The Osceola times., 1881-05-07
FACTS FOR FARMERS.
Drying Iruit-Corn smut-ISest Method of
Preserving Posts-Beans for sheep
Farm Notes.
DRYING rRrIr.

DRYING FRUIT.
The correct principle in drying fruit is
to subject the fruit TO a current of hot ain
so as dry the cut surface at once, which
prevents discoloration and hermeticaly
seals the cells which contain acid and
starch, and which yield glucose or fruit
sugar. A current Of dry, hot air is made
to pass over and under the fruit, carry.
ing all the moisture out of the machine
without interfering with or passing
through the trays above-the strongest
heat Sbeing concentrated on each trav
when il first enters the dryer The fruit
does not cook, us in ordinary driving in
ot.air chambers, but the moisture is
eyaporated and removed rapidly, and
the fruit has a bright pleasing color.
making it sell readily at highest prices.
1t operates just as well on all vegetable
products as upon fruit, turning out pro-
duct of the very best quality.
CORN SMUT.
Corn smut is fungus which grows
from the substance of the plant, the seed
being carried into the roots from the soil
and from the roots into the stalks, ears
and other parts Of the plant. The seed
or spores are in the soil, and may be
carried there in manure made from ami
mails fed upon corn-fodder or corn ears
infested with smut. Or the spores, which
are as fine and as light as the finest dust,
may be carried to the soil by the wind
and washed into it by rains. At any
rate ii is there. II only makes the mat
ter worse to bury the smut; this should
be burned. If buried it remains in the
soil, and will iniest n crop after some
time has elapsed. The only thing that
can be done is to steep the seed in strong
brine or solution of blue vitriol -four
ounces in a gallon of water, to be sure
the seed is pure, and then, if smut APP
pears from infested ground, to cut every
smutty stalk and burn it.
BEST METHOD or PRESERVING POSTS.
Referring to the well known method
of preserving posts and poles which are
partly imbedded in the earth by char
ring and coating with tar, the Scientific
american says these methods are only
effective when both are applied Should
the poles only be charred, without the
subsequent treatment of tar, the charred
formation on the suface would only act
as an absorber of the moisture, and, if
anything, hasten the decay. BY apply
ing coating of tar, according to the
same authority, the bar would only form
casing about the wood, nor could il
penetrate. to the depths which the alb
sorbing properties of the charcoal sur
face would insure.
Wood that is exposed to the action of
water or let into the ground should first
he charred, and then, before it is entire
ly cooled, be treated with tar until the
wood is thoroughly impregnated, says
the journal in question. The acetic acid
and oils contained in the tar are evapor-
ated by the heat aud only the resin left
behind, which penetrates the pores of
the wood and forms an air-tight and
water proof envelope. 1t is important
10 inprcgnate the posts little above
the line of exposure, for here il is that
the action of decay affects the wood first
and where the break always occurs when
removed from the earth or strained in
testing.
BEANS As FOOD FOR SHEEP.
People who are keeping sheep in the
West, especially those who are located
on or near the great plains, would do
well to experiment in raising field beans
for food during the fall and winter
Beans do better on poor and dry soils
than almost any other crop that is raised
for stock. BY planting the seed as soon
as danger from frosts is over the crop
can be matured before the summer
drouths occur. The value of beans for
sheep has been acknowledged by all who
have fed them out. They contain very
large amount Of nitrogen which adds
TO the formation Of flesh. They consti-
tute the most concentrated food that is
fed the stock with the exception Of oil
cake or cotton seed. The amount of
nutrment contained in beans is remark
able. The owners of mines in South
America compel their workmen to eat
ration of beans every two or three days
whether they relish them or not. Sheep
of all ages are very fond of beans and
will eat them in preference to any kind
of food offered them. They may be
raised to good advantage on inverted sod
by sowing the seed broadcast and cover.
ing it with harrow. They may be
raised in the same manner on old ground
that is free from grass and weeds. 1t is
better, however, to plant them in drills
and to work the ground between them
with cultivator. Beans should not be
cultivated when the vines are wet with
rain or dew, as disturbing the leaves at
these times causes them to rust. When
mature, the vines should be pulled from
the ground, partially dried in the sun,
and then placed under cover or in small
stacks. stack for beans can be made
by driving three stakes into the ground
about three feet apart so as to form the
corners of II triangle. The stakes should
incline outward so they will be about
four feet apart at the top. A support for
the vines can be made by tying withes
or cords about the stakes foot or more
above the surface OF the ground. The
vines should be crowded between the
stakes with their roots toward the in
side. The stacks when completed
should be egg Snapped. The top may be
covered with long grass or straw so it
will completely shed rain. The beans
can be thrashed at any time they are
wanted with hand fail. 1t is not neces-
sary t. thrash them for sheep, rs they
win eat the entire pods and the leaves
that remain on the vines.
FARM NOTES.
SIX Jerscymen have banded together
10 raise 100000 watermelons for this
years market.
SUGAR CANE, cotton, dates, rice and to-
bacco are 10 be raised in the Boston pub
lie garden this summer.
The State Agricultural Department Of
North Carolina has been experimenting
in the cultivation of jute with the most
satisfactory results.
AUSTRALIA can freeze mutton so that
4 %. of