The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-08-28
A4RIUULTURE.

AlRlOULTURE.
DAMAGED CROPS IN SMos.-A crop o.
oats ruined by the wet season was saYef
by ensllag,ng it, the oat sheaves having
been in a thoroughly sodden condition
aud the corn in them so generally
sprouted that apparently all was worth
less except for manure. The process
OF ensilage consisted In putting the oats
in silo or pit, aud adding about SOC
pounds OF salt to 13 tons Of the green
fodder. When the pit was subsequently
opened after having been closed nearly
18 weeks, the temperature WAS found to
be no degl ees, the mass was in good
condition, giving fragrant odor, and
was readily eaten by horses and cattle.
Th, theory of the process is, that when
green fodder is placed in o water-Gght
pit under pressure, heat is generated
and fermentation ensues. The oxygen
in tue lnterstitiaI air is speedily absor-
bed and Its place taken by carbonio acid
gas, SO that the fermentation and it's no.
compsnying heat are arrested IN the
mass of closely packed fodcer immersed
in bath of carbonio acid, just as a
lighted candle extinguishes itself III q
bath Of choke damp Of its own making
when burned in closed vessel. OF
course the more perfectly air.tlght the
silo ID. the more perfectly will its con-
tents be preserved. The pit should be
cemented so as to be Waterproof.
THE pride of the farmer should be in
his fields. In their beauty, in their or.
der, in their product he should place
the qualification OF his humble and hon
orable ambition, says a contemporary.
This Is all very we'll rs far rs it goes,
but we would add: The pride OF the
farmer should be in his wife and Guild
ren-in their health and culture, rlen.
tai and social. A farmer with n family
of seven, eight Or ten children, we'll
bred, and trained up, has something to
be proud OF, and that should crafty an
honorable amb ,tion.
THE DroUcr's Journal says that with
I'll the dangers from disease, hog-rnis-
ing, though it requires more labor, is
really the most profitable business
which formers can engage i'll where
corn is q sure crop. 1t ls surprising,
also, how mnry farmers there are who
seem to wholly ignore the fact that any
other food tbnn dry corn il suitable for
swine when it ls within their power to
keep such stock half or two-lhirds Of
the year Oh food not nearly 80 cXpcu-
sive.
IT has been discovered that there is
less potash in the leaves of dlshnsed
grapevines than in healthy specimens.
The lack of potash is made up by All
excess of lime. 1t is possible that lack
OF mineral fertilizers may be the cause
OF mnny diseases of trees and other
plants, and that farmers and gardeners
may yet have to consult the vegetable
and gralu doctor.
POTAToEs. - The Colorado beetle is
the leading enemy to the potato. 1t
can be successfully fought with Paris
gtecn or London purple, if the poison
is us, q rs soon ns the young "wo,ms"
make their appearance. The ground
must be well stirred and kept free ct
weeds. and the crop dug early to avoid
the wet rot,
SHErP that nnc dropring their lambs
require close attention; the lcnst neg
lt OF often plovts fatal. While sheep
need protection from cold storms and
we'll as many other animnls;they should
therefore be provided with Il spacious
shed, open to the south, where they
can stand In tho sun and have GOOD air,
and Yet be plote cted from cold winds
IN far weather aud kept dry during
storms.
SOAKING Oar ALI experienced far
mer says that oats should be soaked
sufficiently to swell before feeding them
to stock. When soaked. the husk ia
partly torn away. and facility OF li3es-
tion increased. Poultry will carefully
pick OUT the soaked grains from the
dry when allowed n preference III the
matter.
IHE BEST-A Wrltcr recommends as
the Dt st fertilizer for fruits and cereal
crops Il mixture of finely. ground fresh
bones and good wood-ashes-siX barrels
OF the former and twelve of the latter, to
lie we'll mixed together Oh q shed foor,
adding during the mixing twenty huck-
cts Of water aud one barrel of gypsum
OF plaster.
MANY horses are actually killed by
kindness. Letting them stand in the
stable from Ole weeks end to another
without any exercise OF any kind, be-
canse they might hurt themselves il
let run loose, is very injurious. 70
keep them in the right condition it is
necessary that they be exercised every
day.
A TREE is to be grnfted when it is Of
poor kind, and we wish to change
the kind Of fruit it bears. If the tree
is very large 1t is well to graft only the
lower third of the branches the first
year. The best time for apple and
pear trees is just as the buds are swell
ling.
AN extensive cattle and poultry raiser
III Iowa states that he has no tronble
with vermin OH his beasts and birds
when they have chance to"Gust them.
selves" and have al opportunity to eat
OnlOnS once u week.
SAssAFRAs - Sassafras bushes may be
eradlcated 10y plowng deep and harrow
IL, .h l,>,.S