The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-03-04

No animal OF the farm will show signs
OF neglect so soon as a COW. The coat
gets rough and dirty, and bones stand
out with irregular and peculiar promi-
nence. On the other hand, as a matter
Of course, good care gives the opposite
appearance, and the creature is neat,
clean, and plump. There is much
in a good supply of wholesome
food, but it, without occasional rubbing
and currying, will not make the COW
look and feel comfortable. 1t pays TO
curry the COWS.
Keep Up the Grain Supply.
When grain and hay are bringing good
prices in the market, with some promise
OF still advancing in values, there is an
increasing temptation between the flock
master to diminish the ration of more
valuable food, and seek to make good
the deficiency by increasing the supply
OF less salable products. II his foresight
induced such policy at the beginning Of
the feeding season, and the flock is
seemingly doing nicely, this may be well
enough, provided oil contingencies are
guarded against; but nothing could be
shorter sighted than an attempt to re-
strict the grain supply in mId.winter, no
matter what the kind or quantity Of less
nutritious food that is substituted. The
few dollars brought to hand by such
policy will be found to have been repaid
with usury when the balance sheet is
made up at the close of the succeeding
lambing and shearipg season. Weak
lambs in reduced numbers, light heeces
commanding the minimum price, and
general disappointment for the remain
der of the year, are the results invited
by a diversion Of grain from the flock to
the broker.
Farm Accounts.
Perhaps farming doesn't pay. If so,
let us see just how much it lacks. There
is no better time than the first OF January
to begin keeping a diary or farm journal.
1t takes but q few minutes time each
day to write down the more important
events as they t%ranspire. 1t will keep
the fingers timber so that it will not
seem so difficult a matter to write an
occasional letter to a friend, or to pen a
few thoughts upon the topics to be dis
t the next meeting of the farmers
A journal is like good wine ; it
improves by age, and the longer it is
kept the better it becomes. How many
disputes have been settled beyond ques-
ton by reference to af accurately kept
daily record. And while you are about
it, get a book for each Of your children
and teach them the habit of keeping a
and especially an account of
their personal expenses. We have said
that we should not fear to trust any
young man who had acquired the habit
Of keeping an account Of his personal
expenses, and we believe it a safe rule,
with very few exceptions.
Bee Notes.
At this quiet season, so far as regards
the operations of the apiary, it is proper
for those who have not introduced the
Italians into their hives, as well as those
who are about to commence bee keeping,
to consider the claims made for superb
GRITTY of the Italians over the ordinary,
or black bees. In the first place, the
Italian bees are much more beautiful
than the black, a point not to be over
looked in the choice of anything, even
If all the otherqualities are equal. They
are more prolific; the queens ~depositing
more eggsthan the native. The expert
bee-keeper can distinguish the italian
eggs by the compactness with which
they are stored in the combs. The
Italians are more hardy than the natives,
Venturing out in colder weather, and
loing work while common bees remain
1t home. They, therefore, swarm earlier,
IN important factor in bee culture-the
hives become populous early in the sea-
ION, thus securing a large working force
~ the time the flowers are ready for
hem. AS a natural result from what
las just been said, the Italians gather
more honey than the natives. Again,
hey work on plants that the blacks do
lot visit, which of course, gives them
wider range for heney gathering.
Jases are known where Italians we're
,athering white honey exclusively, while
he common bees were working only on
,uckwheat. The Italians are notably
ond of the clover, and will gather much
more honey from this plant than the
which derive but little from it.
Odd Thoughts.
IoI.nnr- -orIJ oNo uforua op1 5Sa