Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-02
FARM AND GARDEN.
Notes and Suggestions.


- The want Of pure and fresh water accounts
in many instances for the lack of eggs during
the winter season. Fowls require q constant
| supply Of water, and without it will not lay.
A frost-proOf vegetable house is described
| as made with walls fifteen inches thick, double
boarded, the space between the boards being
filled with sawdust. The ceiling is also boarded,
with about ten inches of sawdust between the
! boards.
- The Tribune says that mulching Is fully as
beneficial for raspberries and blackberries as
| Tor Strawberries, yet few seem to think so. II
the mulching consists OF good stable manure
| the canes will make an excellent growth, aud
the crop fruit be greatly improved in size and
| quality.
The British Medical Journal says COWS
drink filthy water tor its saline taste, and pro-
poses an antidOte in the shape Of rock salt, Kept
always within reach Of the cows and we sup
| pose 1t would be good idea to have the salt
near the place where good water is to be had, so
as to attract the COW to that location.
A western writer says that the mass Of the
butter sold goes for half price, year in and out,
largely because 1t IS churned at the wrong tenn
perature by persons too stingy or too stupid to
| invest in q good thermometer. variation of
five degrees from the standard spells or greatly
Injuries either butter or cheese.
An indianapolis Ond.) fruit grower says
Last year put twelve moIes in my strawberry
patch of FIVE acres to catch the grubs. and they
did the work. ! never had dozen plants in
jured during the summer, either by the grubs or
| moes. l know some people do not care for
mOles on their farms, but want them in my
strawberry patch"
| Noting the fact that the water-cress is one
Of the best of salads and is sold in the English
market by tons, the Germantown Telegraph says
| n0n no aflxyv fcoAp tHi 90
follows: Stick some pieces Of the plant along
the low places of a running stream, like the Or
binary open springs upon our farms, and 1t will
grow rapidly. and unless 1t Is extirpated by
wholesale gathering it will go on producing for
| generations. and will always supply early crops
for the market, and will sell fast enough.
One OF the most suggestive experiences Of
the widely known horticulturist of Green bay,
Wis. He bought new piece of land three
years ago, and, despite heavy manuring each
| year. his crops on this ground have been poor
IL takes time to bring land up to good state
of fertility. After manure has been applied to
| poor soil it sometimes takes several years to
mix it up so that crops derive the full benefit
| from It. This is notably true of garden vege-
tables, which require the highest fertilization.
| - In response to inquiries as to the practical
bilty of allowing sheep to have access to acOrns
as food. says the editor of the Texas Wool
J
led US to the following conclusions: In Virginia.
where we first handled sheep, the white oak and
black jack acOrns, as general thing, were not
regarded as safe diet. The tendency was to
produce constipation causing fever and in
numerous instances DEATH From this cause
we were impressed when embarking In sheep
husbandry in Texas, that all species of acorns
were dangerous for sheep to feed upon.
! - The first incubator Of the season, holding
seVenty-flve eggs. has just been operated at
| HammOntOn. N. ]. Thirteen eggs were thrown
out as worthless. and there were matched thirty
eight chicks from slxty-two eggs, or little over
81 per cent. Three hens were set on eggs from
the same basket The first hen Matched five
chicks from ten eggs, killing TOUR. The other
two hens did not hatch q single chick All the
incubator chicks are alive and thrifty. This in
cu6ator was made to operate without the use of
lamp, and consequently no expense of oil was
incurred. tank of hot water was kept over
the egg drawer. the loss Of heat being replaced
| by adding kettle full of boiling water once a
day. except in very cold weather, when the boil
ing water was added twice In twenty-four hours
1t required no watching. and but for the diff
| Guilty of procuring good eggs for the purpose
might have done better.
The American Agricuiturist says of the COW
pea: ''This pea, which is a great blessing to
southern agriculture. presents large number
OF varieties. few days ago we through the
aid Of some friends in Georgia, made q COL
lection of all the different kinds we could pro-
cure. We received peas under nearly forty
| twenty of these were really distinct, so far as
we could Judge by the appearance OF the seeds
A share OF the varieties are cultivated In the
southern states for the sake of the seed, but
| the majority are regarded as forage plants We
notice that some New York seedsmen offer the
seeds of whirlpool and others which are
esteemed in the southern states as forage
plants. we know no plant more worthy OF
careful test by those who practice ensiage than
the Southern Cow Pea Like other beams
should not be sOwn until the soil is well warmed
and all danger Of late frOsts is over"
Under the head OF Lights in the Barn"
the Agric,aurist says: at is estimated that nine
tenths Of all fires are caused by careessness.
Now Is the season when the lantern is frequently
used In the barn, and we give word Of caution.
Never light lamp or lantern Of any kind in the
barn. Smokers may include their pipes and
cigars in the above. The lantern should be
lighted in the house or some outbuiIding where
no cOmbustibles are stored. lantern which
does not burn well should never be put in order
IN the hay NOW There Is a great temptation to
strike match aud rellght an extingushed Ian
tern. wherever 1t may be. it is best to even
feel ones way out to safe place than to run
any risks If the light Is not kept In the hand 1t
should be hung up. Provide hooks In the vari-
GUS rooms where the lights are used A wire
at the rear of the stalls, and furnished with q
sliding hook. Is very convenient for night work
with the horses. Some farmers are so careless
as to keep the lamp oil in the barn. and fill the
lantern there while the wick is burning Such
risks are too great, even If the buildings are
insured"
The Orange county farmer knows of no
more profitable pastime for boys than the
breaking OF pair OF young streets or calves to
the yoke, If an extra team is likely to be
needed. The calves will not only soon grow
into oxen. but the actual contact of the lads
with the calves, andthe ups and downs in the
conflict OF breaking them in, will not only do
the calves good, but will improve the boys from
the healthy exercise Of bone and muscle 1t
always affords. If the boys are Young. begin
with well matched pair OF spring calves and
lose no time in providing q suitable yoke to
commence the training Never use the CAD on
them. nor tie their tails together to prevent the
turning OF the yoke. On the contrary feed
them few griddle cakes until they get well
acquainted with you. Teach them to walk by
your side, and to carry their heads up by gently
tapping them with the butt end of Your gad
under the chin, and then they will go0n learn
to back, haw and gee, and the boys will have
team which will soon aid In carrying grists to
the mill. or hauling stones on a stOne-boat for
building or repairing fences and much other
work required Of o team Of horses.
Wherever q crop Is taken of, it will be a
great gain to manure and pillow or spade the
land, leaving 1t rough during the winter All
such work as making paths, laying drains, etc.,
Is more advantageOusly done now than when