The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-05-10
AGRIOULTURE. A

pleasing fact that the increase of the
supply Of ducks in our markets is very
sensible in the last few years, and
they are readily bought up at good
prices as o change from chickens and
turkeys. Farmers tell us that they
are as easily raised as chickens, indeed
cost less for food and bring a better
price, especially If the kinds are raised
which look plump and appetIzing on
the table, These are the Rouen. the
Pekln and Aylesbury. They are Of
good size, and in their growth they
consume almost anything and really
keep the promises clear OF many thing
that would prove an annoyance, such
as insects, grubs, offal, wormy apples,
&c. In October and November whom
their sales begins, liberal supply of
corn meal or Oat meal mush, fcd a lit
tie warm mixed with sour or sW eet
milk, will In about two weeks fatten
them early for market. From every
farm from twenty five to Atty pairs
should be annually sent to market, tho
returns of which would do full share
In filling the family purse from the
pleasanter and lighter branches of the
farm.
The chief value of salt applied to
land as manure Is in its action as a
solvent, thus rendering other plant
food available. though it supplies
plants with soda and chlorine, both OF
which are constituents of plants. All
plants that require soda OF alkali are
benefited by it, If applied with judge.
ment. Wheat contains both soda and
potash as well as chlorine, (the latter
and sodium are continuents OF salt),
Salt that has been used for brine DOS
sesses value for fertiliztng purposes.
1t should be applied to wheat suffioi.
emily early In the spring to get the be-
nedS of wet weather, and at the rate
of three to six bushels per acre. Ten
bushels are sometimes sour.
SPOEGEs long In use are sometimes
affected with sllminess. which is
caused by the sponge not being wrung
as dry as possible Immediately atJer
use. When this has once formed, 1t
increases rapidly. A contemporary
says that one Of the most effectual 70.
clpes for cleansing sponges, ana cer-
tainly one Of the cheapest, Is a strong
solution of salt and water, in which
they should soak for few hours, and
then be thoroughly dried. Spongos
should not be left In a sponge dish; (;
they should he kept suspended where
the air can freely circulate around
them. Quiok evaporation Of the mols-
turc Is the main thing to keep thcm In
good odor.
BREEDING CHICKENS In breeding
for early market, it is important to
have breed that grows rapidly and
1eshes up young the skin should be
II
white, both the chicks and old fowl
will look much better when dressed
than these with colored feathers. The
color Of the skin 80 important, yet half
of the fowls that are sent to market
have anything but yellow skin.
Small bone, short legs and welI-roun-
ded form are also desirable and size,
when full grown, not less than five
pounds, and not over six before dress
ed, gives the best early chicks for mar
ket. None Of these qualitie, are an inju-
ry to laying hen; and If to them are
added good layers, hardy and quiet,
we have combined the points necessa-
ry for both meat and eggs.
THE question is raised whether It is.
right to color butter artifcially. Since
the coloring of butter is probably due to
coloring matter in the food ,as well as to
the power OF the COW to remove the
same from tho food, the question nay
be asked whether there is any more
wrong in putting the color into the
butter than in supplying TODD to the
animal which will cause the COW to
give, the cream Of which will make
yellow butter, At all events, as the
COlOrlng Is now made from harmless
hk,t 10
pure and good as the uncolored (when
properly done), and as people prefer
the cOlored butter, we think the bene-
fit of the doubt belongs on the side Of
the farmer.
HULLRD CoRN.--The old way of ma-
king hulIed corn was to boil 1t in
strong Iye made from hard wood ash
es until the hull or skin would rub ell !;
then rem owe and wash until all the I've
or potash was thoroughly removed.
But more modern way Is to soak the
corn over night in warm water, and
in the morning put it in an iron kettle
with warm water enough to cover it.
TO each quart of corn put one table
spoonful OF soda, boil until the hulls
come oil readily, then wash IN clean
water several tin es, then put on and
ooiA oAotA oohoSl, odlCs w Hull
done turn into a sieve and allow the
water to drain off.
In farm labor one has often to on
counter hurttul amount Of dust. A
simple an cheap protection from such
an annoyance is to get piece Of
sponge large enough to cover the nos
trils and mouth, hollow it out on one
side with pair scissors to tit the face,
attach string to each side and tic it
on. First wet it well, and squee re out
most OF the water. Repeat this when
ever the sponge becomes dry. All the
DUST will be caught in the damp cayi-
Ties. and Is easily washed out.
TURKEYS ON THE FARM.--The best
way to keep turkeys from straying
away from home is keep the hens un-
til they are three or four years old.
The old ones are more apt to return
home at night. The gentlemen who
vouches for the above says he was In
duced to raise turkeys because of the
ravages of grasshoppers Oh his farm.
Ho says good, large flock Of turkeys
will efiectually rid farm Of hoppers