The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-06-14
FARM AND GARDEN.

ERaor IN GRAss-An investigation
IN Now York, In order to ascertain
he cause Of frequent diseases among
neat cattle in winter time, has been ex-
aminlng various grasses. and ands that
ergot not lnfrcquently exists among
them. "June grass" (poa pratensis)
he says. whom allowed to remain un-
out until late In tho seas III, contains no
inconsiderable quantity. Similar gras.
sea, eslerially the well-known "Whit.
etop," (Dauthonia .Spicata) is often
made poisonous by its presence. This
grass is bad enough its best estate,
having so small quantity of phos-
phoric acid as to be Incapable of sup
porting life tor a long period, but
whom to its lnnutrtious substance is
added Il poison, the result Of feeding
| 1t Is disease and death. The ergot Is q
sort Of aooumulative poison, taking
possession OF the system and gradually
but surely bringing disease.
This dauthonia Is very prevalent on
| exhausted soils, where no nutritious
feed can grow, because the soil has no
material OF which to manufaotu re nu-
tritious products. Hence the truthful
i ness OF the remark of the unlettercd
countryman who said he had found
that manure would kill whltetOp
"deader'n thunder"
Soils producing this variety Of
grass generally n,ed an application
dissolved bone, or fine ground bone
meal powdered Charleston rock, bone
black, or something that will supply
the wanting element, phosphoric acid.
Hcncc our we'll made superphosphates
are profitable when applied to such
soils. But ground bone would be more
economical, for that contains a higher
| n sSH ri haS Inl ,irl
| usually cheaper per ton.
Ii the farmer would have healthy
animals, those that have smooth coats
III the spring time, those that Will not
eat up his ienoes ana gnaw down his
barns, let him feed such substances as
possess phosphorlc uCld In abundance,
eltn1r hny or other fouder grown on
pht spha!ed lanu, or the raw material
us 1t exists In powdered bone.
POULTRY MANURE.-POultly manure
Is hy far the most valuable fertilizer
produced on farms. Fowls cat con-
centratcd food that is rich and nitro
gen and phosphorus, nnd their drop
pings partake OF the nature Of the food
thoy devour. Grain, the seeds Of
small plants, meat, and insect produce,
when decompOscd hy tho action OF the
digestive apparatus, richer fertiliZ ng
material than grass, hay, and straw.
Besides, BIZ ds void their urine in a
solid form, and combined with the
eXcremcnt, that Is usually solid. AS
a consequence it Is not liable to be
wasted If the manure Is rightly cared
for. Poultry manure Is about as
valuable as the best Peruvian guano,
10 make 1t Of tho highest value as Il
cltllizer, however, it must be stored,
and applied to tho ground with care.
EXpotcu to the weather it Will be dis
solved by rain and carried OF. Paced
In large heaps It heats and the am
MONA Is driven of and lost. Applied
to the soil In too liberal quantities, es-
pecialiy whom fresh, it Is liable TO des-
troy the vitality OF seeds and TO kill
delicate plants. 1t should be stored in
a dry place and in comparatively
small lots 80 it will not be injured by
moisture and not fcrmcnt. 1t Is bet or
to mix it wish dried peat, road dust,
or somo other substance that will aid
in Keeping IL dry and tend to arrest
fermentation. The best results attend
It's use when it is well beaten up and
very thoroughly mixed with these
substances before 1t Is applied to tho
soil. Limo and ashes should bu kept
from 1t, rs they would act upon it in
such manner ns to libcrate ammonia.
PERIODICAL OPTHALMIA, OR Moon
BLlNDNEss.-rhis disease, to which
horses are subject, Is caused by con-
stitutional disposition, or by the pun.
gent vapors winch fiji tho air of I'M
clean stables. 1t appears Ms II blush
cloud in tho conter of the eve, the cor
ner which gradually thickens, and an
Increasing Inflammation OF the whole
organ until the horse Is unable to see,
when the Inflammation Is resolved
Into free discharge, the film dis
appears, anu temporary relief is OBJ
tanned Tor three or four weeks more.
Each attack is worse than the pre-.
cedlng one, until u cataract is formed
and permanent blindness occurs. The
treatment Is to remove tho causes, to
avoid any irii ating G rcumstanccs, to
givo full dose OF sal o twelve 20
st1tccn ounces, (two ouncn doses are
uselcss,) and when the fever is re-
ileVed to maintain gooi hculth by the
Dost OF feeuing. not using much corn,
but more bran ana linseod, and by
strengthening the eyes by cold bath
ing anu the occasional use OF lotion
ol one grain OF sulphato OF zinc in one
ounce ol rhill-Wnter, little or which
should be put in the eyes.
PACKING Sort FRUITS. The London
journal Of horticulture says quite as
much pleasure has been felt upon being
informed Of the satisfactory condition
OF soft fruits after journey, rs in
winning Il wol-contested prize ar a
flower show. Tho plan which has
proved perfectly successful and which
IL now IN, ariab!y followed whenever
iru't is sent by rail. is to wrap each
Duhoh of grapes or fruit of ether kinds
III soit tissue paper, surrounding 1t
win slight padding of wheat bran
as the fruit Is paced side by side in
the box. The paper is pnt upon the
iruit In plain folds, and not twisted
into hard corners, which may press
into the fruit and spoil 1t. Much care
Is taken to have each fruit thoroughly
ehvoloped In bran, which Is also set.
tled INTO as compact mass us possible
oy slightly jarring each box uron the
packing ben n alter the first layer is
put IN, and when 1t Is quite full a sheet
oi paper is put upon the bran and the
hinged lid ClOspI no bonko ,nJ o,,l,t,