The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-02-12
TOPICS FOR THE FARM.

TOPICS FOR THE FARM.
The Hessian fly is doing considerable
damage to the wheat crop around Char
lotte, n. c.
Annual exports of Texas $50, 600, 900,
of which $50, 900 is brought in
through cotton alone.
Bees.-No one should expect to be
successful with bees, if unwilling to at
tend to them. They will suffer from
neglect just as soon as any other insect,
animal or growing crops of grain. II
there is not sufficient bloom near them,
there will be no honey surplus for their
owner; III such case, pasturage may be
provided by cultivating horey-produc-
ing shrubs, trees and plants.
Sulphur for Sheep.-An exchange
says: Mix little sulphur with salt,
and feed occasionally to sheep. 1t will
effectually cure sheep of all ticks. TIE
same remedy applied to cattle troubled
with lice will soon rid them of the ver-
min. The use of sulphur with salt well
repeys the trouble of keeping supply
for cattle and sheep. If a mixture of
one part CT sulphur with seven of salt
be freely supplied, there will be no
trouble with yermin. You can give
horses the mixture with good effect.
If a man can fill his ears with cotton
or move On the prairie where he has no
neighbors, it will pay to keep few
Guinea hens. They lay more eggs than
the common fowl. 1t is also claimed
that one of them will keep one-half an
acre of potatoes clear of beetles, ETC.,
and at the same time answer the purpose
| of barometer in predicting the changes
in the weather. If their merits balance
their music, get some eggs and hatch
out some; they are good eating and
very pretty. Don't buy old birds un.
less you want to hunt the neighborhood
high and low for them every evening.
They can run.-Anaerican ,Stockman.
| Covered Yards for CattIe.-American
farmers, for the most part, have yet to
learn the value of a covered yard fol
their stock. There are many days in the
year when cattle could be turned into
such a yard, when they would other
1 wise be condemned, ON account of the
weather, to stand all day in the stable
The roof would prevent all waste Of
manure from washing, and would make
1 the yard 80 cleanly and comfortable that
the animals could lie down. In thi,
country, where wood is cheap and al
most every man sufficiently handy to be
his own carpenter, we are convinced
that farmers have only to see the -ad
vantages of such yards to adopt them al
once-NeU York Herald. al1
Salt for St0ck.-The value of salt fol
stock cannot be oyerrated. 1t is an un.
doubted fact that where animals have
unrestrained access to salt at all times
many of the diseases to which they are
liable are warded of and prevented by
keeping the system regular. Farm ami
mails, when kept on grass or green succu
lent feed, naturally take more salt thar
when kept on dry fodder. Salt
increases digestion by increasing
the flow of saliva, aiding also
further by promoting thirst, and 8
constant flow of fluids to assist il
dissolving much of the food which other.
wise might be only imperfectly digested
Actual experiments carefully conducted
have demonstrated that where two hogs
are fattened, one fed salt in its food and
the other with salt excluded, the one
fed salt food fattened very much faster
and in several weeks less time. 1t ex
ceeded in weight by considerable pro
portion the one fed without salt in it!
food. Stock should have free access tt
salt, and they will only take what i.
needful; but if they are left without il
for long time surfeit is often .taker
which operates iDjuriously.
Pruning Orchards.-Never prunt
when the wood is frozen. Many
orchards are ruined by too severe prun
ing. For instance, dead limb occurs
four to six inches in diameter, on an ole
tree; it is sawed off, or perhaps the ak il
used, making very rough job of it a
best. This is very suitable place fol
the fat-headed borer to BERN on, which
soon makes it place for the rains t.
enter, when decay follows, and sool
there is hole in the tree which, if no
apparently hurting the tree, is none tn
less using it up, and causing inferio
| fruit. This may be obviated by frs
giving the dead stub coat of oil, the
nail a piece of tin or pine shingle on i
to act as roof. This would save man
a good tree.
How to Milk.-This may seem absur
advice to offer to farmers, but our ez
perience has shown us that every farme
does not know how to milk properly, O,
rather, that he does not always carry ou
the knowledge he may have. In the frs
1'plaee, never allow the hands or udder t
be wet with, milk before milking
When ready to milk, take the pale o
I the left arm, and with both hands brus
eff every bit of dust and all particles {
bedding from the cows udder. If th
udder is not readily cleaned in this wa,
use sponge and warm water. Mil
: quickly, and allow no Impractical han
l at the COW, unless you intend to dry th
animal. Above al, milk clean. A yer
! little inattention here will soon rende
| a valuable COW unremunerative in tn
dairy. . w q" At'''J a. : = 80 -4--
s1N Winter on the Farm.-Farmers gel
3 orally cut their years supply of fir,
I weod in winter. Cut down old tree
: that have passed their prime and al
taking up land, giving nothing in IT
: turn. Lop off all dead branches an
2 cut down the husk from about th
!, fences and corners of pastures. Loo
, fover the tools that will soon be neede
4 for spring work, and mend the broke
zones. If time hangs heavy on yor
!, hands, give more attention to the fowl
I and so make them profitable.
4 \ IL .oI~o IL L., i