Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-08-09
FRUIT AND FARM.
PRACTICAL HINTS AND SUCCESS
TIONS By THE WAY.
Charcoal for Naturalization of
the Soil-Some Record OF
MilkerS-Etc.

In on article upon the effect and neces-
sity of aeration of the soil, the New York
Sun says that opening the soil for the adj
mission of air is one of the principal OBJ
jects of plowing narrowing and other
wise breaking up and disintegrating the
carth's surface. The presence OF air IN the
soil in as large quantities as possible IS in
dispensable, because it brings with it car
bonic and ammoniacal gases, which reach
the minute roots or sp0ngioies OF plants.
Air also supplies the oxygen necessary to
the decomposition of vegetable matter,
which in turn becomes what may be
termed the food of plants. Aeration of
soils cannot be accomplished by opening
holes in the ground by breaking the earth
into large Jumps and ciods, but the air
should be admitted in many minute
streams or channels, in order that each
particle Of soil may come in con-
tact with particle Of air Plow-
ing, hoeing and wedding growing
eroDs are aerating processes well un-
derstood by the scientific agriculturist, who
never neglects them, even when no weeds
are present; for experience has taught him
that luxuriant growth will be promoted
and often sustained by Reratior, whether
the season be wet or dry. Heavy, stiff
clays become beaten down and hard dur
ing the heavy rains Of spring and then
porosity is almost entirely destroyed, as
neither air nor moisture can enter except
very slowly, if at all; but if they are
broken up and pulverlzed aeration pro-
ceeds with rapidltv and regularity. Air
not only enters loose soils direct, but also
with water, and whenever the soil is in
such condition as to admit water rapidly,
We may conclude that aeration isalso going
IN ChntllH M he
soil, but circulate; first by descent us 4
liquid, and then by ascent i'll the form of
vapor, thereby assisting eratiOn as well as
carrying the fertilizing elements of the soil
50 the roots of plants growing therein.
Water exposed to the atmosphere, even by
passing through itin the form of rain, alb
serbs atmospheric gases iii suificientqu guam
titles TO be perceived by the human palate.
These are removed by the soil as the water
passes through it, thereby adding more or
less to its fertility.
Charcoal has recently been recommended
rs an addition TO the food of animals, as it
increases their power of accommodating fat,
and promotes the rapid and healthy pro-
duction Of flesh. This was recently proved
by taking the live weights of two lots of
sheep, and simply separating them by an
ordinary net; the artificial food, corn and
cake, being carefully weighed out to each
lot alike dIily, one pint of charcoal being
added to one lot only. When re-Weighed,
prior to selling to the butcher, the increase
in weight was in favor of charcoal by l6 %
per cent. Sanitation causes easy and COM
plete digestion; and assimilation only can
account for these results, which charcoal
alone can accomplish. The charcoal should
be given mixed with the food, except in
urgent cases, when it may be mixed in
water or thin cruel, and given as a drcnch.
This dose Is one pint to every twenty-five
head OF sheep or lambs, one-quartor pint
per head for full-grown cattle, horses, or
pigs, half The quantity for young cattle, and
TWO teaspoOnlulS to one deSSert-spoonful for
Young calves, daily, when suffering from
disease, or in i'll condition. To keep in
good health, and for;ily against diseases
the dose should be given two or three times
per week according 70 the class Of food they
are having, and the state Of the atmosphere.
The best plan Is to wet a quantity of bran,
pollard malt combingS); mix the charcoal
among it, and then among the food YOU
give them. Forrapid and healthy fattcn-
ing of cattle, it should be used daily among
their food. Charcoal for internal and
medicinal purposes must be pure vegetable
charcoal, free from all irritating and injuri-
GUS foreign matter. The charcoal when
kept perfectly dry, and free from any i'll
smelling surroundings, such IS the vapors
OF stable, or artificial manures, etc, or it
wlll absorb them, and thus become septic,
and of no medical value. Il is better kept
m a closed bin, or tin canister with sight
covert Popular Science News.
Hon T. w. McNecly. of Petersburg, Ill.,
states of test of his Jersey COW, Golden
Princess 1907, purchased last year of Col
G. f. Mills, of Elmwood Farm, that the
trial was begun June Sd, and continued
seven days. By the fourteen milkings of
these seven days Golden Princess produced
1891 pounds of milk. This was kept sepa-
rate from the milk of the other cows of the
herd, and from it was produced 10 pounds
and Il ounces of butter; that is, 121 pounds
OF her milk made a pound of butter
Capt. w B. Montgomery Jersey Coro-
nilla 1857 "a daughter Of the bull Cham
piOn of America ,567, now deadl, was
tested from June 10Th to July 9Th, both in
cluded During that time she gave 671l
pounds of milk, from which ~ pounds and
81 ounces of butter werS made. The test
OF the last seven days was official, and re-
suited in IA pounds and o. ounces of but
Ter from 225 pounds of milk.-[ Prairie
Farmer.
VicEs Magazine has the following plan
for catching sluss: Take some pieces of
slate or flat stones, or fiat pieces Of tin, and
lay them about in the garden among the
plants, distributing them very literally;
Just at shutdown go out and place q tea
spoonful of bran on each piece Of slate or
tin, and the sugs will soon become aware
of it and begin to gather and feed on it. In
about two hours, when it is dark, go out
again with lantern and pail containing
III MAJ 1f,sH yfglf
which the slugs are found feeding and
throw the slugs and bran into the brine,
where they instantly die. 1t is we'll also,
TO go around in the morning. and many
slugs will be found hiding under the pieces
of slate, and can be destroyed in the brine
BY following up this method pcr;istenty
for a few weeks the garden may be ell
GENTLY rid of the nuisance"
En- Eastern exchange says In Cahfor-
mia, eggs, fruits and many other articles
that are here sold by the dozen, the bunch,
or by measure, are sold by weight. The
practice is good one and works benef-
cially for all parties, especially for the pro-
ducer. 1t operates as q premium upon the
cultivation of the most productive varie-
lies of fruits, vegetables and farm stock.
The farmer who is painstaking with his
poultry, and gets The largest weight of eggs,
has fair reward for Ills skill and indus
Try. The present custom is a premium 10
light weights and good Layers" That is an
excellent argument, and the only difficulty
Is that thus far eggs are not sold in this
State by the pound.
We have frequently through the columns
of the RECORD Union opposed the non -cul-
ovation of orchards, as also trying to make
the land do double duty 10y bearing other
crops " between the rows or broadcast at
the same time. On this subject Professor
Beal, of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Col
icge, says: If you have money to fool
away, seed down your young orchard 70
clover and timothy or SOW crop Of wheat
or oats. If You want trees TO thrive cult
vatc well till they are seven or ten years
old. Spread ashes. manure, or salt broad
cast. Stop cultyating in August, weeds or
no weeds This allows the trees TO ripen
for winter"
A bill has been introduced into the Lcgis-
nature of New York TO compel the stamping