The Russellville Democrat., 1880-05-13
FACTS FOR FARMERS.
Geess and Ducks--Intsrestins Notes.
aEEsE AND DUCKS.

GEESE AND DUCKS.
 In selecting geese, choose from the Toulouse, Bremen or Chinese varieties. The Toulouse and Chinese are gray, the Bremen white. Geese do not object to the snow in the winter il it be not deep; but they should be allowed the shed or other inclosure in severe weather. They require only moderate feeding. We prefer allowing the geese to incubate their own eggs. When the goslings are matched, retain them until about week old. Feed them little bread or meal, but they will live chiefly on grass and water. The water should be placed in a shallow dish sunk in the earth until the top is level with the ground. The dish requires to be shallow. We had a friend who lost five young goslings by having a bucket sunk as above. The old birbs splashed about half of the water out, and the young birds going in were drowned. When 6 week old allow them to go until fall, when they should be fattened the same as turkeys. When picking goose, submerge the bird in water almost boil ing hot, then wrap iE coarse linen and place near the fire to dry. This IS much better, easier and quicker than removing the feathers by the old method. Bring your goose in a nice condition to market.
 The favorite varieties of ducks are Aylesbury, Rouen and Pekin. The Aylesbury and Pekin are white, the Rouen gray. Ducks require much the same winter management as geese, but cannot stand the cold as we'll When they begin laying they must be shut in every night. If this be not done it be- comes difficult matter to find their eggs, as they gre suspicious and change their nests very often. But, as they invariably lay early in the morning. the eggs are easily gathered by shutting them in each night. It is best to set their eggs under hen. When the young birds are matched, feed them the same as the young turkeys, only we would not give them the onion tops. Arrange for them the water dish which the goslings have left. If any appear weak, give them little new milk to drink. They require but little care in the summer. In the fall they should be fattened the same as geese and turkeys. Pick the same as the geese, and be sure and have them looking their best when taken to mar ket.-Fdrmers' Advocate. A@
 INTERESTING NoTEs.
 Z In the absence of barnyard manure, plaster or gypsum is the cheapest fertil- izer for clover after it has come up, if applied at the rate of 100 pounds to the acre.
 Canary grass has been raised with con- siderable profit in California, but we cannot learn that much success has at- tended its trial at the East. It would probably do best in the middle and southern States.
 Corn smut is not poisonous like rye ergot. Analysis by Prof. W. K. Kedzie, of Kansas, showed that it had no starch, nor any deleterious constituents Cows fed on it at the rate of six ounces day, mixed with meal, were not injured the one with wet food gained in flesh the one with dry meal lost flesh-showing of moisture, in the same way that ami mals lose when fed on hard and dry cornstalks, from want of digestible food and nutriment.
 Speaking of the best plan to rid 8 home of ants lady writes l have used tartar emetic, mixed with white sugar For the quantity of sugar that small uce-plate would hold, put in as much tartar emetic as you could put upon the point of large penknife blade. After it is mixed, moisten it with water to pre- vent the ants from carrying it of, and place it where they can get it. I have never known it to fail to rid the apart ments of the pest. It is simple and effective.
 Salt is 80 soluble in water that it makes very little difference in what way it is applied, whether on plowed or grass land, on the surface or otherwise. If on the surface, it is soon dissolved by rains, or by the moisture of the soil with which it is in contact. Even if slightly buried, the water of the soil soon effects it's solu- tion, and it is held and gradually diffused through it. The more common practice, however, is to spread it in spring on the surface, and allow the rains to carry it down into the soil. Experiments are limited as to its effects on different crops. Co far, they favor it's use chiefly for wheat. Sometimes, perhaps, from peculiarities of soil, it has little effect.