The Russellville Democrat., 1880-04-22
FACTS FOR FARMERS.
Planting Potateas--To Utilize Feathers--A Composition for Boots--To Mea-
 sure Grain--F Farm Notes.
PLANTING POTATOES.

sure Grain--Farm Notes.
 PLANTING POTATOES.
 The remarks of correspondent in a late number of the Country Gentleman suggest some additional statements Nearly every rule which has been com monly laid down needs some modifica- ton according to circumstances. and diff ferent experiments often come to partial or conflicting conclusions as external in- fiuences may have varied. For example, in the use of large and small seed, and of cut and uncut potatoes, the widest diff ference may result from controlling causes. In nearly all conditions it is better to cut the tubers, and thus obtain fewer stalks in the hill than by whole planting. But if the planting be done late, and the soil chances to be unusually dry in time of drouth, cut potato may dry up and fail to grow, at time when the impervious skin of whole one will prevent wilting, and sufficient moisture and nourishment be afforded from 1t to start good growth. The con ditional rule may therefore be laid down to plant whole potatoes only in a dry soil, or in time of drouth, which the good farmer will generally know how to avoid.
 For similar reasons results from small or large seed vary greatly with circum- stances. Very small cut potatoes should be employed only when the soil is in fine, moist and mellow condition, and early in the spring. With these favora- ble chances we have obtained as large potatoes from cut seed of tubers no larger than robins egg as from those weigh. ing aquarter ofa pound. and with slightly smaller product per acre. The small sets were kept moist by the fine soil which surrounded them till they had sent up strong shoots. But as these favorable conditions are not likely to occur very often, 1t is always safer to employ seed of fair size, and to plant deep enough to escape surface drying. In view of these general principles it will be seen that there is little advantage in the frequent practice of cutting to few eyes and dropping two pieces in hill. These would be more likely to dry up, in a soil not quite moist enough, than if the same number of eyes were allowed to remaln on single piece. These remarks are made from many trials under the vary ing conditions mentioned.
 TO UTILIZE FEATHERS.
 To utilize feathers of ducks, chickens and turkeys, generally thrown aside as refuse, trim the plumes from the stump; inclose them in tight bag; rub the whole as if washing clothes, and you will secure perfectly uniform and light down, excellent for quilting coverlets and not few other purposes.
 A COMPOSITION FOR BOOTS.
 A good composition, according to the Country Gentleman, for rendering boots proof against snow and wet can be made of one part mutton tallow and two parts beeswax, melted together. Of course it will be more difficult to make boots thus treated take good polish, but after a few times they will be as susceptible of a brilliant polish as ever.
 TO MEASURE GRAIN.
 To measure grain on the floor: Make the pile in the form of a pyramid or cone, and multiply the area of the base by one-third the height To find the area of the base, multiply the square of its diameter by decimal .7s54. Example: A conical pile of grain is feet in diam eter and 4 feet high, how many bushels does it contain? Solution: The square of is GA, and GA times .7S54 times 4-3 equals S3776, the number of cubic feet. Therefore, S3.776 times 4-5 equals TOP bushels.
 FARM NOTES.
 The peach trees are budding in Della ware.
 The fowl house should be warm, yet ventilated.
 Keep your fowls under as even tenn perature as possible.
 Eggs for setting should be from healthy adult birds, not related.
 Ashes or saltpetre, if applied in time, will hold the onion maggot in check.
 It is reported that the daily loss to the inhabitants of the city of New York from adulterated milk amounts to $10,000.
 Ewes sometimes need assistance in parturition. They should be carefully watched, and if any thing is wrong help should be promptly given.
 A correspondent of Western paper recommends an ointment composed of equal parts of lard and gunpowder as a remedy for scratches in horses, to be used daily until cured.
 Ata recent agricultural meeting in New Haven the production of sorghum was discussed, and it was stated that several farmers of the State are to try the exper- iment on an extensive scale.
 A lady correspondent of the Detroit Post watered her tomato plants with a solution of copperas lone pound to eight gallons of water), with the result that the fruit was two weeks earlier than on plants not so treated.
 The practice of chewing bones. sticks and old pieces of leather by cows is an indication that their systems need some thing not furnished in their food, and frequently bone dust fed in small quanti- ties at first with meal will supply the need.
 To avoid abortion in cows, when about to bring forth, give each one box stall, with plenty of straw, light and air, and moderate rations of rowen and roots Overfeeding and neglect of proper care previous to parturition are frequent | causes of abortion.
 The war-Cloud. Globe Democrat.
 During the past week war-cloud has