Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1881-01-08
FARM md HOME,
Farm Rdkings.
fFrom tho American Agriculturtst.l

when quality in the products of the
farm, orchard and garden is to take the
front rank, and quantity become o sec.
ond consideration. 1t is not SO much
the large strawberry or squash, or the
number Of quarts Of milk, as the flavor,
the richness, ETC., that is being sought.
This lis encouraging.
RIDGE blowing of stiff clays is often
Of great benefit. 1t is done by turning
the burrows two and two together, SO as
10 leave the land uniformly ridged. The
ridges must run up and down the slopes !;
otherwise, in heavy rains, water will be
held by the ridges until it breaks through
somewhere, when there will be danger
of a " wash-out." This system of winter
following involves blowing again in the
spring, but shows its good effects in the
crops.
ArPfEs.-The practice Of picking the
fruit and putting it in heaps for few
days until the skin toughens, before
barreling, is n good one. Put the fruit
into the barrel with care, shaking it
down when half full, and again when
full, so that the apples will fit closely,
when the head is pressed in by means
OF the barreling press. The opposite
head should be marked as the one to be
opened. This season of abundant ap-
Piles it will not pay to market any except
the best fruit, and that in fine shape.
WATER-H pure water does not flow
Mt the barn, look into means for secur-
ing it. Barn-yard wells are convenient,
bat often dangerous to the health, if not
of animals, certainly of men, who may
drink at them. If the water from some
spring can he led to the house and barn,
by all means bring it down-use plain
iron pipes or enameled ones-not "gal-
vanized" pipes. Zinc is slow poison,
but not quite 80 bad as lead A we'll on
higher ground will often furnish flowing
water, conducted by siphon, at the
level Of the buildings. No we'll should
he ding at less distance than 800 feet
from n barn-yard, cesspool, or privy
vault.
SPRING AND FALL PIGs.-Pigs Uttered
i'll the fail or early winter, owing to the
cold weather, lack Of green food, ETC.,
seldom make good start, and in many
cases are eaten as soon as dropped by
their voracious dams. Pigs for the
greatest profit should come about tue
opening of spring, with its fresh grass
and warm sunshine; they can be ready
for the market by fall, and very few
risks will he run. For this end sows
should be bred in December or January.
At one time large hogs were highly
priced III the market, but now smaller
ones are in demand, and such pork can
he produced at less expense per pound
than that Of large hogs. Young hogs
are the most profitable, born in spring
and marketed in the fall.
LICE ON SToCK.-A number of letters
ask for remedies for lousy stock. Ver-
min of some kind very frequently infest
domestic animals they are mostly of
the louise type; small, parasitic animals
that must be removed by the applica-
ton Of some insecticide. A number of
substances have been used to q greater
or less extent, of which few are men.
toned below: One pound of tobacco
and six ounces of borax boiled in two
quarts of water, to which soft soap
enough is added to make thick paste.
has proved good vermin salve. A
mixture of carbolic acid and soft soap in
the proportion of one to four makes q
compound easy to apply, and very effect
ual. Shortly after, the parts to which
the soapmixture has been applied should
he washed with pure water and nom
drying oil rubbed on. Oil of turpentine
and lard oil, equal parts, with little
carbolic acid, is perhaps the most con-
venient mixture 10 make, and effectual
in its application. Animals that are
affected with vermin need better care
and higher feeding in order to overcome
the drain that those parasites make up
on the system.
Corn CRm.-The only perfect protec-
ton of small building against rats is
the setting it upon posts protected by
TIN. by broad caps, or in some such way.
A corn foor is sometimes made in the
peak of the barn roof, above the tie.
beams, and resting upon them fully half
the length of the mfters above the caves
This is not. however, perfect protection,
though it often remains for years before
the rats find any way Of getting to it; it
is an excellent place to keep corn and
seeds of all kinds. The grain must be
hoisted by a horse with block and
tackle. Free ventilation is absolutely
essential to the proper curing of the