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

ERaoT IN GRAss-An Investigation
In New York, in ordor to ascertain
he cause Of frequent diseases among
neat cattle In winter time, has boen ex-
amining various grasses. and finds that
ergot not lnfrequently exists among
them. "June grass" (poa pratensts)
he says. whom allowed to remain un-
out until late In the seas N, contains no
inconsiderable quantity. similar gras.
sea, especially the well-known whit
etop," (Dauthonia iSpicata) Is often
made poisonous by its presence. This
grass Is bad enough its best estate,
having so small a quantity of phos-
phorio acid rs to be Incapable of sup
porting life for long period, but
whom to its lnnutrltious substance Is
added a poison. the result Of feeding
1t is disease and death. The crgot is a
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 manufactu re nu-
tritious products. Hence the truthful
ness Of the remark of the unlcttcred
countryman who said he had found
that manure would kill whltetOp
| "deader'n thunder"
Soils producing this variety Of
grass generally med an application
dissolved bone, or fine ground bone
meal, powdered Charleston rock, bone
black, or something that will supply
the wanting element, phosphoric acid.
| Hence our we'll made superphosphates
are profitable whom applied to such
soils. But ground bone would be more
economical, for that contains a higher
per cent of the needed material. and is
usually cheaper per ton.
| II the tarmor would haye healthy
animals, those that have smooth coats
III the spring time, those that Will not
cat ui' his lcnoes ana guaw down his
barns, lot him feed such substances as
possess phosphorlC acid In abundance,
citnIr hay or other f0uder grown on
phi, spha!eu ,nnd, or the raw material
as 1t exists III powdered bone.
POULTRY MANURE.-Poultly y manure
Is hy far the most valuable fertilizer
produced on farms. Fowls cat con-
centrated food that is rich and nitro
gen and phosphorus, and their Drop
pings partake OF the nature Of the food
they devOur. Grain, tho seeds Of
small plants, meat, and insect produce,
when dCcOmposed hy tho action OF the
material than grass, hay, and straw.
Besides, biz ds void their urine in a
solid form, and combined with the
eXcrement, that Is usually solid. AS
a consequence 1t is not liable TO be
wasted II tho manure IS rightly cared
fors Poultry manure is about as
valuable RS tho best Peruvian guano.
TO make 1t of tho highest value as IL
fel tllizer, however, it must be stored,
and applied to the ground with care.
Exposed 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 liboral quantities, es-
pccially whom fresh, it ls 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 SO it Will not be injured by
moisture and not Torment. IL 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
fern entatlon. The best results attend
It's use when it is well beaten up and
very thoroughly mixed with these
! substances before it is applied to tho
soil. Limo and ashes should be kept
from 1t, rs they would act upon it in
such a manner 0s to liberate ammonia.
PERIODICAL OPTHALMIA, or Moon
BLINDNESS. This disease, to which
horses are subject, Is caused by con-
stituttenal disposition, or by the pun-
gent vapors whrch fill tho air Of un-
clean stables. 1t appears Ms II b.uish
cloud in tho center of the eye, the cor
ner which gradually thickcns, 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, and temporary relief is Oh
! tanned tor three or four weeks more.
Each attack is worse than the pre-.
ccding one, until Il cataract is formed
ana permanent blindness occurs. The
treatment Is to remove tho causes, to
avoid any irti ating rcumstanccs, to
giVo full dose OF sal twelve 20
| sixteen ounces, (twU Ouncn doses are
uselcss,) and when the fever is re
neved to maintain gooi health by the
best OF feeding, not using much corn.
Out more bran and linscod, ana by
strengthening the eyes by cold bath
ing and the occasional use Of lotion
oi one grain OF sulphatc Of Zlnc in one
ounce Of rain-wnter, II little OF winch
should be put in the EYES.
PACKING Sort FRUIrs.-The London
journal OF Horticulture says quite as
much pleasure has been feltupon being
informed OF the satisfactory condition
vi SOU fruits after a journey, is I'm
winning well-contcsted prize nc n
hover show. The plan which has
proved perfectly succcssful and which
IL now Invariably followed when over
iru't is Sent by rail. is to wrap each
Duhoh OF grapes or fruit Of ether kinds
IN sort tissue paper, surrounding It
wlth slight padding Of wheat bran
rs the fruit Is paced side by side i'm
the box. The paper Is put upon the
irult IN plain folds, and not twisted
INTO hard corners, which may press
into tho fruit and spoil 1t. Much care
Is taken to have each fruit thoroughly
ehvolopcd in bran, which is also set
tled INTO as compact mass as possible
ny slightly jarring each box uron the
packing ben III after the first laycr is
put In, and when 1t Is quite full a sheet
or paper is put upon tho bran and the