The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-06-05
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.


Farming Paragraphs.
The average price of eggs in England
IS about 80 cents per dozen, and 750, 00O,-
700 eggs are annually imported. -
There are few farms on which money
invested in improved machinery and
better tillage will not bring greater
return than savings-bank interest.
There are so many useful purposes
for straw; that, the; wise, farmer will
scarcely need to have recourse to fire
to Jet rid Of it: :: It makes an excellent
mulch for all kinds Of fruit, trees and
berry vines. Useeit for beading and BY
frequent changing increase the compost
heap. spread it on dry knobs and
places in meadows and pasture where
the grass has been burned or dried out
Township fairs at which farmers bring
together any animals or articles they
wish to sell or exchange have proved to
be of great advantage in some parts of
New York. In many cases they are at
tended by city buyers who make liberal
purchases:
Kentucky blue grass is fitted only for
dry, warm, calcareous soils, on which
it is considered the most valuable of
American pasture grasses. It may be
sown at the same time as other grasses,
but it will in time displace all others in
the same field.
Buckwheat can be sown any time in
June. It is not necessary to wait until
July, as it is as hardy as corn and may
be sown in May. It pays very we'll for
good work and care, and is not.a crop;
to be despised, because it is quite as
valuable as an average crop of oats or
| wheat when equally good care is given
to it. The ground should be well
plowed and narrowed and the seed sown
and narrowed in thoroughly. A peck
Of seed to the acre is quite enough, as
the plants branch better with thin SOW
ing, and so yield more grain. On good
soil IS bushels per acre have been pro-
duced, although Is bushels is a more
common crop, Timothy and clover may
be sown early, and, being taken off
early, gives the grass good chance to
get established before the winter.
AS we looked over the surging masses
on Wall Street, the other day, and saw
the care worn, haggard faces, we thought
| how many Of the anxious throng who
had been reared on the farm would be a
thousand times more happy were they
still the owners and occupants Of the
paternal acres. Though they might not
be owners Of a princely fortune, and
maybe, might have to economize some
| what, we thought their sleep would be
sweeter and their faces more content
and happy than now. Surely, money
should not be the end and aim Of mans
life. There is something in home
| and contentment and happiness. Boys.
think twice before you leave the farm
Rdral New Yorker:
A Vermont farmer who has fed ensi1-
age for several years reports very favor
ably of the results. The past winter
his stock has been fed for five months
upon this fodder. Calves bought in
October for So to $40 per head have
been fed upon bushel Of ensilage and
| pint of middlings and bran daily, and
are now worth 500 each. These year.
| lings are in the best condition, smooth
and thrifty. The number of stock kept
has been trebled since >ensilage has been
made and fed, and the experience of the
past winter proves that the stock may
be doubled, making an increase of six
fold as the result of growing fodder
crops and curing them in the silo.
People who didn't cut frewood in win
ter, as we advised, will please note this
from the Rural World: "Of green wood
one third to one-half OF more Of it's
weight is water, partly depending upon
the time of cutting. All kinds Of wood
cut in January in the northern and west
ern states contain from Is to 25 per cent.
less water than they do in spring. Elk
periments have shown that 100 pounds
Of ashwood cut in January contained
twenty nine pounds Of water, while the
same amount cut in April contained thir-
ty- eight pounds Of water 100 pounds of
sycamore cut in January contained thir-
| ty-three pounds of water, and forty cut
in April. White pine cut in january
contained fifty-two pounds; cut in April,
sixty one pounds Of water"