The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-04-10
AGRICULTURE.

sowing and plantlngp livery Implement
should be provided beforehand, that no
time may be wasted IN making purchases
or repairs after the work should begin. We
have known half day OF plowing to be
lost because the whif1etrees we've not at
hand. Some farmers start out with their
spring blowing without single plowpoint
IN stock, and when one is needed. the team
Is taken from the field and driven to the
store. Such loss OF time Is serious mat
ter, and should be thoughtfully guarded
against by ample provision of all such arti-
oles of the farm. 1t is poor time to
mend harrow when 1t should be at work
In the field.
We do not favor that economy--if 1t |
may be so called--that relies upon the
neighbors for many OF the tools of the farm
There are certain farm implements that
may be owned in partnership, as roller
or reaper, but the constant borrowing Of
rakes, forks etc., ls not wise and econ
omlcal practice. Be provided with all
these essential farm tools, and have them
in good order, and at hand when the time
arrives for using them.
Now Is the time to look to these mat
ters, and make all needed preparations
for the busy days that will soon be here.
In the peace of winter prepare for the war
Of spring.
The Kieffer pear ls now being much
discussed in the agricultural papers, and
very opposite opinions are expressed con-
cerning 1t. We have tasted the fruit, and
find 1t anything but fine in quality; but
perhaps we did not have go1d speclmene.
1t is claimed to be blight proof, and that
it's high colored fruit sells at handsome
prices. We hope 1t may prove deeirablo
acquisition; Brunton's early blackberry 10
mentioned as attracting considerable at
tention. 1t is very early, and on that ac-
count will prove printable as market ber-
ry. The early harvest blackberry may
also be mentioned as growing favorite.
The champion ounce is very snowy, and
Of good quality for cooking; the tree bears
abundautly when quite young, If allowed
to. The Jefferson grape ls red grape. Of
large size and pleasant flavor. The
Vergennes grape is hardy and ripens much
earlier than the Jefferson. 1t Is also a
red grape.
The composition Of cows milk is affec-
ted by various circumstances; under ex-
treme conditions 1t may contain from 10
TO l6 per cent. of dry matter. The milk
is poorer when the quantity produced is
large or tho diet insufficient, and richer
when those conditions are reversed. A
COW is generally in full milk from tho Sec
ond to the seventh week after caivlng;atte
this period the milk gradually dlminishes
~ quantity, but Increases IN richness. A
separation of cream takes place in the ud
der; the milk first drawn is poor In fat, the
richness increasing as milking proceeds, the
last drawn milk containing two or three
times as muck fat as the first drawn. The
milk Of old cows is commonly poorer than
that OF young cows.
THE following are the points desirable
In Il practical farmers hog: Fine short
nose, dlshed face, fine ears. good width
between eyes, eyes not too prominent; q
straight, broad back of unsform width
from shoulders TO ham, short legs and fine
bone. He should stand well up on his
pins, Fat at aiiy age, and, If we'll reared,
make weight of 250 TO 225 pounds at
eleven months. Now, does not the FORE
gong description OF a model farm hog full
describe the we'll bred Berkshlrc2 l think
all will agree that 1t does, and am salts
fled that ii the reader will notice the char
acter of all the various breeds Of SWINE he
will find that the most popular ones are
those which come nearest to the model of a
farmers hog presented above.
A New Jersey poultry breeder, after
trying the value of skimmcd milk and
buttermilk as food for laying hens and
hogs, came to the conclusion to dispense
with the hogs and feed the milk to the
fowls, as ii keeps them In good laying
condition In winter, and ls as cheap as
anything else that can be given them. He
thinks poultry can be kept with great pro-
lit on dairy farms.
CUoUMBRRs.-A Wisconsin gardener, on
the strength Of experience, commends to
townspeople who want fresh cuoumbers,
the practice of growing them In barrel
partly sunk IN the back yard, filed half
full of manure, and the remainder with
soil, seeds planted on the surface, and
vines dropping over the sides.
IT is proposed to establish three creame-
rles IN Ontario at Government expense, to
give instruction in butter making. Creamery
butter sells from to 10 cents per pound
higher than ordinary butter. One enter
prlsing young farmer In Ottawa went over
to the States, took lessons III an American
creamery, and now his butter sells 10 cents
higher than that of his neighbora. Hence
the desire to make Improvements general.
ONE half of the care and labor required
TO earn $50 tllling some crop will produce
that amount for the farmer If bestowed
upon his flock of fowls. II you propose to
him to pc rslstingly neglect his best cow
from one end Of the year to the other he
will set you down as Ii candidate for the
lunatic asylum, yet n common sized flock
OF fowls, such as are kept at most farm
steads, will yield as much value yearly, If
properly treated, as first rate cow.
In q soil once fertile, but exhausted by
improvldent tllage. the loss OF fertility
applies chiefly to the surface. and If we 20
below the distance that the roots Of the
grain extended, we may generally find a
subsoll rich in the elements that give vigor
to the growth of plants. In the approved
modes Of agriculture, We seek to reach and
bring up the subsoil by deep plowlng.
FARMERS who have basement barns can
feed calves through the Winter with profit
providing the ANIMALS are helfers of good
milking or butter breeds. If, on the other
hand, they are to be butchercd and not
kept as cows, calves are worth tho most
and with the least cost when from four to
FIVE weeks old.