The Osceola times., 1881-04-23
FACTS FOR FARMERS.
Preserving Pastures-Hens and E.gs-ttil-
izing Bones-Best Method of Pre-
serving Posts - sou,hdown
Sheep-farm Tools.
rREsERyING PASTURES.

stock must continue TO grub at the sod
for want Of better This exposes the
roots of the grass TO the sun and Injuries
or destroys the plant. Suppose we use
our trees and shrubs in that way, the
detriment to growth would at once be
apparent. A goodtop on grass for growth
is a necessary as upon trees.
That 100 acres of land in two pastures
will keep one-third more stock than the
same number of acres in one pasture has
long been known to the practical farmer.
The reason is that the stock can be re-
moved before il has grazed the pasture
too closely, before the roots of the grass
are uncovered. A plan that will reno
vate hundreds of pastures in Iowa is this:
Let the grass have a good start in the
spring, say four inches, before turning on
the stock and change pastures as often
as the pasture appears TO be closely
grazed.-Prof. Knapp, IN Homestead.
HENS AND EGGS.
Light Brahmas. SAYS q writer in the
Kansas Farmer, as a rule, lay $50 eggs in
one year. They will lay 100 of that
number between the first day of Decem-
Der and the first of June. Ny pullets, as
general rule commenced laying at six
months old-that is, if they are hatched
March, they will commence laying in
Augustand continue TO laya winterwith
proper care. Now, | do not state this as
mere guess work, but from actual expert
ence with this breed Of fowls for several
years The Leghorn fowl will lay the
largest number of eggs in a year of any
fowl | know of; but if they lay in the
min hnts
warm place for them. They will lay 10
eggs in year, or 20 more than the aver
age Brahma, but they will lay the largest
share of this number in the summer sea-
son, while the Brahma is attending to
other duties, either sitting on her nest or
bring up her numerous family. The
Leghorns, being non-sitters. can put in
their spare time laying the extra 20 eggs,
which usually are worth 3 or q cents per
dozen this season of the year. One other
point | wish to make is that Brahma
eggs will weigh seven to pound while
it will take eight of the Leghorns. This
of course does not make any difference
in their market value so long as they are
sold by the dozen, but for home use il
certaily does. | am well aware there are
those who think ii is all in the feed. and
not in the breed. | know that feed of
The proper kind and served up in good
shape has good deal to do with it, but
not SO mNch as some believe. You may
have the best of breeds, and leave them
to get their feed the best they can and
roost in the trees, and | am very certain
they would not shell out many eggs if
the weather was any thing like it has
been this winter.
UTILIZING BONES.
Although bones are exceedingly valua-
BILE as fertilizers, very few farmers take
any pains TO collect them or osave those
taken from the meat they use in their
houses As q rule dogs carry them of,
generally dropping them in the woods OF
some unirequented place, where they are
of no advantage to cultivated crops on
even TO grass, for which they are highly
beneficial. \ few farmers save bones
and sell them for a nominal price to per-
sons who collect them for manufacturers
Butchers in country villages dispose OF
bones in the same way. A few farmers
buy back the bones they sell after they
have been ground or treated with sui
phuric acid, paying four or five times as
much as they received for the raw mate
rial Bones which have been treated
with strong lye or ashes are more yalua-
ble Tor most purposes than those which
have been prepared in any other man
ner. They are specially adapted TO pota-
toes, corn and grape-yines. Bones may
be readily softened by boiling them in a
large kettle with strong I've or wood
ashes and water. About three bushels
of ashes should be used for 100 pounds
of bones. The larger bones should be
broken before they are put in the kettle.
Ii is generally necessary to boil them
two days before they become soft. The
contents of the kettle should then be
thrown out on plank floor, and raked
over with n hoe the same as mortar is.
Any bones that remain hard may he
treated a second time A small handful
of this material makes an excellent hill
dressing for corn, potatoes, tomatoes,
melons, or squashes. Bones may also
be softened by placing them in barrels,
boxes or tanks, with wood ashes, and
keeping them down. Unless they are
broken in small pieces, six months will
be required to render them soft. Large
bones, like the skulls of cattle, sheep and
horses may be placed in holes where
grape-vines are to be set to excellent adj
vantage. The roots will penetrate the
cavities, and in time completely absorb
them.
sOUTH-DowN SHEEP.
The South-down deserves first mention
among the short-wooled English breeds.
Valuable in itself, il has been still more
valuable as a means of improving other
breeds by crossing. Originally small,
active, hardy sheep, with a light fleece
of short wool and an indifferent carcas
in form, but of much excellence in quail
itv of mutton, the South-down, n now
bred is one of the finest appearing of all
breeds of sheep, with form almost per-
feet for meat production. As is the case
with all improved breeds in America,
except the Merino, this breed is hornless.
The face and leg are dark gray or brown.
The head is of medium size well carried.
The neck thickens as il approaches the
shoulders, which should be level with
the back; loins and hips should be broad:
the rump long, the ribs well rounded
The mutton is still classed among the
very best The fleece has increased in
weight, but is still light. The wool sells
at good price. Sheep of this breed
now occasionally reach live weight of
POO poupds or more, but the average is
considerably below this. They differ
considerably in size and form, owing
LARGELY TO the character of the soil and