The National tribune., 1883-10-11

till it is tough and smooth When this IS dry
it is saturated with hot gas tar. This floor Is
always dry, clean, waterproof warm in winter,
cool in summer, and vermin-prOof For a floor
over a basement the best we have seen is made
of hemlOck plank, spread over with hot gas tar;
a second floor Of plank is laid upon the soft tar,
the joints being carefully filed with the tar.
This is also dry, warm, and waterproof; it ia
also durable The surface should not be tarred,
as it becomes hard and slippery.
To KEEP FLIES FROM HORSES.
A chemist claims to have discovered way
to protect horses and other stock from attacks
of flies. His invention consists in rubbing the
hair, especially on the parts most frequented
by the flies, with oil of laurel. There is no dam
ger from its use, and it does not cost much.
The oil Of sassafras would probably answer
the same purpose, as this tree Is a true laurel
AssafCetida has also been used for the sans
purpose. 1t is usually dissolved in weak vinegar
when used for such purposes.
THE HARDY PHLoxEs.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
take much delight in my flowers, and try
TO have show all the summer in the garden.
l have large variety of plants that endure
the winters; indeed, / have no other kinds
except such as will grow from seed withoub
requiring special care such as a hOtbed or
write 20 call the attention of your readers TO
the value of the hardy phloxes. have over
dozen varieties, and nothing in the way Of
Towering plants have ever given me so much
pleasure and satisfaction as these have done
this summer. They have beer Towering for
months, and are still full Of blossoms, and look
as if they would keep towering until winter.
MARTHA.
CATALOGUE OF SMALL FRUITS.
Illustrated Catalogue Of Trees and Plants for sals
BIZ J. LOgstt Little SilUcr, NelD Jersey.
This catalogue IS attractive as wen as in
structiye. Small fruits are a speciality with
Mr.. Lovett, and his collection embraces all the
newest and best varieties, many of which he
has unearthed and brough 10 light from COM
parative obscUrity, and so Ear, his articles have
always proved all, and in some cases something
more, than he has claimed for them. His new
raspberry, the Hqaseil has special merits; the
same can be said, after pretty extensive trials
throughout the country, of his Manchester
strawberry.
One good feature in this catalogue, which is
not always to be found, is that everything Is
priced by the dozen, hundred or thousand so
that purchasers from distance, in making out
orders, can tell to fraction what they have to
pay.
NOTELETs.
IF winter rye is sOwn early, q busheI per acra
will be enough, but if sown late in the season,
it viii not stool out and a half bushel more
viii be needed. Early sown rye may be eaten
off by calves or colts without damage to the
roots
Store away few bushels of dry road dust for
the hens to dust in next winter. Give them
enough Of it, and have il entirely dry, so that
they can make the dust fly ali through the
hen house and cover the ro0sts and I'll the
cracks, and lice must move out.
rooms and cellars ar. cOr,afir9p5 n
cult TO ventilate during wet and cloudy weather,
and, as consequence, mould and mildewS VIII
accumulate to the injury of milk, cheese but
ter, and other commodities which may come
under their influence. The spores of madew
may be destroyed by burning sulphur in the
room an occasional fumigatiOn Of sulphur wiz
be beneficial.
The Russian apples which have been intro
duced during the past ten years have mainly
proved of but little value; a few Of them. how
ever, have become popular. and are considered
of much value IN the northwest, where good,
hardy apples are scarce.
Let no unsightly gullies and washes mar the
beauty of the farm. They are easily filed, and
should never be permitted on any place. Loose
stone, or a little brush wiz soon DO away with
them.
Autumn IS the best time of the year TO paint
dwellings and OuthOuses. The paint harCiens
| better and lasts longer No farmer should neg
| lect the Importance of painting or whi5ewash-
ing every building about the farm.
The United States does not produce wool
| enough by sixty million pounds 70 supply the
/ demand for home manufacture of w0Olen goods,
/ saying nothing abOut the large amount Of
! WOODEN goods annually imported, and which
/ ought to be manufactured IN this country.
Coal tar. smeared around rat holes, so that
/ the rats wiz get it on their fur when passing
| through them, viii cause this vermin TO deser5
| the place.
/ It has been recommended to plant sunaowers
/ IN the hills with pole beans to serve as a sup
/ port to the climbing plant. Ore who has tried
/ it says that the vigorous sunh0wer rObs the
/ beans Of nourishment, so that they We're of but
/ little value. This might have been foreseen,
as the sunfower draws much moisture from
/ the soil
! Cider barrels can be easily cleaned by rinsing
| them with bi-sulphate Of lime. This arrests
/ fermentation. The bi-sulphate also becomes
/ changed into sUlphate Of lime (pIssterl, and
| stops up the pores of the wood, thus serving q
/ double purpose
| The best breed for table fowls is any breed
| that you may fancy. The sweetness. richness
/ peculiar flavor" and al that, that some breed
| ers claim for particular breed IS more the re-
! suit Of the keeping Of the fowls and the way
they are cooked than anything IN the breed
| itself
The Planters Journal says it is a fact that
| glucose VIII Kill bees II You attempt 90 winter
them upon it, either IN dUid form mixed with
| honey or sugar strip, or IN the form Of candy
When large limbs are cut OF from fruit trees,
or trees Of any kind, the wood should be COW
cred with coating of thick paint This pre-
vents air aud water from penetrating, and
/ otherwise helps the tree.
1t Is stated that bushel Of potatoes If Judi
| eiOusly fed to animals of good breed VIII pro-
dgce Of beef from two to three pounds, mutton
four to five pounds, pork f0Hr to i've pounds,
! milk thirty-ive to forty pounds, and buttsx
about two pounds. it IS presumed that the
potatoes are fed in combination with Other
materials.
1t is advantageous to sprinkle salt occasion
ally on the manure heap. IN warm weather is
attracts moisture. and helps to keep the ma
nure from injuring through excessive fermen-
tati0n. In winter IL keeps the heap from fTeez-
ing solid, and at any season It makes the ma
nUre more valuable, and is q valuable ingredi-
ent in the food of plants.
/ QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Our Agricultural Editors Weekly Chat With His
Readers
have had constructed small giass-house for the
culture of the Black Hamburger and other foreign
1 grapes. I am differently advised in regard 20