Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-07-12
AGRICULTURE.

stocking of land is one Of the surest and
quickest ways of running pastures. 1t IS
an everyday thing with many farmers, who
cannot be made to believe that they are
getting the full benefit of a pasture unless
the grass is eaten off little faster than IT
has time TO grow; consequently all who put
this method in practice always have bare
pastures and poor cattle. The ADVANTAGES
to be derived from allowing the grass to
gam on the cattle during the growing sea-
son are many, among which are the fol-
lowing: Cattle which are kept growing
all the time come to maturity at the proper
age Animals Kept constantly on bare
pastures never mature properly: those
kept on good pastures do not have to Work
day and nigh: to satisfy their appetite or
use I'D all their food in building mp sys-
TEN worn down by partial starvation. A
good covering Of grass is protection
against the effects Of bad and dry weather
and the cold rains sf winter, so that new
grass will be growing under covering OF
the old crop. Ii is true that cattle Will
thrive better on mixture OF old and new
grass, while the seeding OF the mature
grasses will keep up the full variety OF
those kinds native TO the soil. Consequent
ly pastures thus treated produce more food
for stock durlng the year than those Kept
continually eaten down 10 the bare earth.
The practice of keeping pastures In good
conditll IN is easily done upon large farns,
where reserve fields can be provided, but
even the small farmer can succeed in hav-
ing renewed and fertile pastures, If he but
study the laws of nature and practice ac-
cordipg to the knowledge thus acquired.
RAPID Tree GRowTHs According 10 a
report of the Horticultural Society OF Mad
ras two trees In the Botanical Garden there
display the marvellous rapidity OF tree
growths in tropical countries. The ram
tree (PIthecc obium saman) In the gardens
tie measurements of which were given In
the proceedings of the Society 9TH of Au-
gust, 1873. and then believed TO be under
six wears from the seed, continues, IN spite
of it's having teen necessary 10 amputa'e
some Of the largest limbs, to grow enor-
mously. Measured on the 30th of July
last, ii gave IN girth nine feet four inches
at the ground, six feet three inches at 8
feet high; in spread about eighty five feet
IRON north to south. and total height of
about fcrtv six feet. A reference To the
former measurements shows that the gIrth
at three feet from the ground has increased
in the last three years two feet two inches.
The age of the tree is If anything, Overestl-
mated; but sesrch Is being made for traces
Cf the receipt Of the seed, which ii is be-
lieved came from Ceylon about 1872. A
oil do .inh
was the specimen Cf its order when that
part f the ground was laid ont at the Bo-
tauical Garden. and is therefore known to
te about ten Years old, now measures ct o
feet f:om the gIOhnd only two feet and q
half inches, though it is about eighiy-two
feet high
CARE OF HoRsEs.-kiies are source f
much discomfort and fretfulness. NetIlngs
are now sold quite cheaply, and much
more than pay their cost every year. In
the absence Cf these, an easily made good
protection IS thin cotton sheet fitted to
the neck with holes for The ears, and buck
led under the throat, or even tied there
with sirays of the same material. Let il
cover Tie back and hang loose at the sides,
10 give free access Of air; this nay be held
N plsre by cruppeT-band passing under
the tail. When horses are not driven on
bard stony roads, or used in stony fields,
the shoes may be removed for time with
benefit TO the feet A quantity of green
fodder, as rye, etc. is very acceptable to
mix with the dry feed. This keeps the
system in good order, and saves the use
Of medicines. Ordinary light farm work
seldom INJURIES mares nearing their foaliug
time. They should be kept In good health
1t may be necessary 10 give gentle laxa-
tive, as bran or linseed-oil cake. If pur-
eative is needed, administer pint of ra,C
inseed oil.
REARING LAKGE HoEsEs There IS q
large profit in re airing large, powerful, en-
dunng horses, as he demand TOR them at
extra prices among us at present is consid
erably beyond the supply. This cannot
be fully met for years, and, when done,
Europe will gladly take our surplus al
equal or perhaps higher prices for an in-
definite length of time. The superior pro-
tit in rearing these Is, that they can be put
to light farm work at Is to "a months OF
age, and the hardest of it at four years old.
When they have attained five or SIX years
they can be sold for city and other heavy
work, and by this time they will have paid
their cost OF rearing on the farm, and the
high price al which they now sell will lie
clear gain to the farmer. This is the
calculation in Europe, and 1t may lie still
more easily realized in America where
grain, grass and hay are so much cheaper
and more abundant.
BoEEs.-It is not practicable for all far.
lners TO have bone mills, and the best
thing is 10 break them up somewhat with
an axe, or heavy hammer, and mix them
with uneachCd ashes, keeping the heat
moist ere ugh so the alkali will eat
them, and render the bones soft. The
bones thus treated will crumble to fine pie.
ces when d:led, and are then ready to be
spread upon the land. Every farmer
should see that ali bones are made in.o a
valuable homemade fertilizer.
DURABLE CsTs.-The following Is SIM
PIE and effective: Burn the part of the
posts 10 be set in the ground including the
bottom ent, just enough TO leave thin
layer OF charcoal all over the surface, and
then dip them in hot tar or asphalt. The
charcoal is Indesiruciible by air or mos
ture; the lar or the asphalt fills the cracks
and Interstices, and thoroughly protac. S
the interior wood.
FAT AND BREI IDING.-Breeders have no.
ticed that remark kable development of
the tendency TO lay on fat is usually ac-
companIed by delIcacy of constitution, a
diminished secretion of milk and g loss of
fecundIty. Very fat animals are not
likely to be good breeders; In fact, the ex-
cessIve production Of fat is incompatible
with high development of the reproduc-
tive powers.
SoILING cattle is acknowledged to be the
most economical method tor those who
practice high farming. Ali disputes have
subsided regarding the system except the
cost of labor required, some farmers claim
ing II TO be the better plan when land is
high priced and labor cheap, but unproft-
able when land is cheap and labor high.