Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-04-28
FOR FARMERS.

Salt mixed with the earth above the
roots of pear trees is good to prevent
blight.
One hundred and fifty or 400 bushels
of strawberries may be raised from one
acre of land.
Common salt is a special manure for
asparagus beds when used with rich
barn-yard compost.
Orchard grass is very early in growth
and furnishes good hay. 1t starts out
fresh Immediately after each moving.
Sheep fed on dry feed are frequent
ly troubled with sore lips. An applica-
ton of sulphur and lard once or twice
will generally effect cure.
Tho best time to prune fruit trees is
in June, when the sap is active and the
leaves will protect the sores made by
the saw from the heat of the sum-
1t has been discovered that common
pine posts, if saturated with coal oil and
then boiled in coal tar, will remain in
the gaound ten years perfectly sound.
Peas and sweet potatoes are the
cheapest hog feed. Boiled sweeupota-
toes and pea meal mixed would fatten
hogs rapidly, and would be much
cheaper than corn.
1t is a mistake to allow sows to breed
before they are at least a year old, as
they are not then sufficiently matured,
and pigs from such are sometimes too
weak to live.
The best of the Jerseys are being
brought to this country 1t would not
be surprise if the Jersey breeders re
sorted to us for cattle after we have
further improved them.
Red raspberries should be set two
feet apart in rows, and when kept we'll
worked the first year they will I'll up
and form continuous hedge of plants
good for ten years or more.
An old orchard can never be made
young again, but by good care, prun-
ing ard cultlvatlpg 1t can be made to
bear fair crop until a young one can
be set out and brought into bearing.
The following formula is good one
for tobacco fertilizer: Ammonia, 6
per cent; phosphoric acid, s per cent;
potash, s per cent; plaster sc per cent
Plaster may be put in in any desired
quantity.
Test your onion seeds by placing a
little in moist sand, cotton or moss in
warmish room. If fresh, it will soon
i'm about three days. sprout Onion
seed should not be more than one year
old.
To prevent sows from crushing their
young, nail a board about enc foot
wide to the side Of the pen. The board
is to be put on like shelf, so that the
little pigs can run under it to get out
of the way.
1t is not proper to keep ducks and
chickens in the same yard. The broad
bill of the duck enables it to german
die, and, being voracious feeder, it is
likely to deprive other fowls Of their
share of the feed.
Certain varieties of eyergreens, such
as arbor vitae, are furnished with a
thick mass Of roots. These should be
cut away somewhat, in order to admit
of close contact Of the soil around the
base of the plants.
An easy method of sailing stock is to
place a large lump of rock salt at diff
ferent locations, to which the stock can
resort whenever desired. 1t can also
be placed in the troughs of the stable
to good advantage.
: A peck of fresh lime, first slaked to
dry powder and then reduced with wa
ter to wash, with the addition of a
pound of zulphate of zinc and half a
pound of common salt, make pretty
good and durable whitewash.
John c. Linville, Salisbury, Penn,
referred in a recent address to two ca
ses of subsoiling at double the cost of
ordinary blowing, and with signal fail
ure to increase subsequent crops of
corns. oats, wheat and grass.
If good clover or mixed hay is cut
into half-inch lengths and stepped in
hot water it makes an excellent, cheap
and healthy food for fowls in winter;
and, as with cattle, little linseed
meal sprihkled on it adds to it virtue.
A few sprigs of cedar branches Tor
leaves) have a strong tendency to drive
off insects from the nests of hens. Mix
them among the materials composing
the nests. and they will certainly do no
harm, while they may do much good.
Soft coal ashes are used to prevent
ravageS of the currant worm. They are
scattered thickly around the curant
and goosdberry bushes, care being
taken to keep the bushes well supplied
with them as long as there is danger,