The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12
THE FARM.

PRACTICALLY, the many articles show
ing how the bad qualities of horse may
be discerned by those investing In horse
flesh are entirely worthless, as every one
familiar with this noble beast can attest.
1t is true that horses countenanco
sometimes indicates viciousness, but this
thing of examining his eyes, head, tai,
etc, etc, to find whether he has intelh-
gercc, temper, courage, honesty, ETC., Is
worse than the sickliest popycock. The
only way to secure n good-natured and
serviceable horse without danger Of being
swindled, is TO make your selection and
then take him on trinl. A common plan
in horse-trading is TO take every man for
villain until he proves himself a gentle
nan.-Farming World.
MICE are very prolific n single pair
will often multiply to fifty or more dur
ing a single season, as the earlier broods
reproduce one or more generations.
Usually large proportion Of each sum-
iner's growth is killed off in winter, if
autumn rains saturate the soil. If at any
point the soil freezes solid before copious
rains. extra caution should be taken to
protect fruit trees and shrubs against
mice. The methods, such as banking
earth around the trees tramping the
snow hard about the trunks as it falls;
putting tarred paper, four to six inches
above ground and little below, etc.,
should be adopted.
PorAroEs.- is estimated that New
York City alone daily consumes 10000
bushels OF potatoes; or one bushel to
rs OF so of the resident and transient
population or four and half bushels
each per annum. Potatoes always
= f<xn1 hak so 10
say comparatively. A bushel OF
potatoes go lhs.) contains nearly
DO lbs. Of water and only about
10 lbs. of solid nutriment, which is
mainly starch. Taking the country al
together, and the prices of potatoes,
corn, wheat, etc, high and low, from
year 10 year, the average nutritious food
obtained in the form Of potatoes costs
four to five times as much as it does in
the consumption of corn or beans, and
two and half to four times as much
as in the form of wheat -four, or oatmeal,
beans. rice. etc.
IMrLEMENTs. Wagons, plows, har-
rows, rakes, In short any implement that
with good usage and protection will last
eight years, will become weak and de-
fective, and generally useless if exposed
during four years Of dews, rain, and sui.
1t can not be otherwise. Dew is very
destructive TO all wood and sun-cracks
admit rain and moisture to the interior
fibers, TO work injury there. To have
Implements thus exposed is direct loss
of fifty per cent, q heavy tax. But, to
state il mildly, an implement which, left
unprotected, would last say five years,
viii undoubtedly last six years if always
kept dry and in the shade, when not in
L.. "a
its efficiency, or twenty per cent. A few
boards, or straw cover, and attention to
having the implements always put under
it, is far more profitable than to "work
out" the twenty per cent. to buy new
ones. Woodwork that must be left ex-
posed, will be greatly benefited by a
frequent application of paint, or simply
a coat Of painting oil, and filling up all
sun cracks as soon as formed, with such
oil. The use Of crude petroleum tends
to the preservation of wood, may be ap-
piled to all unpainted woodwork of i'm
plements. Metal surfaces are saved
from rust by thin coat of lard which
has been melted with resin (rosin) THE
size Of a blackwalnut to a pint of LARD,
more or less. This forms sort of var.
nish that $heds water or dew. Table
knives and forks, and other steel articles
TO be laid away, if rubbed with the
slightest film of this lard-resin mixture,
will keep bright fo- long time. 1t is
easily removed when desired.
SHELTER SAVES FooD.-Every keeper
of animals would actually profit by lit.
tie study of chemistry and physiology.
Here is short lesson All kinds of food
as hay. grain, bread, meat, etc., are like
wood, mainly composed of charcoal (car.
bon) and water. with considerable nitro.
gen In some Of them. To prove this
strongly heat any of the above food ma
terialy in a coal pit, or better, under
glass. Water with some nitrogen gas
will be driven of and can be found il
the glass receiver, while only charcoa
will remain. Let in more air and tn,
charcoal itself will unite with the oxyge1
OF the atmosphere, and also go off as ,
transparent. invisible carbonic acid gas
This chemical action sets at liberty hea
that was before concealed or insensible
the same as when coal is burned rapid,
IN stove, producing an active fire /; O
as when wood decays. but gives off hea
so slow as not to be observed. Exactl,
the same thing occurs when any food i
dissolved (digested) in the stomach O
animals or men, and is taken into the
blood and carried to all parts of the body
Tho blood gets oxygen also from the ail
in tho lungs, and carries it all through
the body. The atoms Of oxygen NEE
the atoms Of digested food, here, there
and everywhere in the blood vessels
The two unite Just as they do in stove
heat Is produced, only q minute quantit,
at any one point, but q great deal of it
taking the whole blood circulation to
gether, and SO the whole body is KEEP
warm. though heat is constantly escap
ing from the whole outside surface. Ma
ture provides that the body shall Away
be Kept warm, otherwiseit would quickl,
perish and so il the oxygen in tn
blood don't find food enough to keep III
the internal heat, it will attack and con
sumo any fat OF flesh stored in the body
and thus make the animal poor. w
must have an ever-burning fire in bot
the animal and human system. II tn
surrounding atmosphere is cold. and car
rios off heat rapidly from the surface {
the body, we must increase tho internf
production Of heat by putting in NOR
food, or by surrounding the body with
covering that will prevent the escape {
much heat. Is il not plain then, that b
keeping animals warm, by means of clos
buildings. or shelter against heat steal
ing winds, less food will be needed, an
thcre will be less waste Of flesh in NAL
ing heat? Any arrangement Of shelte
cover, stable, shed, blankets-anythin
that will prevent the natural warmt
from passing away from the surface
any animal-will be great saving
food required to keep up the absolutel
necessary internal life warmth; will pr
vent loss Of flesh will allow the food
go more 10 adding to weight Of flesh, {
the Weld OF milk. or of wood. Shelf,