The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-11-29
HOME, FARM AND RANCH.

HOME, FARM AND RANCH.
WATER FOR STOCK IN WINTER
The importance of a liberal supply of
pure water for 81 ock during the win
ter is not appreciated by most farm.
ers. Many are inclined to think that
animals require but little water dur
ing cold weather, and that it is not
necessary to be at much pains to bring
it within easy reach of them. Farm
ers who live tolerably near lake, pond
or stream, often compel their stock to
go to it TO obtain water during the |
winter. The distance is, in many cases,
so great, and the exposure attended |
by so much discomfort, that the |
animals prefer to suffer thirst |
rather than travel the distance and |
be subjected to the severe cold. Often |
the banks of the natural body of |
water are in bad condition, so that |
animals find it difficult to stand on
them. During warm weather they
are covered with mud, and during
very cold weather they are covered
with ice. There is often ice On the
surface, which prevents them from
drinking. When this is the case the
water is too cold for drinking pur-
poses. Ice-cold water is never a suit
able drink for stock, and especially is
this the case during the winter.
Ordinarily, the best drinking water
for man or beast is obtained from
springs or tolerably deep wells. 1t is
generally free f1Om vegetable and
animal impurities, and contains salts
of lime and other minerals that are
useful.
THE SCIENCE OF PLANT GROWTH.
While plants are dropping their
leaves and taking on their cold winter
aspect, most people think of them as
having made preparation for winter
alone, and to have matured their wood
and put on their bud scales, while
leaving all preparations for next years
growth entirely uncared for. Nature
is not so careless matron as this.
Most of our plants have made ample
preparations for spring; in fact, in
most of them the energies of the sea-
son have resulted in the storing away
of materials or in the formation of
vegetative organs which are all ready
to start with the first smile of spring.
Most of our trees have the next years
growth now decided upon, if we may
use the expression, and just the
number of leaves and buds
each twig is to produce is
already plannel. The leaf buds
contain in miniature these next years
branches, snugly tucked away under
the protection of bud-Scales. 1t re-
mains for the plant next summer to
lengthen out these minute branches,
and the more vigorous the plant is the
longer will grow the branch between
| i0inf Tho Of
however, will not be greater than the
number of undeveloped leaves packed
IN the leaf-bud. If the season is dry
the internodes, or spaces between the
joints, will be short, and by August,
perhaps, the buds for the next spring
will be formed, and the branch cease
growing. If moist, warm fall weather
occurs the plant may begin second
growth, extending the little branch
already stored in the bud, necessitat-
ing the making of another bud-branch
later in the season.
Early Towering plants have flowers
already formed in the blossom-buds,
which are commonly larger and
rounder than the leaf-buds. 1t is by
buds that peach growers ascertain the
| CO1ul11Ou VI GilC IL ulG-UuIlo. h1OSU
perepnialh erhs hauc--'::-~a under
rrouII dyIo-Lop -. 3;
=. s11coe start as soon as the
I ground begins to get warm in spring.
Some plants, including few of our
common weeds, terminate in the fall.
Tuberous-rooted species, as potatoes
and dahllaS, store away starch to aid
in early spring growth. Many shrubs,
| oc Hri1 a4o o1c oh
ance of starch stored in their twigs in
the fall.
| MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
An improved potato digger and
picker has recently been patented by
Mr.. Squire Raymond, of East Venice,
n. Y. In this machine two plows are
arranged in the fore part to throw the
soil from the sides Of the hills, while
a single plow passes beneath and
raises the potatoes and, the soil in
which they are imbeded, and the
shaker separates the potatoes from the
soil, delivering them at the rear while
the soil falls through the shaker to
the ground.
AS cold weather advances, the fowls
go to roost earlier and more regularly
and require more heating food, like
| corn. Have special place for them
to rooSt, and let none of them roost
out of it. The younger ones, if al
lowed, will be inclined to seek the
stables, for the greater warmth they
may get there. Break up all such
practices. Increase the food of fat
tening fowls and see that all farm
stock is well supplied with appropri-
ate food as well as pure water.
Carriage and wagons will last long
er and be in less danger of breaking
by keeping the bolts well screwed up,
and always washed clean, especially
about the running parts. Nothing
will wear out carriage soonerl than
to allow loose bolts, admitting sand
and dust, and all working together.
Keep all parts washed, and place a
wrench on each nut as often as once
a week.
There are about 100000 kernels of
wheat to the bushel
AT the recent cattle sales at Kansas
City herd of polled Aberdeen Angus
cattle brought fancy prices. Thirteen
COWS and heifers brought 5000, an
average of $741, and twenty-seven
bulls brought $11,925, an average Of
$442. The general average of the
sales was less than $3.50. One cow
was sold to Canada firm for $1,000.
Fresh eggs continue very scarce and
are bringing high prices.