The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-22
Farm Notes.

A'hay crop>of two and a half tons carries off
400 pounds of mineral matter to the acre
The FIRST poiatto be learned in successful stock
raising is never to allow an animal to lose a
pound of flesh. This is equiyelant to throwing
two pounds away.
"A farmer in Maryland has been experimenting
with barbed wire fences for telephone USE and
announces that farmers and others will soon
adopt them for this purpose.
Considerable difference should De made in the
feed of poultry according to the breed. 4Brah-
mas, Cochins and their crosses are quiet, and
consequently fatten very easily, while the
lighter breeds are more active. It is not good
rule, therefore, to .feed-too much corn to fowls
when in confinement.
This is the best season for procuring improved
stock, as many breeders usually have surplus
at this time for which they may not find accom-
modations during the winter, and will sell at
moderate prices. Besides this fact tho buyer
has larger number1rom which to select, thus
having better opportunities ofsecuring first-eass
stock.
Cleveland Herald: The manufacture of but
ter and cheese seems a very simple matter but
anyone who will 60 into the markets cannot fail
to observe that somehow the manufacture of
rstelass qualities of either is only inperfectjy
understood, and that the bulk of product offered
and especially is this true of butter-is very in
fepior; and where positive inferiority cannot be
asserted there is a lack of uniformity which
operates greatly against commercial value.
The best manner of 1ieeping grapes fresh for
winter use is that method pursued in Spain;
namely; to pack the entire clusters in thick,
open mouthedsteneware jars laying dry, put
ting fresh, hard wood sawdust between them so
thekly to fill up all interstices then to place
the jars in a cool and even atmosphere eXclud-
ing all light. This method is more laborlous,
but better than the practice of the Italians and
French, which merely consists of hanging the
grapes ina dark room subject to a slight cur
rent of heated air. Thus the grapes are par
nd SpV cd nv he
cess, lose their freshness and part of their fine
flavor
Pyrethrum is well spoken of as an insectrpow-
der. 1t is cheap, said to be poisonous only to in
sects, and very effectual At the experiment
at Amherst they mix tablespoonful of
theiinsect powder in pRilful of equal parts of
water and tbuttermilk, and sprinkle it on eur
rants, potatoes, or other plants infected with
bugs or worms. The buttermilk makes the
powder stick to the plant, and, in about half an
hour, the insects get good mouthful of 1t, curl
droptO the ground and die. Should il prove eff
fectual for the rose bug on grape-vines, pyre-
thrum Will certainly be a blessing. The plant is
easily grown IN gardens.
According to some experiments reported in
the London Times, it is estimated that 1901
pounds of hay are equal to 275 pounds of green
Indian corn 400 pounds of green clover, 442i
pounds of rye straw 300 pounds of wheat straw,
164 pounds of oat straw, $50 pounds of barley
straw, 1913 pounds of pea straw, 200 pounds of
bucbwheat straw, 400 pounds ofdried.c ernstalks,
175 pounds of raw potatoes, 5O4 pounds of
turnips 300 pounds of carrots, 81 pounds of rye,
as pounds of wheat 50pounds of oats. 45pounds
of mixed peas and beans, "a pounds of buck
wheat 81 pounds of Indian corn, 69 pounds of
aeorns, Jos pounds Of wheat bran, 167 pounds
of wheat pea and oats chat, 179 pounds of mixed
rye and barley. SO pounds of linseed, or 339
pounds of mangel wurzeL
In reply to the query, "What quantity of milk
should COW give to be considered proftable2"
well-known dairyInan answers 4,b00 pounds
$500 pounds for the first 100 days. 1000 pounds
in the 100 days following, and 700 pounds
between the completion at that time and drying
off. Professor Brown, of Canada, in reply to a
similar question, puts the figures at 1900
pounds for 200 days and as much as possible in
the subsequent l05 days and that every 100
pounds of milk should make three and ,one,half
pounds of butter. Leaving out of consideration
the performances of phenomenal cows accurate
records are at hand of native cows with records
of from $500 to 5000 pounds in the season,
which shows that steady advance is being
made in the yields of cur cows. The improve
ment is very slow. and will continue TO be until
farmers raise their best heifer calves from their
hestcows and have the sire with a mother of
milking strains to more perfectly establish the
milking habit