The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-10-18
'77747t7
FARM NOTES.


ernment Botanical Garden, Washing
ton, defends the sparrow very forcibly.
He denies that the sparrow Is RESPONSE
bic for the scarcity of other birds, and
says that the robin, bluebird, and
yellowbird live very peaceably together
in the Botanical Garden there.
THE american C,tltiuator states that
ton Of wheat bran Is worth $14.5O for
manure, while ton Of cornmeal il
only worth $6.65. These figures are
based on the cost Of nitrogen, phos-
phoric acid and potash in their COM
mercial forms, and represent the com
paratiye manurial value effects. It
thinks that Mt present prices farmers
can purchase bran to feed and make
manure more cheaply than they can
otherwise obtain it. After feeding its
manurial value will be greater. because
il will he more available.
THE Boston Commercial Bulletin
says that tho best butter in the country
is made IN Iowa. II also says: "The
reason is simple. Corn, which is raised
IN the West Sd abundantly, is freely
fed to the COWS; this produces better
milk than hay or mixed feed, and this
III turn produces better and finer butter.
Notwithstanding corn is worth more to
the Western farmer than it was even a
few years ago, he continues to feed his
cows literally with it, and obtains a
, higher price for his butter.
The following has been found one Of
the surest lures for chicken cholera,
being highly recommended by great
many: Give hyposulphite OF soda in a
dose Of halt level teaspoonfnl OF crys-
tai dissolved in as little water as will
make solution. III the fowl will not
drink or partake Of it in any form pour
It down the throat. It viii cure at
once, says correspondent Of the Rural
f'eu Yorker, and, though strong dose
and purges violently, is not dangerous,
and has been found sufficient to Kill the
germs which produce this disease.
THE American Ddiryman says: 1t
Is mooted in some quarters whether or
not heifers can be made to yield larg-
er flow OF milk by means of manipulate
ing the udder with the hand before she
has her first calf. We have often seen
elongated teats caused by young calves
sucking the hefer Iefore partnrition.
and this was certainly good point
gained; but even large udder does
not always make large mixer, and We
are Of the opinion that the secretion Of
milk has nothing to do with the size OF
the udder. Large udders are the cause
And not the effect Of large milk yields.
No oTHER domestic animal seems to
possess as strong M instinct for seek
ing shade as does the sheep. Whatever
shelter from the sun may be avai, BILE
in the pasture is sure to be sought aud
occupied by the flock rs the day ad-
vances and becomes more warm. The
instinct should teach the careful shep-
herd to provide shade Of some kind
which can lie easily reached AMI is al
ways available. The trees are the shade
which nature affords, but it is some
times better to erect sheds. The COM
mon sense of the shepherd is the be> I
guide in this matter. .-PttisLu,yh
StOckmdn.
WHAT LANDS NEED DRAINAGE. All
lands that contain more water than is
needed by the crops growing upon
them. III You intend to raise corn or
wheat. the land will need more drain
ing than if intended for grass. Even
grass lands need not be very wet, as,
Il too wet, the growth Of aquatic plants
aud grasses takes tho place of the cul-
tivated grasses and ruins the hay and
pastures. Loose, porous soils, under
laid by sand or gravel. are drained by
nature; hut all land that is underlaitl
by clay. rock, or other impervious ma
terial, needs draining. What is to be
gained by underdrainage? The SUR
face Of the water in the soil is lowered.
the roots Of cereals and grasses may
penetrate as far ~ to the surface Of the
water. but never into it. It is neces.
!: sary to draw the water off to such a
depth as will give the roots of growing
. crops plenty of re ON to reach down
| ward for that nourishment that is nec-
! .ssary to their growth. II the water ID
! only one foot from the amount Of soil
. from which to gather nourishment, with
. the disadvantage of having Their fett
wet by capillary attraction. Onl,
aquatic plants grow we'll with thei,
feet in the water. The lowering the
water below the surface prevents 4
! large amount Of the evaporation. and it
effect in cooling the soil. The water
: heing removed, air and warmth are nj
: mitted to the soil. Drained lands are
: for this reason, ready for planting al
least one week earlier in the spring
The growth of crops is qnickenei
through the summer by the increase,
temperature of the soil, which amount,
to several degrees, and the injurion.
! effects Of early frosts are prevented il
! the same manner. Crops are therefor,
J given nh increased period in which /.
! make their growth Of ut least tw.
weeks. This is certainly very i'm
9 portsnt gain.-Farmers Magazine.
: STARTING PLANTS FROM SLIrs. :
Peter Henderson, in the Ladies'
: FLORAL Cabinet, gives the following Iii
: rections for the domestic propagation
: of plants from slips: FLORISTS us,
shat are called propagatng bcnche
!, for roofing cuttings when wanted on
! large scale, as they usually are by them
but when All amateur, not havinl
greenhouse facilities, wishes to root
few slips there is no process that "
: .an recommend better than what j
: known rs the saucer svstem,' which
!. ,.yen ut the risk Of telling it to some 0
! your readers who already understan,
|, H. must again repeat, as there is n
: : no other plan that is so simple and $
: safe. Take any common saucer o
plate, into which put sand TO the dept
!. Of an inch or SO. Then prepare TIA
I cuttings in the usual manner, and plac
!. them in the sand close enough T. tone
= each other. The sand il then to b
\ Matered Sd M to turn it into the con
ltion of mud. The saucer thus file
= with slips may be placed on the window
= sill and exposed to the sun. The chi
= lings must he fully exposed to the SUI
I and never shaded But one conditio
= il al,so' utely essential to success: INT
:. the cuttings take root the sand must b
7 kept continually saturated With water
: and always in the condition of mn,