The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-11-17
FARM NOTES

foot in depth.
GREENBuRe, Ind, can boast of several
trees growing on her courthouse tower,
100 feet above the ground.
PLrNY tells us that Doedalus invented
the saw. The earliest saw-mill Of which
we have mention was built at Madeira in
l42O.
PROFESSOR Riley says that kerosene
oil is sure death to insects in all stages,
and the only substance with which we
may hope to destroy their eggs.
THERE are 5000, 900 COWS in the
United States. This is more than are
kept by any nation of Europe, Germany
having the highest. or 8.965.221.
THE digestibility Of fodder plants Is
largely determined by their age. All the
constituents of young plants are more
digestible than in the same plant of
greater age.
GEESE are easily kept; grass and
water form their chief requirements.
These, with a fair supply of corn, oats
and boiled potatoes, make up their bill
of fare.
Ir HAS been proved by experiments
that il young turkeys be fed on soft
food mixed with milk, instead of water,
much superior and moro tender meat
will be produced.
A FARMER has recently died in Pen
obscot County, Maine, whose property
exceeded 500, 900, every dollar Of which
was made in farming, and without sDecu-
lating in real estate.
pleasant for several days, but il q hand
1x-I - -. uN- fl.n
which ia sprinkled little chloride of
lime, after a couple of hours the offen-
sive smell will have entirely disappeared.
FA1rENINa ANIMALs-Sheep fatten
most rapidly at two 10 three years
of age. By feeding rich fodder, one
year old sheep will increase in weight
more rapidly than when older, for
the period Of growth lis not yet passed.
Whilst they viii fatten also at this cge,
the flesh is not esteemed as when older,
as it IN more watery. Lambs taken very
young and fed high are fattened and
made palstable. But when -fattenel
for profit as we'll as palatable flesh,
sheep, as of other animals, should
be matured In growth first. 1t is
also true that after animals have
become too old, neither profitable fat
tening nor the most palatable flesh can be
secured with the best of food. Whether
for economy in feeding, or cnoice
meat, the best is attainable when the
animal is well matured neither before,
nor much after that period. Indiana
Farmer.
PRoaREss OF HoRrIcULruRE-Amon
most gratifying evidences of progress
are the numerous acquisitions of new
and valuable varieties, by which the sea-
son Of our fruits is greatly prolonged
with the accession of early and late varie-
ties. By the better knowledge In the
keeping and packing Of fruits, and the
facilities of transportation, our markets
are now supplied with fruits throughout
the whole year. Instead Of the straw
berry for three or four weeks, an for
merly, ws now have it for four or five
months, the peach from four to six
months, the grape from six to eight
months, the pear from eight to ten
months, the orange and apple the year
round, and the smaller fruits In their
season I; 30 he who has the means may
replenish his table daily with such
variety as no other nation can produce.
The process of hybridiz stion
in simple, whether by the air, insects,
or the hand of man, and we have only to
have due regard to the characteristics OF
the parents from which we breed. Thus,
as it were, cline upon line and precept
upon precept," I have endeavored to i'm
press ON you the importance of this
branch of our science, and as it was my
first, SO it shall be my continual and last
advice "Plant the most mature and
perfect seeds of the most hardy, vigorous,
and valuable varieties; and as shorter
process, insuring more certain and happy
results. cross or hybridize your best
fruits. From the Annual Address OF
President Wilder of the A"aerican
Ponlotogical Society.
How TO TELL Coon BUrrER.-TEe
Legislature of Ohio recently passed a
bill providing for the inspection of but
ter and cheese, "and all substances hay
ing the resemblance of butter and
cheese, and of dairies and other places
where milk is sold or butter or cheese
manufactured to be done by inspectors
appointed by the State Board of Health.
The Superintendent of inspectors of but
ter and cheese, Mr.. Robert Orr. has is
sued a circular Of instructions to his sub
ordinates, giving information which may
be Of value to butter-makers generally.
He says: "When butter In properly
churned, both as to the time and tenn
perature, it becomes firm with very little
working, and it is tenacious; but the
most desirable state ia that of waxy,
when it is easily nodded into any shape,
and may he drawn cut considerable
length without breaking. 1t is then
81, led gilt-edGed. 1. is only in this state
that butter possesses that rich nutty fla
vor and smell, and shows up a rich,
golden yellow color, which imparts so
high o degree Of pleasure in eating it,
and which increases its value manifold.
1t is not always necessary, when it smells
sweet, tc taste butter in judging it. The
smooth. unctuous feeling in rubbing lit
tie between thefinger and thumb express
es atoncei its rich quality the nutty smell
and rich aroma indicate similar taste
and the bright golden glistening cream
colored surface shows its high state of
cleanliness. It may he necessary at
times to use the trier. or even use it until
you become an expert in testing by taste,
smell and rubbing"
TILE DRAINING. A correspondent
asks us to give some rules for laying
tiles in different kinds of soil and under
different circumstances. This we can
do only in general terms. Drains should
never bo less than three feet deep, and
in black mucky soil the ditch may be
four feet. In very compact clay, the
tile may not drain satisfactorily the first
year or two; but it will improve each
year for ten years or more. The admis-
sion of air into the soil breaks its adhe.
siveness and renders it more porous
every year. and consequently its drain
age In improved. The deeper drains are
sunk, the wider the surface which they
drain, and it is cheaper to dig deer
bitches than TO- buy more tile. III the
ditch is short, we may risk a fall of hall
an inch to the rod, but if it is forty rod,
long we should have an inch fall to each
rod. Straight bitches will operate with
less fall than crooked ones. and large
tile, than small. But on NO account
should the bottom of the ditch rise il il