Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-10-08
AGRICULTURE.

How TO PLUCK PoULrRT.-I have
known persons on market day to go out
and kill twelve or fifteen fowls, and to
bring them into a room where there
would be half dozen women and boys
pulling few feathers at time, between
the thumb and forefnger, 10 prevent
tearing them. Now for the benefit of
such l will give our plan: Hang the
fowl by the feet with a small cord; then,
with a small knife give one cut across
the upper Jaw, opposite the corners OF
the mouth; after the blood has stopped
running a stream place the point of the
knife in the groove in the upper part OF
the mouth. run the blade up the back
part of the head, which will cause
twitching of the muscles. Now is your
time for, every feather yields as if by
magic, and there is no danger OF tearing
the most tender thick. Before he at
tempts to flap you have him as bare as
the day he came out of the egg.
The BEST WEIGHT FoR MARKET Pics
The style of market pig has undergone
a great change within few years. The
large 400 or 500 pound hog is now sell
dom found. The overgrown hog is no
longer sought after, and pig feeding has
been more carefully studied OF late
wears. Shrewd feeders have found that
the flesh of the large hog is coarser and
stronger, and not as sweet and line ta-
vored as a 10 or II months pig. 1t Is
true, the Older and over fattened hog
Yields more lard, but this does not carry
profit with it, as lard often brings no
higher price than the side pork. The
inducement, therefore, TO grow these
large hogs no longer exists, and the 300
pound pig mas displaced the 500 pound
hog.
TBE Canada thistle and no other in
tiiction of the farm was ever got rid OF
by act of Assembly; but there is a
plain, common-sense method by which
the thistle is headed of, and that is by
frequent cultivation of the soil, and
there is no better crop for this than that
Of corn. and assisting this by EesoIutely
digging If out with the FORK as fast as It
makes its appearance above ground.
By digging out with the fork II can be
taken out entirely, leaving no pieces
behind; but If the spade Is used and the
plant is cut each piece will sprout again.
1t will not be likely to disappear at the
first attempt, but by replanting the land
with corn and continuing to fight the
pest with fork as before it will event
ually be headed off.
FLIES may be kept from annoying
horses by making a wash OF carbollc
soap and water, with a small quantity
of kerosene oil added to it. This Is
sp1nged over the horses coat and let
dry two or three times. Its effects re-
main three or four hours. By repeat
ing i. at intervals the flies may be pre-
vented from annoying the poor beast at
this season. Another remedy is to
procure Persian insect powder, put
quantity OF it in flour dredge or large
pepper box and dust 1t well into the
hair. This is sure death 10 tiles and Is
harmless to animals. If 1t is blown mp
into the air of stables at night and
busted well upon the post and ceiling,
as well as the animals, these will enjoy
a good nights rest. II will also clear
flies and mosquitoes from rooms.
Ii must not be forgotten that such
fall-growins crops as cabbages, turn1ps,
parsnips and carrots are now more ben
Gifted by clean and mellow culture than
at any other part of the season. Ii
planted in rows or drills so that narrew
cultivator NAV be run between them 1t
Will be profitable to pass it as often as
once a week, whether any weeds have
IL ~ acnaRfallv
if the soil is moist; and in time OF Sc
we're drought the moisture OF the soil is
better maintained by keeping the sur
face for an inch or two down IL slate
OF fine pulyerization.
IT is a common mistake to leave the
selection of seed until nearly the time
when il is to be used. In the cribs or
bin much care in selection is not posi-
BILE. The best way to do with corn or
potatoes is to go in the field at harvest
time and have one man select the best.
In potatoes this is quite as important
rs with any other crop. 4 smooth,
handsome potato may come from hill
that produces only two or three tubers.
By selecting the best potatoes from the
most vigorous hills there Is tendency
to increased productiveness, which after
a few years almost marks the crop as of
a new and improved variety.
". V. s. BEEKMAN relates instruct
I've experience with his COWS, which one
winter persisted in making bitter cream
and butter. He learned after while
/ that the bitter taste was caused by hem
lock boughs which the cow browsed
during warm days when out. In the
early settlement Of the country, browse
| from new-felled timber was a staple
cattle food in Winter. Beech and Bass
wood were reckoned the best, and of
the latter sticks as large as a mans
thumb would be eaten.
FARMERS cannot expect to raise choice
vegeta oIes without labor now, but the
garden plat really pays better than field
crops for the time and labor given it.
Weed seeds are terminating rapidly,
and most garden soils are well filed
with them. The hoe and the rake must
be piled constantly or weeds Will get
the best of the struggle. Throwing the
earth up around most growing vegeta-
bles is better than level culture.
''lf any one has a pear tree that bears
spotted or cracked fruit let him sprinkle
wood ashes over the soil. beneath the
tree, as far in diameter as the branches
extend-not light sprinkle, either, but
a liberal dressing. Then wash the bark
thoroughly with strong soap-suds odd
fashioned soft soap preferred) with the
addition OF lime water and little -four
of sulphur.
The american Agric1tltraSt has q
description of barrel barrow for carry
ing liquids. A barrel, open at the top,
is fitted into the frame of an ordinary
barrow with cleats, about one-thrd be-
| low the ton of the frame. 1t can be