Connecticut western news., 1881-08-10
FARM AND GARDEN.
FISH CULTURE BY THE FARMER.

FISH CULTURE BY THE FARMER.
 Some years ago I conceived the idea of raising my own fish by the con- struction of an artificial pond. Near my house several springs broke out in the head of small hollow, surrounded on three sides by small ridges or high ground. All I had to do to collect fine body of water, was to build levee or embankment of dirt from one hill to the other, which did, about eight feet high, twelve feet at the base sloping to eight at the top, taking the dirt from the inside, where designed my pond, for the levee. This gave me body of water covering some two acres of ground, with depth of from two to eight feet. To prevent my pond from filling up I cut ditch around it on the hill sides to carry off all the wash water from rainfalls.
 The next thing was to stock my pond with choice game fish. This was easily accomplished with net in small lake four miles distant-such as white perch and black bass, both very choice game fish. now have my pond we'll stocked with these varieties and the common perch that inhabits almost all the waters. With the hook and line can, in a very short space of time, catch all the fish I want any day, and can have them on my table every day if want them.
 Any farmer that has springs or run ming brooks on his farm can raise all the fish he wants for his own table, and many more, at little expense or trouble, by the construction of artificial ponds. Game fish, such as I have mentioned, and trout, require pure water to do we'll; other kinds, such as the different species of catfish, buffalo, and carp, do we'll in stagnant waters if in sufficient quantity There Is no healthier diet for man than game fish, and nothing easier obtained, and with very little expense. Why do not our farmers then avail themselves of this wholesome and fine diet, much easier raised than hogs or sheep, and greatly to be preferred as health diet Nothing breeds so rapidly as fish, and the danger is your water will get over- stocked. The day is not far distant when fish will be raised by the millions all over the country, and tine farmer will find it cheaper and healthier meat than beef or pork.-A Harris, in Home and F01ma.
 MU1oHINa APPLE ORCHARDS. Having an apple orchard which, from its age and situation, should be fruitful and productive, but had generally been neither, was led to try an experiment., with the hope that it might be followed by beneficial results. After pruning the dead wood and scraping off the moss, which was beginning to grow plentifully upon the trunks and branches, applied five tons of salt hay which was left in the barn, and for which there was no sale, at the rate of hundred weight or little more to each tree as a mulch, extending it six or eight feet from the trunk all around the tree. The result has been that from presenting 8 siokly appearance they have now every appearance of perfect health the moss has disappeared, and the trees are bearing as general thing very full this year. So great is the change that people who have noticed it are led to inquire what has brought it about, I believe that mulching is of great value to an orchard.
 It has all the benefit of blowing, with none of its disadvantages ;. keeping the surface mellow with no damage to the roots by the plow or to the trunk or branches by the team. It keeps down the grass and invites the earthworm to work the soil fine and rich. It tends to retain the moisture for much longer time, and remedy in great measure the evil effects of drought. The fruit that falls upon it is not bruised. It is the way nature adopts to manure and enrich the forest trees.
 So we'll am I convinced of the benefits and value of mulching that I believe salt hay or any coarse fodder is of as much value used in this way as it is to be fed to animals. My attention was called to the subject by seeing it done by those who collect drift hay along the edges of the marshes, and who were ap- plying it in this way. After it has once been we'll done it may be easily kept up by small annual additions. It would be we'll to extend it so far as the branches grow. Chip dirt and great deal of refuse matter about the farm might be used to advantage in this way. No one will realize the amount of such matte r which may be collected until trial has been made.- Gernaanto,on Telegraph.