The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-03-31
RARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
Something About Water.

FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
Something About Water. ,'
Water is one of the first essentials in
farming. Eighty per cent. of all flesh
is water, and even in what are called
dry foods, water must form a large pro-
portion, if the animal is to be kept in
good thrift. 1t is generally better to
give food somewhat moist, making it
more palatable, and therefore more
digestible. With our northern ice bound
winters. a good supply of water for
domestic animals becomes O. very i'm
portant consideration. Very often in
cod weather stock will prefer to remain
under shelter, rather than 60 to the
spring or brook where only ice-cold
water awaits them. It is very easy to
cause animals to lose, from want of
water, all that they gain by feeding
grain. Lack of water is one reason why
it is so difficult to keep up flow of
milk in winter. The food is not succu-
lent, and the water is generally 80 cold
that if a cow drinks all that she requires
the chill to the stomach will impair
digestion. Usually the animal will not
drink enough, while the coldness of the
water keeps the food from doing as much
good as it should. In all basement
barns (and all barns intended for stock
feeding should have basement under
their entire extent), this matter of pro-
viding water can be settled with COM
paratively little expense. If the water
is not too far distant from the barn. it
may oe brought close to the feeding
trough in pipes. If there be not sup.
ply sufficient for this, cisterns can be
built. A barn forty by ninety feet will
require cistern holding l20 barrels,
and this size will usually accommodate
all the animals that need to be fed under
such barn. To save room it is better
to make the cistern just outside the base
ment wall, and have the top covered
deeply enough to prevent freezing. The
cistern will be filled previous to the
winter with the warm summer rains,
and it will e far into winter before the
temperature approaches the freezing
point.
When roots are fed, less water is
needed, and it is curious fact that a
fattened animal generally drinks less in
proportion than one in only store con-
dition. There is less water in the flesh
of o fat animal than in that of a poor
one. 1t is probably this fact which has
led farmers to believe that fattening
stock do not need regular drink. But
the moderate amount they require must
be given regularly, or the disquiet and
rough appearance # the coat will show
that something is wrong. If water is
kept by them all the time there will be
no danger that they will drink more
than is tor their good. We shall not
decrease the proportion of water in
their flesh by furnishing less of that, but
rather by giving more of fat and flesh
forming elements.-Cou'ltry Gentleman.
Household Hints.
COMMON PAsTE.-To tablespoonful
of flour add gradually half pint of cold
water, and mix until quite smooth add
a pinch of powdered alum (some add q
small pinch of powdered rosin) and boil
for few moments, stirring constantly.
The addition of little brown sugar and
a few grains of corrosive sublimate will,
it is said by practical chemists, preserve
it for years.
GLUE LIoU1D.-Glue. water, vinegar,
each two parts; dissol We in a water
bath; then add alcohol, one part. An
excellent cement. r.,
FIREPRooF PAPER.-Take solutio
of alum and dip the paper into it; then
throw it over line to dry. Try a
slip of paper in the fame Of candle,
and if not sufficiently prepared dip and
try it second time.
To CLEAN MARBLE.-Chalk lin the
powder), one part; pumice. one part;
common soda, two parts; mix. Wash
the spots with the powder, mixed with
a little water; then clean the whole of
the stone and wash off with soap and
water.
To PREVENT IRON FROM RUsT1Na.-
Warm the iron until you cannot bear
your hand on it without burning your
self. Then rub it with new and clean
white wax. Put it again to the fire till
it has soaked in the wax. When done
rub it over with piece of serge. This
prevents the iron from rusting after
ward.
Poultry Notes.
Tomatoes are a wholesome food for
hens, and they like them too.
Chopped onions, with little ginger
mixed in, are said to be sure cure for
chicken cholera.
Poultry houses need not be expensive,
but should be built snug and warm. t.
Give hens constant access to lime in
some form. Hens must have the raw
material in order to manufacture shells;
they cannot make them out of nothing.
A few camphor pills about the size OF
garden pea are recommended as q sure
cure for gapes.
Picked eggs won't boil. Whenever
they come in contact with hot water the
shell dissolves partnership ~ the mid
die. o..
Beans harden the muscular 6bers and
flesh of fowls. We doubt the wisdom
of feeding them to the barnyard vete-
rams.
A French writer recommends the use
of green bushes or Towering shrubs in
the hen house, with the view Of impart-
ing a pleasant smell, and giving more
natural and home-like appearance to
the place.