Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-10-19
: FARM AND FIRBsIDE.

I STORING POTATOES. Potatoes are con-
siderably given to retting the present
season. This disease is always more fire.
quent moist seasons than in dry ones. It
has several points Of Eesemb Iancs to the
smut in grain, being fungoid parasitic
plant, which feeds upon the tissues of the
plant and produces fruit consisting OF min
ute black spores, which discolor the leaves,
stems, and tubers of the potato plant, and
cause them to decay with great rapidity.
There are some facts in regard to this
parasite which are at present enveloped in
mystery. Its life history is known from
year to year, and the growth can be traced
in the tuber from the seed to its maturity.
But we cannot tell why it is that the dis
ease should appear upon fresh ground,
where potatoes were hever grown before,
or upon land where potatoes were never
yet diseased, unless we assume that the
spores have been brought by the winds or
washed down by the rain from the atmos-
phere, where they have been floating hith-
er and thlther. Perhaps it may yet be
| found that there is relationship between
the black rot of potatoes and the black
smut of corn, wheat and oats, and that
the seed of one may grow in the TISSUES of
| another, just as the rust of the barberry
and the blackberry will infect wheat, and
appear on this with every characteristic
of the injecting source. Perhaps this sup
position may be denied. But then it has
| been denied with much vehemence that
barberry rust could be or was ever COM
municated to the wheat plant, and yet it
is now admitted as a fact. Very little,
! however, is known as yet of the actual life
| histories of these minutes plants, and we
| know not what may be discovered in re.
gard to them.
But we know this, viz. {: that moisture
very greatly encourages the potato rot
| And that if we would preserve the tubers
/ from decay they must be stored in dry
place. Further, it is known that dry air
slack lime literally sprinkled upon or
among the potatoes when they are put
| away will preserve them from further
| damage. q dry cool cellar is the best place
for storing the tubers, and ample ventila-
ton is required to keep them ia good con-
| dition. A deep layer of dry sand or straw
may be advantageously used as bed for
the heap. Cut straw scattered in layers
through the heap is of great benefit. But
the lime is indispensable if the disease has
| begun in the slightest degree, and tends to
effectually stop it's further progress. An
obvious precautiOn in storing potatoes
this season would be to throw OUT every
| tuber that is touched in any degree with
4 the disease. These may be used for feed
ing pigs or poultry, but should be first
boiled. The boiling destroys the spores,
| which may be jastly suspected as sjurioas,
| and as the disease has had no further effect
| than to destroy the starch granules, it
| amounts to no more than simple loss of
feeding value in the tubers. Lastly, as the
rot progresses very rapidly it would be
| wise to dispose of them as soon as possible.
| IN. 7. Times.
MEDICAL PROPERTIES OF EGGs,-For
| burns or scalds. nothing is more soothing
| than the white of an egg, which may be
poured over the wound. It is softer, as a
varnish for burn, than collodion; and,
being always at hand, can be applied i'm
| medlately. 1t is more cooling than the
sweet oil and cotton" which was former
ly supposed to be the surest application to
allay the smarting pain. It is the contact
with the open air which gives the extreme
discomfort experienced from ordinary ac-
cidents of the kind. What prevents innam-
nation is the thing to be at once applied.
The egg is also considered one of the
best remedies for dysentery. Beaten nm
slightly. with or without sugar. and swal.
lowed at gulp, it tends by its emollient
qualities to lessen the Inflammation Of the
stomach and intestines; and, by forming a
transient coating of these organs, to ena-
bic nature to resume her healthful SWAY
over the deceased body. Two, or at most
three eggs per day would be all that is
required il ordinary cases; and, since the
egg is not merely medicine but food as
we'll, the lighter the diet otherwise, and
the quleter the patient is kept, the more
certain and rapid is the recovery.
1t is stated, within few years. that a
certain oil to be obtained from the volks
OF boiled eggs is of great use in curing
cuts and bruises. The oil is obtained by
cooking the yolks over fresh fire. They
are stirred constantly till seemingly on
the point of bursting into blaze, when
it is found that quite quantity of oil is
eliminated from each yolk; and this,
strained and secured, is said to have won
mr. ,nrfi n
try Yard.
YOUNG STocK.-What is the best age
for selling beef and mutton f? The best
shipping weight for a steer is 1900 pounds:
for sheep 100 pounds. Can make the
weight Of steer at two years, and Of sheep
at one shear. Can get no more for two
shear sheep than for one shear, and not
as much by fifty cents. Manure out of the
question. Professor Brown considers that
young stock would pay best, but with
manure estimates favor three years for
Bropn.
FEEDING OATs.-New oats, saws the
american Cuttivator, are not good feed for
horses. They relax the bowels, and often,
IT the change from old to new is sudden.
the value of the oat ration is almost entire
~ lost. AS they shrink good deal in dry
ing, the old oats. though nominally dear
er, are usually cheaper, as we'll as better
feed, than the new oats.
FALL PLOwING LIGHT SoIL.--The IN.
ly objection against fall-plowing light soil
is that it runs together through the effects