Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1885-07-16
a'iraiuia fire. gwss.
FARM AND HOME.

Beet seed has a faint tinge Of pale green
if new. but is a dull brown if old, and its
vitality is very doubtful if old.
SCOT is an excellent "star,er" for corn, as
it is rich in nitrogen It is a substance that
is often wasted. but which is really valuable.
Sof-wooded plants should always be plac-
ed nearest the light, while hard and smooth
leayed ones will not suffer in quite shaded
situations.
Black pepper is the cabbage protector, says
the Farming World, and the way to apply it
is to reduce il 10 a very fine powder and dust
it over the plants. Go carly in the morning,
while the dew is on the plants, and dust over
each small quantity and the yermin will
leave.
Use plenty of lime i'm the orchard and a-
round the vines. IL prevents the attacks OF
insects and also serves as plant food as wen
as fastening chemical action In the soil,
thereby rendering the inert substances avail
able.
Lampblack mixed with strong vinegar is
said to make a paint for marking sheep that
will not iniure the wool, and viii remain for
year. 1t is worth trying Tar aud paint
are both blotching and difficult 20 scour from
wool.
The striped squash bug viii put in an APP
pearance as soon as the vines break ground,
and unless looked after viii work the de-
struction Of every vine. Cover the ground
about the hills with a good coat Of air slack
. ed lime, Just as the plants are coming TO the
surface. thus giving the bugs no place to
burrow in; they viii rarely touch vine
protected.
Grass lands should be put in order for
themower by rolling; pick up fallen branch
Is and whatever rubbish viii obstruct the
machine. No sensible farmer viii pasture
his meadows in spring. A hundred pounds
of nitrate of soda 10 the acre will be a prof
table application, as viii bushel or two
Of plaster to clover.
The folly Of storing farm products when
the price is already high enough, is shown
in the fact that a lot of 200 bales of hops of
the year 1882 were lately sold at sherif7s
sale at Scheneyus, \. Y, at five to seven
cents per pound The year they were har-
vested they would have sold for upwards of
81 pound.
Ground bone and ashes make one of the
best fertilizers for the orchard. much better
than stable manure yet in the absence Of
these materials we should not hesitate TO
use stable manure, because while we do not
believe it tobe better than nothing. What
ever fertilizer is applied should be spread
evenly over the whole land, in am orchard
large enough 10 bear fruit Never heap up
fresh manure around the trunk of a large
or small tree nothing but fresh earth should
be pressed against the tree.
1t used TO be a fashion in a good many
country places, % put a live trout in the
well, with the idea that the fish kept the
water pure A trout might DO something
in this way by devouring such insects as
fall accidentally into the wen, bat really the
value Of the living fish in the water is to be
looked for in adtlerent direction. The life
of the trout is a tolerably good index Of the
fitness of the water for drinking, since a
very slight utilization of sewage or of wa
Der charged with the disease germs, is
enough 70 kill the FISH When this occurs,
it is time TO look out for some purer supply
of drinking water.