Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-02-11
Preparing tho Seed. Bed.

SANDY SOIL may be worked when quite
wet, as the particles never adhere to
any great extent, Is is the case with soils
containing q considerable amount of
clay or loan. One cultivating or har-
rowing when the ground is in the right
condition will do more good than three
when the ground is too wet to fall apart
readily.
Where the land is plowed in autumn,
or quite a time before seeding, it should
not, Is rule, be replowed. That por-
ton which has lain exposed to the &C.
ton of the elements is best adapted to
the wants of plant life, as it is more
thoroughly disintegrated, and there
fore holding its fertility in an immedi-
ately available form. To turn this sur:
face soil under would be to lose all that
has been gained by the action of the
frost or by other means. A thorough
stirring and mixing is what it wants.
Cultivators with deep, sharp teeth
should first be used, running them both
ways across the field. After thus
loosening up and stirring the whole
depth of the soil let the sun and air
have chance at it for few hours at
least before putting on the hArrows.
These last should have fine, closely set
teeth and be light and wide that
the work may be rapidly as well as ef-
fectively done. A team can draw q
light framed, steel-tooth harrow that
takes ten-foot sweep as easily as il
could many of the old-fashioned six-by.
six timbered drags that covered less than
half the width. With good wide har.
row We can 60 over field in half the
time that would be required with mar.
row one. What we gain in this way
should be applied to the finer working
of the soil. As general thing, but one
narrowing succeeds the cultivating be.
fore seeding. Another cross-harrowine
is of immense benefit, and it should be
given if possible. One narrowing ate,
the cultivating usually leaves the field
in avery smooth, even condition, but it il
the second narrowing that makes the sur
face fine. As rule we should put more
work on the land before the seed il
sown and less sfter. The finer the seeds
to be sown the finer the soil should be
made. For small garden seeds we car
hardly make the soil fine enough with
our field harrows. In small gardens the
garden rake may be used after the har'
row; but one who is gardening on 6
large scale should have q very light har
row with small, sharp, steel teeth sci
closely together. Such an implement
is also excellent for the smaller
field seeds, such as grass. turnips, et<
The roller should not be used on heavy
soils, either before or after seeding.
On light, porous soils it may precede
the marking for crops that are to be
planted in rows or drills. A heavy
plank drawn broadside over the land i
often vastly superior to the roller, as il
grinds the Jumps instead of pressing
them into the ground Ohio Farmer
For the Kitchen Scrap Book.
FINGER marks can be removed from
wall paper by rubbing them with 9
crust OF bread. Rye or brown bread il
best.
An oyster shell in the teakettle will
prevent the formation of crust. The
oyster shell will attract all the stony
particles.
TEP1D water with little borax dis
solved in it is good to wash colored
table linen in. Nice tablecloths and
napkins should not be allowed to be-
come much soiled, so that they will re.
quire vigorous rubbing with soap or in
hot water.
A POTATO, with one end cut of, il
better than rag for securing the knives
A thin shave must be taken off each
time, to give moist surface.
WHEN packages are sent home fold
up all the good wrapping paper, run.
ming q warm iron over any which are
badly crumpled, lay each kind in pile
by itself, either in box or cupboard, and
many steps will be saved when piece
is wanted for wrapping a package.
If you wish to sweeten floor that
has grown musty, make strong hot so.
luton of chloride of lime and scrub il
into the floor with broom, having first
made the floor as clean as soapsuds and
3 scrubbing brush will make it. If the
first application does not suffice, give ii
"no'ne1' ana Persevere onsn you are
successful.
IF large lump of washing soda is
kept in the kitchen sink by the waste
pipe, and plenty of boiling water
poured over it several times = day, the
pipe will never be ologged with cold
grease; q solution of sulphate of copper
or chloride of lime should be poured
into the pipe once day to keep it per-
fectly clean.
GRAHAM buns for breakfast are richer
and great deal nicer than the plain
gem. Take one piut of sweet milk, one
pint of graham -four, half q teaspoon
full of salt, and one egg; beat the egg,
then add the milk and then the -four
gradually; beat it very briskly for four
or five minutes, then pour into buttered
gem pans, and bake in q hot oven.