The National tribune., 1884-02-21

bushel"
OSTRICH FARMING.
Ostrich farming is progressing, so far as con-
Germs the introduction of the birds. The Old |
est farm is that of Anhaim, California, where |
five hens laid 305 eggs from May to October.
A number of chicks were Matched with the IN
cubators although many of the eggs proved |
infertile About 81, 500 worth of feathers have |
been taken from the birds during the year,
and another clipping will be made in few
months.
Another farm is about being started in San
Diego Cal, by the American Ostrich Company
of Boston, Mass. They have, it is stated, lately
landed twenty-three birds at New Orleans
which will be sent by rail TO the farm. An
ostrich farm has also been started near San
ford, Orange county, Florida. The birds on
this farm are not so large as those on the Cali
fornia farms, but are said to yield fine feath-
erS.
EARLY PEAS.
Seed Time and Hdrcest says that THE pea
which we offer as Clevcland's First and Best,
we are told by Mr.. Cleveland, the grower, is
identical with that which be grows for Peter
Henderson & Co.. as Henderson's First and
Best: for D. NJ. Ferry & Co, as Ferry's First
aud Best; for lambeth. as Landreth's Extra
Early; for James Wick, as Vicks Extra Early;
for Sibley & Co, as Sibley's First and Best;
for BUST, as Buist's Extra Early" &c. Why
these gentlemen do not unite in calling it by
one name, instead of multiplying varieties
without distinction we do not know.
FILTERING WATER.
The Popular Science Monthly says that cheap
and efficient filter may be made by taking a
cask, placing it on end and removing the head.
Place faucet near the bottom to draw oil the
water To cit it for a filter, take the removed
top head Of the cask and, with small bit, bore
holes all over it; then place four clean bricks
on the bottom, and on these place the perfo-
rated top. Now, fill upon is four inches OF
charcoal, broken quite finely, and over this
place layer of sand six Inches deep. Wafer
placed in the cask. after passing through the
sand and charcoal, viii be drawn on pure and
clear.
A NEW WATERMELON.
The Scaly Bark watermelon was first brought
/ into notice a few years age in Georgia. 1t has
/ one important popularity, that it remains in
good eating condition from ten to fifteen days
after being taken from the vine. It's rind is
thin hut remarkably tough, SO that it can stand
a good deal of rough handling without injury,
and can bear transportation for long distances,
and still be good. 1t receives its name from
slight resemblance that the skin presents, as if
covered with fsh-scales The flesh is light
crimson in color, solid, tender, and of excel
lent quality.
NEW CATALOGUES RECEIVED.
Illustrated CdtaJoGae of Field, Garden and
Fl0sUer Seeds, from Joseph Harris Morefon Farm,
| Rochester, N. 1.-THE name of Joseph Harris
to readers of rural publications is familiar as
household words" His reputation as a writer
of practical sense is second TO none, and his
reputation as a seed grower takes the same d.
rection. In his catalogue he says: grow
seeds to sell, aud / want you to buy them. /
send this catalogue that you may see what
( have, and If you want any seeds this year,
hope you viii favor me with an order. ] think
you cannot do better anywhere else l do not
believe you can find better seeds, and do not
think any one can sell equally good seeds at less
prices than do" bis Deacon lettuce is one of
the best varieties for this climate, standing the
hot sun better than others, and it comes quickly
into use.
Descriptive Catalogue Of the Reading Nursery
Jacob ". Manning, Reading, Aass.-This cata-
logGe embraces select line of nursery stock, con-
sisting of fruit ornamental trees, eyergreens and
hardy shrubs; also, hardy herbaceous plants.
This is class of plants worthy of increased care;
they have been thrown in the background for
several years by such plants as coleus. and other
tender things, which have but shortlived
beauty, and require continued renewal Spec
ial attention is directed TO that sweetest of all
our native shrubs, Clcthra aIaiJogia. 1t has
long been a favorite with us, and we have not
4
NoTELETs
AT recent Ensilage Congress in New York
the manager of dairy farm said that his COW:
averaged 100 pounds Of milk more per month
when fed on ensilage, than when fed on hay
, and grain. Swine and horses also did better
with enslsge than without it.
"A correspondent Of the New York ForlC
says: "As the thawing out Of frozen pumps is q
mr.
add my plan, which is plenty of salt. Sail
thrown on the ice that forms in pumps vii
thaw it out in less than an hours time. II
beats hot water every time"
Under the "new process Of grinding
wheat the bran has no value as nutritious
food. 1t is sometimes claimed for it that it il
good laxative, but its operation in this re
spect Is that OF irritation, causing kind of in
flammation in the animal which is not by any
means healthy or conducive TO health.
f One hundred to one hundred and fifty
pounds Of nitrate of soda TO the acre is recon
mended by the director of the New jersey
Experiment Station. In an experiment made
on the farm with nitrate of soda, it increased
e the yield Of wheat from twenty-seven bushel
: per acre to thirty-four bushels; it also IN
e creased the weight of straw by nearly 1,60
r pounds. and had favorable influence upon tn
g after crop of clover and grass. The best tim
q or just before a rain.
Many Of the Florida oranges are more o
less covered with rust. This, while it does no
add TO the beauty Of the fruit. in no way i'm
: pairs its flavor. Indeed, the russell orange
u rather better favored than those not markes
! IN this manner. There are variety Of opin
? ions in regard To the cause of this rusty appear
ance. Some consider it TO be caused by bacteris
: which is now tie fashionable reason for all dis
:, eases in the vegetable as well as in the anims
- kingdom. 1t is sometimes difficult to distiI
= guish consequence from a cause; few people
'c however, would attribute the death of an an
= nal 10 the maggots in the carcass. The pre-.
!, ence of bacteria in diseased organism hav
= the same relation TO disease as the maggot
= have 10 the carcase in which they are found.
Is CORRESPONDENCE.
Of Mr. VIM. Dougherty, Of Indiana county, Pa
advises Z. \. Patterson TO bore his Wild Gooi
plum tree one-half through with a three-qua
"a ter inch augur before the sap starts in sprin)
= I'LL the hole with sulphur, plug up tight an
;s his trees viii be benefited, and may save ii
= crop. 1t was successful with his last year.
I, RemarEs.-In relation TO the above advice y
y would state that sulphur inserted in a tr,
az as proposed, has no effect, either in war,
as ing of disease or insects on plants. Sucee
Is is due TO other conditions and would have bee
in realized equally in the absence Of sulphur a
he piled in that manner.
is Mr.. Charles Workman, Bolton, Worcest