but that can provide bedding of some kind, and also have dry, wholesome stables for his cat tie, and, if he consults his interests, and once fully tests the value of plenty of bedding, he will always in the future practice bedding his cattle and stock.
 The rain ordinarily washes from roads the droppings of horses and cattle. and the soft earth that should not have been placed on them. In this re- spect it improves roads more than it injures them. The material washed of should not be put back. It is a good l2.anure, and it will pay to haul and spread it on fields that are near the ditches where it accumulates. It is an excellent manure for sandy soils, and can be easily handled when 1t is neither very wet nor very dry. If farmers will not move it for manure, it should be thrown away from the road, and not upon it. A road should be composed of materials that will readily wash. away; that will not absorb much water, and which will become tolerably compact by the tread of animals and the pressure made by the wheels of vehicles. The material that IS cheapest and most available in the ma jority of locations is clean gravel. The substance that often passes by the name of gravel, but which is a mixture of small stones, sticky clay, and mud, is entirely unsuitable for covering roads. The best gravel is obtained from the banks of running streams or from the beds of streams that are now dry. It meets every requirement.
 MATERIALS FOR ROADS.
 It is the practice of many highway sur veyors to have the ditches by the sides of roads cleaned out in the fall of the year, and the earth that has washed into them thrown on top of the road-bed. They think it is advantageous to have the top of the road raised as high as possible, and they know that it is neces- sary to have the ditches cleared out so that the water may have chance to run. They have an idea that they can accom- plish two desirable things at the same time, if in taking the washings from the dltches they throw them on top of the road. In point of fact they are doing very great injury to the road. An ex- animation of the composition of the ma terial removed from the ditches will show that it is entirely unsuited for forming a good road-bed. It consists largely of forest leaves and grass blown by the wind, and of manure and soft soil washed down by the rain. It holds water like sponge. When wet it has the same consistency as barnyard man. ure. A slight rain converts it into mud; a continuous drought causes it to be reduced to a fine dust by passing wagons. In the winter it freezes, and in the spring it thaws out, leaving the road in the condition of mire.
 AN EXCESS OF APPLES.
 One of the most singular complaints coming from the cultivator of the soil this year, IS of having too many apples! One farmer in Massachusetts is about to cut down one-half his trees, which will give him more than he can use or dis pose of. But probably he forgets that next year hIs trees may bear poorly and he may need the product of all his trees and then not have half enough. Only a few years ago the complaint was general in this State that apple growing had come to an end; but now we have more than we know what to do with. The apples can be at least converted into clder, and the cider into vinegar, and then we shall have a supply of what we have been SO long craving for-pure cider vinegar.
 AGRICULTURAL NOTES.
 The Home Journal, published at Louis- vile, Ky, says that malignant disease has broken out among the cows at Port land, suburb of that city. Several have died suddenly, and others are suffering. Some say that 1t comes from eating cat llar hat t, T others believe it to be meningitis, while others yet say 1t is from poison of some kind.
 A letter from Pennington, Mich, nar- rates the following remarkable occur renee: Rex Woodworth, of Pennington, has a COW fifteen years old that gave birth to two calves under rather peculiar cir cumstances. On Tuesday, September 10, she dropped fine heifer calf, nothing unusual being noticed at the time. Two days after she gave birth to another, also a heifer calf Both calves are of the same size and well matched, and are the second pair of twins from the COW.
 In the Indiana Fdrmer mention is made of the Bokhara clover, now on trial in the experimental plats of Indiana State Agricultural College, and spoken of as bidding fair to become valuable addi- tion to the forage plants of the States. IL is oi remarkable thrifty growth, and can be cut two or three times during the season. It is also an excellent bee plant The Turner recommends it to the atten- tion of hrIners who are desirous of grow ing cheaper fodder for stock.
 A curious experiment has lately been performed by M. Lambotte, the follow ing account of which is taken from the Revle Horticoic; "M. Lambotte tells us that in fha snrino of the year vvhiie