Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-01-18
lancaster :4ntelltgencer.
FARMER AND GARDENER.
A Hint worth Remembering.

A Hint Worth Remembering
Germantown Telegraph.
IT is we'll to bear in mind that grams,
grasses. fruit trees, vines, &c., which
nsually flourish we'll in higher latitudes
than our own, are always sure to do well
with us. One thing is certain-they Will
prove perfectly hardy and the reverse is
generally the case when We attempt to
adopt Southern products. What may
grow and flourish and prove profitable as
far south as North Carolina may be eH'
tremely uncertain here. The South,
therefore, has a wider field of supply ana
regeneration than we have even mere III
a middle state, but We have the advantage
that if a grain, plant or vine IS once es
tahlished here, it become far more per
manent. and we may add, more reIiaoie.
In th, extreme North-Canada Ior III
stance-the number and variety oil iarm
aud garden products are limited to very
few. comparativeiy, but they are more
dependable than with our larger ana more
extended catalogue. In their cultivation,
foo much skill and success is shown from
nublished statements, is we'll as from per
sonal ones furnished by travellers. But
the question may be asked, is 1t not more
advisable to contiue ourselves to fewer
products that are common here ana sure
to do well, and cultivate them with more
assiduity and care, than to DIVIDE ana
weaken our efforts among so many we
are opposed to specialties, to which many
farmers in different sections adhere, and
have always been advocates of mixed
husbandry but we should make our own
selection from tho general catalogue fof
which our farms may bo more particularly
adapted.
Trapping Muskrats.
Early spring-that is. as sooa as tue
frost is out of the grOund-these deStruc'
tive and active animals begin their opera
tions and play havoc with the roots OF the
grass, winter spinach beds, lettuce plants
&c. and this is about tie best time tt
begin trapping them. We notice various
modes recommended in agricultural ex
changes for ridding premises CT th'
muskrat, but they possess very little merit
AS We have a small fish pond, and o.
course a small stream of water to supply
1t. we are naturally mere or less pestera'
with these rats, and sometimes they have
done great deal of mischief. We have
tried various modes of trapping them, pu
found nothing to compare with the com
mon Undated steel trap. If there is !;
sprirglat or run it will be noticed tn;I1 ih'
musklat will always. if shallow enough
use that to the last inch TO reach 1T
feeding ground. If the trap is laid on ,h
bottom in this, with no bait, fastening tn
trap with piece of wire toa stake pushe'
in the ground, the arrangement Is com
plete and a certain thing. We captuic
one season eight in cur garden i'll this way
After the seventh. there was only por
ton of ioreleg in the trap, but the mex
morning We found fellow with oni
three legs. The following season we go
two more, and after that they did no
make their appearance for several years
and when they did the same plan was II
pewed. Wherever the trap. was set
was always placed under water. III
sometimes they pass from a pond
stream directly into the bank under t.!
water. If SO, mark the direction OF the
holes and dig in the bank from seven
nine feet iron, the entrance, and 1t
almost certain to catch them. The dep
at which their nests are made from Il
surface OF tie ground is flcm eighte'
inches to two feet. we have capture
altogether about twenty.