Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-06-19
FARM AND PRESIDE.


durable timber. An extensively painted
fence, nailed to posts that will rot in a
half dozen years is piece of extravaganza
and absurdity for which there should be
no excuse. 1t is well known that the
same kind of timber cut at different sea-
sons of the year will in one case rot almost
Immediately, while in another it will be
comparatively lasting. A white birch,
cut in March or April and left exposed to
the weather without splitting, will by Au-
gust be so rotten that no axe will be
needed for dividing it into stove lengths,
but birch bean poles, cut in midsummer,
we have used two seasons, and then found
them comparatively sound, and SO tough
they would almost bend double without
breaking. II is astonishing how quickly
tree cut in midsummer and peeled
will season if left few days with the
leaves on to pump the sap. Where the
new growth of sprouts is of more account
than the lasting qualities of the timber,
the winter is better time for cutting de-
ciduous trees, but for securing durable
timber, or first class fuel, the summer Is
the better time, provided the bark is TAX
en- off and the leaves left on as we indica-
ted. We hope farmers and Others who
desire durable timber for any purpose
whatever will make the experiment this
summer of cutting few trees, at least,
and note the results.-Fdrm and Field.
A GOOD MULCH.-"W do you think
of the plan of mulching potatoes" asked
Che Deacon, "to check evaporation and
keep the soil moist during our dry. hot
weather ?' SIT is good thing" said l,
''if put on two or three inches thick be-
tween the rows, so as not only to keep
the soil underneath moist, but to kill the
weeds; and there is no better material
than fine earth" what nonsense, said
| the Deacon. "How are you going to get
such mass of earth for mulchf Three
| inches of such earth spread three inches
thick over an acre would weigh 500 tons.
| No doubt such covering, evenly spread.
| would keep the soil quite moist, but how
| are you going to get it ?'' "a good horse.
shoe" said 1, run through the rows once
week until the soil is foe and mellow,
three inches deep. will furnish this splen-
did mulch at comparatively small cost.
And this same mulch is equally good for
cotton. tobacco, corn, beans, cabbages,
beets and turnips. Joseph Harris, in
American Agr5eulturist.
| II Iu tineQ
day. What does few quarts of milk
signify if you get COW libe Mercedes,
| Violet, Echo, Maud, or others I might
mention? At the age of swo or three
months put some wheat bran into its
mess. 1t will do it good. A little later
on give few ground oats. There is lit
tie or no danger in feeding either of these
of securing your calf. Oil meal, corn
meal, or cotton seed meal may be fed, but
| 1T requires great care to feed either of
the last three mentioned without doing
harm. Have little bundle of hay always
within reach of the calf. Of course, he
must go out in the yard for exercise, but
should be allowed no grass as long as fed
milk. Kindness in handling calf enters
largely into his makeup. 1t should be
carefully but thoroughly broke to halter.
and taught, as far as possible while young
all we wish it to know when aged.
! CUCUMBERs FOR PICKLEs.-The Lynch
burg advance" states that an old and
| prominent citizen, who has successfully
| IN
| following as the best plan yet discovered
! for obtaining large yield from cucum-
Der vines. 1t is certainly worth trying:
when the young cucumbers are large
enough for table use, remove them, and
cut off the stem about one-fourth of an
cut end, say three-ffths of an inch. On
each OF these split sides new cucumber
will form, and the strangest part of it is,
that they will all be of the same slze. By
this method cucumber vine may be
made to yield three. fold more than under
the ordinary method of culture, and the
cucumbers so produced are said to be
superior to any others for picking pur-
poses.
Gypsy PIE.-Cut shreds of any kind of
cold meat, and put them IN the bottom of
a buttered pudding dish; cover with finely
chopped onion and light seasoning of
salt and pepper; above This put very
thick layer of quartered apples, sugar and
lemon; then thin layer of meat and
onions; fill up with apple, sugar and lem
on; cover with puff paste and bake till
! brown in slow oven. Thinly sliced ham
or veal is very nice for this pie, but
beef may be used or lamb. 1t is some
| times called ''medley" pie. Very little
onion should be used.
WORK-CHAIR.-!Cut out of stiff paste
bOard two pieces four and half aches
square, one piece eight and quarter
inches long and three and thres-quarter
inches wide, one piece four and half
inches wide and three inches long two
pieces five and half inches long and four
and quarter inches wide); these last are
for arms. one end being curved. Take
Turkey red, or whatever suits your taste,
w OoFoi 1uooo. Ouo VI Guo pieces lOuG
and half inches square should be stuffed
to form cushion. Piece eight and
quarter inches long Is the back, piece four
and half inches wide and three inches
long is the front. Sew the back and
armpieces together, and the front to the
armpieces. Put the bottom in, sewing to
the back, armpieces and front. Cover the
seams with braid. This is useful for COT
ton. silks etc.