Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-10-31
AGRICULTURE.

AGRICULTURE.
STORING PoIAToEs.-There are three
methods of storing in general use, each
of which has its merits and its champi-
one. Three general principles underiie
these several methods, viz: Protection
against frosts and temperature, freedom
from moisture and avoidance OF heating
caused by storing too deep. The ad-
vantages claimed for storing in barrels
are that the roots are easily handled, do
not suffer from abrasion, can be easily
examined, and if disease appears it can
be readily checked and removed. The
chief objection to this method is the
time and expense involved when the
crop is large one. Bins are largely
coming INTO use. especially IN localities
near large cities, for the potatoes can at
any time be readily reached and pre-
pared for market. A col, dry. well
ventilated cellar, with the light exclud-
ed, is an admirable place in which to
store potatoes.
TIE argument in favor of storing pO-
tatoes under ground Is that there is lit
tie if any loss by evaporation. Objec-
tions to the plan are the labor involved
in opening the banks when the roots are
required and the risk involved from the
extremes of too close or lnsuffici ent COW
erIng. When pits are employed 1t Is
important that arrangements be made
for ventilation.
When stored in cellars, barns orroot-
houses it Is a safe plan not to fill the
bins with roots to a depth exceeding
three or four feet. 1t has been claimed
that lime sp-inkied III barrels or bins at
that rate, say one pound to each barrel.
tends to prevent decay by acting as an
absorbent and neatralizing the earthly
odors. The importance of excluding
light from potatoes and keeping them
as cool as possible without freezing, can
not be over. estimated
SAVE THE CoRNFoDDEK There will
be as good a crop OF corniodder this
year as IN most years, hence 1t behooves
every farmer to look to its careful pre-
servation, which is not always done as
well as it should be. 1t is true the cd
der Is a heavy article to handle, unless
the husking Is deferred to a period
when the fodder beeomes somewhat
dry, sometimes LII lie mouIdy, and then
it Is frequently left LII the field until the
latter part of November or beginning Of
December, greatlo TO its injury, The
corn Itself, when the husking Is defer-
red, frequently becomes mouldy, and
Its value deteriorated. 1t is better to
busE ~ aS soon aftar fha ctaIlo ara ont
and the gains have become hardened,
and crib at once. This allows the air to
pass through the mass freely and dries
IT gradually and safely.
All farmers, who have any experience
IN feeding coed cornfodder, must ad
NIT that cattle prefer 1t to tie best clo-
yer lay. and 1t is fully as miik-produc-
ing, and more SO when the stalks are
slightly salted. They will then eat up
all that is thus prepared for them and
thrive upon it. We know this as well
from our own experience rs the expert
eDce Of others. Cornfodder is not,
therefore, merely worth being cured in
the best manner, but it shouid be an
object of real concern with all who keep
cattle, equally as muck as with clover
hay 1t Is rot pleasant. then, to see so
many fields OF fodder everywhere over
the country moulding aud spelling late
IN November, or even the forepart of
December, merely for the sake of lit
tie additional labor to preserve 1t as it
should be, by storing Ii away TO help
out the winter stock of cattle food.
DocS bava Iosa mora ,n,ury IN sbeao
husbandry than all other causes COM
bined, and, considering the importance
of the evil, it does not receive that no.
tlce at the hands of the agricultural
press that it rightly deserves. As a
rule the larger number of dogs that de-
yastate the fiocks are worthless and val
ueless, and should not be tolerated il
anv community, but that they do exist
is demonstrated by the comp laints that
come from all quarters regarding their
raval es.
The man in charge of herd of cattle
or sueep that cannot tell when some
member Is absent without counting the
whole lot, had better go into some other
business. We have heard the owner of
a drove of near thousand herd of cat
tie at the West say he could tell if sin :
gle animal was absent simply by allow
ing the herd to pass him. We would
be inclined to take any mans state
ment to that effect with degree of al
lowance.
a PRACTICAL farmer, and one who has
thoroughly tested the matter, says that
wooden posts Will last in the ground
even longer than iron if treated as
follows: Take boiled linseed oil and stir
in puluerized coal TO the consistency of
paint. Put a coat of this over the tim
Der, and there is not a man that will
live TO see 1t rot.
We can readily understand how our
nelghbor who rises at z In the morning
and spends three or four hours of al
most every fair day and all OF the rainy
days IN tie town or village, gossiping
or talking politics, does not prosper at
farming, and he does not deserve TO sue
ceed.
Nix chopped onions with the food
once day tor several days and ground
ginger two or three times week and
you may check early symptoms OF chol-
era in poultry. Afterward give both |