Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-08-18
AGRICULTURE.

How To START FLOWER SEEDS. the
first place we must have a good porous
soil for the beds or garden, enricned with
well-rotted manure or compost, spaded
and raked clean of Jumps and stones, and
laid out as the surroundings or fancy may
dictate, when 1t is ready for the hardy an
nuals and biennials, Ii is best to avoid
undue haste in these preparations, and not
be tempted too far by the tickle warmth
of early spring, or we may find our labor
lost. Some of the smaller seeds are longer
in terminating, and those who do not
make hot bed will find 1t an advantage
to sow verbenas, stocks, petunias, cocks
combs and the like in boxes in this man.
ner. Take box that will hold peck or
half bushel of good soil. and put in the
bottom few handfuls of partly rotted
straw, then sift in good garden soil-if not
already sandy, mix in sanc-and SO fill
the box nearly full; press it down firmly
and smoothly, In rows, and sow the seed
thinly, and then sift over 1t fine dirt
enough to cover it nicely, not too deeply;
smooth down with piece of shingle and
sprinkle very carefully, 80 as to displace
the seed. Then wet three or four thick.
nesseS of woolen cloth in hot water, lay
over the cloth close down, and set the box
in a warm and not very light place, When
the Cloth becomes dry, or nearly so, repeat
the wettlng, and 50 on till the seed starts.
At this point the water should be just
warm when used. After the first leaves
develop remove gradually to the light,
with but thin cover Of cloth (mosqmto
net will do, using two thicknesses at first. }
BY giving this attention, there is little fear
of failure.
THE BEST BREED OF Cows For Milk
DAIRY.-Each breed has its merits If q
large yield of milk is desired the Dutch or
50 called Holsteln is 10 be preferred, but
these cattle are very high priced and a
milkman could not afford to purchase them.
Good, well-selected native cows, with
short-horn blood in them, are the best in
some cases, because they give abundant
and good looking milk, and when the milk
fails they are easily iatted. No milkman
can afford to raise calves unless he has
cheap land and plenty of pasture. If he
has these he had better keep Ayrshires or
at least select the best native cows, get a
pure Ayrshire bull from good milking
strain and raise half breeds So far as re-
CARDS the cost of milk the Ayrshires, ac-
cording to their special advocates, take the
pam over all other breeds, as they are
easily fed and milk freely.
TABLE Corn. With frequent paintings
through the season, dish of boiled green
corn can be on the table daily after the
first mess, until late in October. AS it Is
deservedly regarded to be one of the most
desi able things that can be enjoyed, there
is no reason why even people with small
! Ut of land should not indulge in it. There
is now an early variety of sugar corn for
the first planting that we have found 10 be
excellent. Ii is called the Extra Early
Crosby Sugar" A single planting or this
is sufficient, to be followed by "Stowell' s
Evergreen Sugar" which is the best vari-
ETY. for the general crop that we have yet
found, and have raised it for the least
twenty-five years. A planting should take
place every ten TO twelve days, and the
season will require from SIX to seven crops
togetl er These will give daily supply until
lrost sets in the latter part of October.
II MILELE TEX DIIlNG I1ORSES. - IuHE6
has been q number of inquiries of late as
to an easy and efectual method of curing
the habit of biting In horses. This dan.
gerous habit is taught the horse by thought
less owners or drivers, by playing with
them when colts, or teasing them when
full grown. A sharp cut with a whip
across the horses nose when he bites may
serve to break him from the habit; but
when the case is worse and incurable, a
muzzle for this purpose may be made of
strips of light hoop iron or of leather. A
band may be made to encirele the muzzle
to which strips of leather or iron are fast
ened. At the bottom of the muzzle a
round piece of leather should be fastened
by rivets to keep the strips in their place
A decoction of strong soap-s1ds with
tobacco stems (the more tobacco the bet
teri will exterm1nate the red spider and all
other insects from all plants and shrubs
without the slightest danger of injury.
As soon as the leaves of the currant and
gooseberry are fairly expanded The
"wCrm' may be looked for. The eggs are
laid upon the under side of the lower
leaves, and If these are removed and de-
stroyed much trouble is averted.
-
Tchoumaik, the Bandit.
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