The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-07-28
AGRICULTURAL.

POULTRY MANURE. E.-Poultry manure is
by far the most valuable fertilizer produced
on farms. Fowls eat concentrated food
that is rich In nitrogen and phosphorus, and
their droppings psrtake Of the nature Of the
food they devour. Grain, the seeds Of
small plants, meat, and insects produce,
when decomposed by the action Of TIE di-
gestive apparatus, richer fertilizlng material
than grass, hay, aud straw. Besides birds
void their urine IN solid form, and COM
hlned with the excrement that Is usually
solid. AS consequence it ls not liable to
be wasted if the manure is rightly cared
for. Poultry manure is about as valuable
rs the best Peruvian Guano. To make 1t
of the highest value as q fertilizer, however,
it must be stored, and applied to the
ground with care. Exposed to the weather
it will be dissolved by rain and carried off.
Placed in large heaps 1t heats and the am
monia Is driven off and lost. Applied to
the soil in too liberal quantities, especially
when fresh, 1t is liable to destroy the vital.
ity of seeds and to kill delicate plants. 1t
should be stored in dry place and in COM
paratively small lots so it will not be injured
by moisture and will not fermcnt. 1t is
better to mix 1t with dry peat, road dust,
or some other substance that will aid in
keeping it dry and tend to arrest fcrmenta-
ton. Tho best results attend it's use when
it is well beaten up and very thoroughly
mixed with these substances before it is
applied to the soil. Lime and ashes should
be kept from it. as they would act upon it
in such a manner rs to libcrate ammonia.
HOUSES FOR HIRED HELp.-One chief
reason why farmers are short of hands is,
that laborers can find few comfortable
70 l,HYn ~, o% fns
to their business. They must take the
VOWS of celibacy, or go to some city or vii
lage to shelter their families. This Is why
the villages and cities grow, and why their
saloons and almshouses find customers,
while the country dcpopulates, and the
farmers suffer from tho lack of help.
Country rents should be cheaper than city
rents Country tenements should be more
pleasant, convenient, healthful and every
way desirable than city tencments. There
IS abundant opportunity to make them so,
anu it Is shame and o disgrace to farmers
If they arc otherwise. Country employ
ment should be as agreeable, constant and
renlunerative as can be had elsewhere. The
great demand of our agriculture is more la
Dor to the acre, ard this Is the way to get
lt-give workmen comfortable houses at
fair rent, and ample gardens with currant
bushes and fruit trees; they won't resist
the temptation. This Will enable workmcn
to board themselves, when required, to the
great relief of many overworked farmers
wives: This will supply childrcn's help,
often very convenient. Thus the labor
supply can be made up to the great advan-
tage OF every party concerned. Let us
have houses for farm laborcrs.
CHIP DIRT FOR FRUIT TRREs. The best
fertilizer TO use in setting fruit trees of all
kinds ls partially or thoroughly decomposcd
chip dirt. We made use of the material
for the first time some twenty years ago in
planting all apple orchard, and 1t was a
wonder to those not in the secret what
caused the trees to make such II hnc growth
the first season, and afterwards, too, for
that matter. This experiment was 80 salts
factory, that when we set our new orchard,
we made liberal use of this material, with
the same satisfactory result. These trials
have proved to our satisfaction that chip
dirt Is the very best material to mix in the
soil as you plant the tree that can possibly
be used, tor the reason that it holds moist
ure, and Is full of the elements of plant
food; therefore, 1t promotes q most luxur-
liant, natural and healthy growth. Repeat
ed trials have satisfied me that tree is not
only more sure to live, but will make dou-
bic the growth the first year Especially if
dry season., If some two bushels of chip
dirt are properly used in its setting, than it
would without it. A single trial will con-
vince the most skeptical that the best DOS
sibie use that can be made of this valuable
material Is to apply 1t to the soil In planting
trees in order to push forward the tree dur
ing the first prccariOus stages Of It's growth.
FRUIT TREEs.-N fruit grower needs
telling that young fruit trees like the ground
shaded. The best way to shade is what
growers differ about. Many grow crops
through their orchards, and truckers grow
vegetables through theirs. 1t does not
matter IN what shape the shading comes,
30 that it does not rob The trees of nounsh-
mcnt. The GOODNESS afforded the ground
by growing crops Is just what fruit trees
like. Many bring about the samo result bv
mulching the ground, and where the land
is too poor to sustain both q crop and the
trees, this is the best plan.
ONE Of the most prolific causes of con-
tracted heels in horses is allowing their
shoes to remain Oh too long. 1t is seldom
We hear of horses having contracted heels
when worked regularly every day. Few
persons arc aware Of the Importance of re-
moving horses shoes, which should be
done at least every month or six weeks. Ii
Is too often the custom to allow tho shoes.
after having once been placed, to remain
TIL worn out before removing them.
Corn. An intelligent farmer says that
the leaves and stalks from an acre of corn
are worth as much to feed to stock as the
hay which could bo raised upon the same
amount of land.
Marking Workshop Tools. - Much
trouble can often be saved by marking tools
with their owners name, which can be
easily done in the following manner Coat
over the tools with thin layer of wax or
hard tallow, by first warming the steel and
rubbing on the wax warm until it flows,
and let 1t cool. When hard mark your
name through the wax with gravcr, and