Connecticut western news., 1884-06-04
FARM AND GARDEN.

TOBACCO STEMS FOR CURRANT WORMS. MT. A. P. Kinney, Jamaica Plains, Mass, writes as follows 'In 1881 I came to this place, and found twenty eight large currant bushes, that were iu very bad condition on account of the currant worms. The neighbors said that for eight years the fruit amounted to nothing, the leaves being destroyed every year. In the spring of 1882, tobacco stems were applied as a mulch, at the rate of ten pounds to each bush, and handful scattered through the branches. The foliage was not troubled by the worms. In 1882 only five pounds of tobacco stems were used per bush, -and the leaves were not de- stroyed. This year l shall use only half the last amount, and believe it will be sufficient. Any currant grower who can readily get tobacco stems. should try this remedy for currant worms.
 LIVE STOCK NoTEs.-Sheep shearing needs to be done with kindness and care, says the AgricultriSt for June. We have seen the skin badly cut, and the shorn animal ill-treated in other ways. Hold the sheep firmly, yet comfortably. The sale of the wool depends somewhat upon the manner in which it is rolled and tied. Each fleece should make a package that can be handled without falling 10 pieces. Immediately after shearing the ticks leave the shorn sheep, and gather in the longer wool of the lambs. The young stock thus in- fested, should be dipped in decoction of tobacco water, or in one of the mix lures made for that purpose, and sold in the markets. June butter is considered the best made during the year, and therefore the COWS now should be yield ing an abundant flow of rich milk. Among the essentials of good butter making, are a plenty of wholesome food and pure water. with clean manage ment of the milk and cream in every way, from the milking until the butter is packed for market. Calves that are to become miIch COWS, need a quiet place by themselves, and regular rations of milk and meal. They should be gently handled, and taught to lead with halter. Pigs for the early market need good run in pasture-cloyer Is best, and daily supply of bran and meal slops. The proper place for pigs is in the orchard, where they may feed upon the wormy fruit that falls, and thus de- stroy vast numbers of injurious insects. Rats, owls, skunks and hawks are nat ural enemies to the young chickens, and to keep them away the yard must be watched by day, and closed coops provided for the night time. The garden may be rid of many insect pests by al- lowing the young chicks to run among the growing crops.
 CUcUMBERs FOR PICKLES. s.-The pickle crop is fairly profitable one if there are pickle factories within easy reach. The seed is sown in the first half of the pres ent month. A light, warm and rich soil is needed. The ground may be marked off, four feet apart each way, and hills made where the marks intersect. A com mon method is to SOW the seed in drills. The whole field is heavily manured, and the seed sown in drills five feet apart, or furrows are opened, the manure distrib- uted literally in them and we'll worked in with the soil the earth is then thrown back over the manure and the surface rolled. At least half a dozen seeds to the foot are then dropped in a slight furrow made by marker and covered about an inch deep, pressing the soil with light roller or the blade of the hoe. Insect pests will appear as soon as the young plants are up, and the latter, from the first, must be copiously dusted with plaster or a mixture of ashes or plaster. Those who live near the coast prefer air.slaked shell-lime for this purpose the dusting with either material should be done in early morn. ing while the dew is on, and be kept uu until the vines begin to run. The plants should be gradually thinned, and finally leave one strong one at every foot in the row. When the vines begin to bear the cucumbers should be picked daily ol every other day, and of the size in de. mand. A barrel holds about five thou sand small cucumbers, and from twelve to fifteen hundred large ones. Always cut the cucumbers, leaving them with ( stem. m.-AgricuLturaSt.
 RYE FOR HAY.--Mr. "A. G. w. Manchester, Tenn, writes: You ask fol experience in using rye for hay. 1 cut it in bloom the heads even then are sweeter than the straw, and horses vii pick it over for the former and waste the latter unless cut. When cut and fed tC COWS giving milk find it equal to tho best Timothy hay, and with me either makes more milk than clover hay. Ky, is better to seed down with than oats, believe, otherwise oats would be prefer able, as nothing else makes so good hay as oats cut just as the most forward heads are in bloom. I have tried both For sowed crop to make hay Hungari an grass is next to oats.