The Osceola times., 1880-04-24
FACTS FOR FARMERS.

FACTS FOR FARMERS.
Planting Potatoss--To Utilize Feathers-A
Composition for Boots--To Mea-
sure Grain--Farm Notes.
PLANTING POTATOES.
The remarks of a correspondent in a
late number of the Country Gentleman
suggest some additional statements
Nearly every rule which has been COM
monty laid down needs some modifica-
ton according to circumstances. and diff
ferent experiments often come To partial
or conflicting conclusions as external in
fuences may nave 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 hin 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 impervous skin Of whole
one will prevent willing, and sufficient
moisture and nourishment be afforded
from it 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 wnen the soil is in
fine, moist and mellow condition, and
early in the spring. With these favora-
bic chances we have obtained as large
potatoes from cut seed of tubers no larger
than robins egg as from those weigh
ing quarter 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, it 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 a 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 remain
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
,.arfa,tI,, 1..L
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 a good polish, but after a
few times they will be as susceptible
of brilliant polish as ever.
TO MEASURE GRAIN
To measure grain on the floor: Make
| the pile in the form of 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 1854. Example:
A conical pile of grain is feet in diam
eter and feet high, how many bushels
| does it contain? Solution: The square
of is Ga, and "a times 1854 times AS
equals S3.776. the number of cubic feet.
Therefore, S3.776 times As equals 67.02
| 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.
1t is reported that the daily loss to the
inhabitants of the city of New York from
adulterated milk amounts to 10000.
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
remedy for scratches in horses, to be
used daily until cured.
Alta recent agricultural meeting in New
Haven the production of sorghum was
discussed, and it was stated that several
farmers of the State are 10 try the eXper
iment on an extensive scale.
A lady correspondent of the Detroit
Post watered her tomato plants with
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 a box stall,
with plenty of straw, light and air, and
moderate rations of rowen and roots.
Overlooking and neglect of proper care
previous to parturition are frequent
causes of abortion.
| Female Suffrage In Wisconsin.
Wisconsin must in future be set down
as the champion female suffrage State.
| While Massachusetts and Connecticut
and New York and other states have
been doling out small instalments of
| rbat - .o1lal iuctiaa IN uop,an 90