The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-11-24
HOUSE AND FARM.
FARMING Brevitl0s.

Farming Brevitles.
It ID asoertained that Oregon will have
surplus Of about 400, 900 tons of wheat OF
last seasons growth, aud Warrington Ter
ritory so. 900 tons. On the completion Of
the Northern Pacific railway, and that also
projected through British territory, it may
become practicable to supply the Atlantic
states with -four made on the Pacific coast.
The New England Farmer observes that
shipments Of Merino sheep to Texas, COL
orado and other western states and terrific.
ries are large and rapidly increasing. Sheep
raisers are ambitious to improve the grade
of wool in these sections; and rams which
cost 81 500 to So, 600, reviving recollections
of the first importations Of that remarkable
broad Of sheep.
For eggs in winter it is indispensable that
warm house be provided for the hens.
This is best done ly buildinga place with .
basement or half-callar whore frost will
not penetrate. A stone or brick house
would be preferable to one of wood or tim
Der, and broad window should open to
the south. This should be closed BY
tight shutter at night. A chimney should
be provided, so that q fire could be made
in the house in cold weather, aud the ashes
place for the fowls to battle in. The walls
Of the house should be exposed only IN the
south side, he rest being banked up with
earth. With such house one may expect
eggs during the winter months, if good
hens are kept.
An old pork butcher, in Detroit, says the
prejudice in Europe against American pork
arises partly from the fact that hogs fattened
on our Indian coin do not make as fine
pork as do those of Germany, the Neither.
lands, France, etc., which are fed chiefly
on peas and buckwheat. With the latter
such condition as rusty pork" is I'M
known. As both peas and buokwheat grow
rankly in this county, wherever properly
cultivated, it may be worth while for some
farmers to test the matter. Possibly the
oleoginous principles in corn may tend to
deterioratinR effects, in some degree, though
that cereal will doubtless continue the
principal food for fattening hogs in this
country.
The strawberry beds now require cover
ing for the winter. The covering is often
put on too early. In fact, it is the repeat
ed thawing and freezing Of spring that often
do the greatest injury. When the earth is
frozen hard enough to bear up wagon and
team, the time to cover has come. If one
has few valuable plants it will pay to cover
the beds with evergreen bouRhs just enough
to shade the plants-this is the best Of all
coverings. Litter from the horse
stable is generally used. as 1t is light and
easily scattered, and enriches the soil.
heexecutive committee on the Michigan
State Grange P. of H., on the subject of the
claim of one N. w. Green for alleged in
fringement on n patent he says he holds
for driven wells, report their belief that
said claims belong to the class Of frsuds
which, through the unjust and oppressive
patent laws which disgrace our statute
books. enable pretenders to levy black
mail upon innocent users of inventions
that have long been in free and common
use. The committee describes the cunning
and cautious operations of these black
mailers, and advise farmers to refuse to
pay them one cent for any alleged claim
unless compelled to do SO by law. They
tcs investiRate and report upon the whole
subject.
A farmer in Wisconsin who for many
years has given great attention to raising
potatoes, making them his leading crop,
plant, replied: ''The kinds that will pro-
duce the largest number of bushels to the
acre. He declared that all other qualities
sank into insigni6cance when compared
with productiveness. He tested new vari-
cites, not to ascertain their value for the
table, but to ascertain how we'll they would
produce, He generally raised few for
his own table and for presents to friends
that possessed very line eating qualities,
although they were shy bearers, but in &C.
Letting seed for raising potatoes for the
general market he took none but very pro-
ductive varieties. He stated that no farm
er could afford to raise for markets any va
riety Of potatoes that was not productive.
Wax for Floors.
Take six pounds of wax and cut into
small pieces; then stir into a hot solution
Of three pounds good pearlash and rain wa
ter. water enough to Dissolve the pearl
ash). Keep the mixture we'll stirred. A.
ter the wax is dissolved and etfervescence
ceases, stir in three pounds Of dry, yellow
ochre. Turn into tin and let harden. A
pound of this mixture dissolved in four or
five pints Of boiling water is sufficient for
the floor of medium-sized room. Apply
while hot to the floor with paint thrush.
Stir the mixture frequently. If put on at
night it will be dry by morning. Now pol
ish with q large floor brush. This last re-
quires much patience and hard rubbing
Finally go over the floor with coarse
WOODEN cloth.