The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-06-29
FARMERS COLUMN,
Agricultural Items.

! Agricultural Items,
The apple orchards, north and east,
have just passed their blossoming stage,
and the prospect for fruits in New York,
the New England states, New Jersey,
and easteth Pennsylvania were hover
better.
Ten years ago, the man who, should
have predicted that Iowa in 1881; would
rank forth az butter producing state,
would have boen reckoned as a crank.
Yet, she did, being outranked only by
New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Cayenne pepper blown into cracks
where mice and cockroaches are accus-
toned to haunt, will drive them away.
The annual value of our dairy crop is
more than double that of the cotton crop,
and the production of cotton is by no
means small industry.
Where worms infest flower pots they
may be driven out by mixing an ounce
of ammonia in gallon of water, and
with the solution water the plants.
Farmers should read and think more
and work less. Builders and their employ
cs in the cities work but ten hours day
|
their hands who work fourteen to six
teen hours daily. And the mechanics
declare they are not going to work more
than eight hours a day by and by.
A discussion in European papers upon
the question of the effects of freezing
upon the flavor of meat, participated in
by many chief cooks and stewards, ap
pears to show that even the develop
ment Of flavor is arrested and kept in
allegiance by the congelation. If frozen
| of flavor immediately On being thawed,
| but "ripens" in the same time and man
| ncr when liberated from the torponic
crutch as if never had been In its power.
Aside from this non-injury, there is the
| positive advantage, we'll understood in
! our Northern States and Canada, of de-
| cided effect of freezing in increasing
! tenderness.
Household Varieties.
Ifthe lady who wishes a ''frcckle
wash" will dissolve half an ounce of salt
peter and an ounce of borax in quart
ofsoft water, and add the juice of one
lemon, she will find it very effectual.
Introductions are made of the less to
the greater. In walking the gentleman
gives the lady the inside of the walk.
Common sence should regulate all mat
tiers of social intercourse; and the rules
laid down in etiquette books are or
should be flexible:
Jelly rolls are delicious made from
this recipe: Three eggs, half a cup of
butter, one cup Of -four, one and a half
teaspoonfuls of baking powder, two
thirds of cup of pulverized sugar, a lit
tie salt; bake in shallow pans-a drip
ping-pan we'll buttered is good for this
purpose put on the doug h till it is about
half an inch thick; take it carefully from
the tins when baked, and lay on cloth;
spread Jelly evenly over it with a knife;
roll while hot; if this is not done the
cake will crumble.
What Constitutes Good Farming,
Formerly it was thought that education
was not necessary tor a farmer ability
to swing an axe, hold plough, handle
hoe and swing scythe being all that
was required in a good farmer. This
opinion has given way to more enlight-
ened one. At the present day it is con-
coded that we'll directed use of brains
is worth more to the farmer than undi-
rected physical labor. Both combined
are still more effective where the great
est profit is expected.
One Of the many elements of success
in farming is in keeping posted up with
the times. This in a great measure
may be obtained by reading our bestag-
ricrltural journals, and he who lisa close
student can learn much that he can use
to his own advantage, and at small cost.
The habitual carelessness which one
meets with among farmers, especially in
the matter of small things, is to be dep
ricated Many things are allowed to
90 to waste for want of proper care. The
farming tools are left where last used
exposed to the changes Of weather, and,
sooner or later becomes useless from
rust and decay. The natural wear is
quite an annual tax, even where proper
" cared for. Some who are looked up
on as good, practical farmers do not give
the needed attention to small things,
and asa consequence a loss is sustained.
This in part is owing to the laxity in
system and order which is so essential
in all kinds Of business.
Many farmers are greatly in error in
trying to work too great a quantity of
land, having more than they can proper
ly improve and cultivate. All lands that
do not yield sufficient to pay for labor,
interest, and taxes, and are incapable of
Improvement with the means of the
ply the wants of the FARM, should be
disposed of at some price or even given
away, rather than be held at a yearly
loss, which has to come out of the profits
of the farm. This loss is greater i'll most
cases than the increasing value of the
land. There are other leaks that should
be looked to; "a constant dropping soon
fills the cask." Large crops are simply
the result of applying manure, which
every farmer knows, but many of them
fail to give it that attention its import
ance demands Even where land is
good, manure largely increases the crop.
This can be obtained by different meth
DDS on the farm without rcsorting to
costly commercial fertilizers.
New Designs in Necdlcw0rk.
From the New York Mail and Express.
Already the summer hotels are open,
and the sound of the clinkling of steel
knitting-needles may be heard on
thousand piazzas throughout the coun-
try, with the accompanying low hum OF
conversation of women busy with their
fancy work. There is no longer any
need that this fancy work shall be an
atrocious mixture of Berlin woods. The
excellent schools of design of South
kensington and in this country have
furnished exquisite patterns which de-
light the eye as well as employ the
idle fingers.
A variety Of articles are now wrought
on heavy white or unbleached linen. A
ssetof doylies, tray cover, buffet covers,
spreads are made on this material.
There is a considerable quantity of darned
! work seen in the new designs, though
many patterns are embroidered in out
line and crewel. Little of old cut work
| is attempted, as the button-hole stitch
which surrounds the raw edges after the
pattern is cut away is tedious to work.
I