Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-11-04
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
Farm and Garden Notes.

| sNDV-'|N
Duchess Farmer for bean poles, planting
them at suitable distance in the garden
and planting the beans around them
when three or four inches high.
Let the surplus straw be stacked in
the yards. II the stock have picking
at this, it will answer well the purpose
OF noon feeding; and will also keep the
animals on the move to their warmth
and growth. The straw scattered by
such plan is not wasted.
Every gardener and farmer should
have compost heap; and upon it pile
up every sod and rubbish within his
reach that would make manure. 1t will
pay.
The German custom OF planting fruit
trees on either side of public highways
is a good one. These trees are pruned
and otherwise cared for by the road
hands. They furnish shade and fruit TO
the weary travellers, and constitute
humane provision worthy of imitation
in II Christia lands.
AS an insect destroyer the juice OF
the tomato plant is said TO be OF great
value; the leaves and stems are well
boiled in water, and when the liquid is
cold it is sprinkl0d over plants attacked
with insects, when it at once destroys
caterpillars, black and green flies, gnGts
and other enemies TO vegetables, and in
no way impairs the growth OF the
plants. A peculiar odor remains and
prevents insects from coming again for
a long time.
One of the best things in the world TO
give u horse, after he has been driven.
is quart OF oatmeal stirred into a pail
of water. 1t refreshes and strengthens
him, relieves his immediate thirst, and
prepares his stomach ior more solid
food. 1t is like the plate OF soup before
dinner, satisfying and appetizing to-
gether.
II. Stewart writes to the Country Cen
tleman regarding butter as follows:
There is no doubt that sour cream will
make better favored and more solid
butter, and more of it than sweet cream
the butter will keep longer in good con-
dition. Sweet cream butter is excellent,
for immediate use, but it deteriorates
very rapidly, while sour milk butter i'm
proves by keeping for several weeks, il
well made and well kept. But neither
the milk nor the cream should be per-
mitted TO "clabber."
Plants in pots on balconies, in win
dows, or in situations exposed to tn
direct influence of the rays of the sun,
are often half and sometimes altogether
killed by the root-roasting to which
they are subjected, the surface OF the
pots often becoming so heated that the
hand cannot be placed upon them with
out being burned. The poor roots. that
generally hug the sides of the pots
closely, have, indeed, sorry time of it
under these conditions.
"Can fruit trees be grown for their
timber as well as for their fruit?" was
the somewhat novel question up for
discussion at a recent meeting of a
horticultural society. Cherry timber.
it was argued, makes beautiful furniture
and brings in market almost as good
price rs does walnut. The pear was said
TO be in demand by millwrights, though
this wood is nearly worthless for gen.
eral farm purposes. The apple, it was
claimed, is in demand by last-makers
and turner's of woodenware. When
fruit trees are grown with view to
timber as we'll as fruit, high trimming
was recommended.
To Keep Seed Pure.
| We have the oft-repeated testimony of
many farmers. who have tried the ex
pertinent, that changing the locality OF |
seed increases productiveness of many |
kinds of crops. IL is therefore reasonable |
| (although the why and wherefore is not |
generally understGod) that there is |
something in 1t, although, after all. |
think that equally good IL not better re-
suits may be obtained by judicious |
system of selection, culture and rotation |
on different sections of the same iarm.
1t is my opinion. corroborated by ex-
perience and observation, that system
of selecting seed and planting only the
most perfect of its kind, would obviate |
all difficulty and complaint of poor
crops and seed, arising from this source.
For example, in planting potatoes plant
none less in size (and those whole) than
| jhen's egg. and no overgrown tubers,
and follow this with a regular rotation,
not growing related crops on the same
ground oftener than once in three to i've
years. Select the best, most perfect ker-
nels of wheat, sowing only such; also
the best and most perfect of all kinds
of seeds, taking pains 20 save from the
new representatives of the variety. In
stead OF deterioration, as we often hear,
Improvement in both quantity and quail
ity will then result. know farmers
who. instead OF pursuing such course.
sell the best because it brings better
srinn In, Ahn n, rl.ot and thnrn Aho., srs, A1.