The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-10-21
Farm and Carbon Notes.

Bone meal is said to be an excellent
fertilizer for strawberries and other
small fruits.
The good feeder of stock never gorges
them, nor does he give more than will
be eaten with relish. 1t is not what is
eaten, but what is digested which fur
nishes the profit.
Stones are nuisance in cultivated
fields, but it is none the less u fact that
there are many localities near cities and
villages where they will well pay to haul
off to sell for building purposes.
Compelling calves and colts to lie in
filth or on damp floors or bedding is the
poorest kind Of ofeconomy. 1t not only
prevents the growth of the animals, but
is sure to result in some form of disease
if persisted in.
A large lump of clean rock salt should
be kept constantly in the manger of
every horse and colt while stabbed.
About one pound Il month is sufficient
to satisfy the average horses which have
free access to it.
Under the pasturing and hay system
of feeding, four or five acres are needed
to keep cow q year. With ensilage
corn fodder and soiling in summer, every
acre may be made to keep its cow, pro-
vided the soil is made rich enough.
A COW giving milk should never be
fat. Either the milk is deficient in
quantity or quality. often both. The
best COWS are never fine. looking animals,
except to the eye of an expert. who can
see behind the rough and bony frame
evidences of good milking qualities.
The Epitomist tells US of fine Jersey
COW which greatly disappointed her
owner by bearing no calves, and, as a
last resort, the cow was put on very
plain feed, with no grain. She ran down
in flesh, but owing to this treatment is
about to calve.
Beets or mangel wurzel are preferable
to turnips for milch COWS, as the latter
roots are apt to flavor the milk objection
ably. We can, however, avoid this diff
fculty to some extent by feeding the
roots directly after milking. The odor
passes off before tho cows are MIXED
again.
The Arabs are said to feed horses from
the ground in order to maintain the
curve in the neck. Without doubt Ara
bian horses are among the best in the
world, and if feeding on or near the
ground is one reason of their superiority,
it is an argument for low managers that
chould not he over 'ooked
If land is naturally wet and has not
been drained, most farmers think it ex-
actly right for meadow. 1t will un-
doubtedly pay better to NOW than to
cultivate in ordinary seasons. as the mea-
dow requires less labor. But the fact
remains that good grass will not long
grow on soil always saturated with stag
nant water
A warm soil is quite as important as
fertility in growing o good corn crop.
One of the advantages of stable mahare
and greensward plowed under lies in the
fact that their fermentation adds to the
warmth of the soil. The same amount
of plant food furnished in mineral
manures which do not supply heat will
not produce an equal effect.
1t is very difficult to keep horses in
basement stables without injuring their
eyes. This is in part due to poor ventila-
ton. but also to the position of basement
windows, which throw light on the
horses eyes and cause him to be always
peering into comparative darkness. A
horse thus treated will be very apt to go
blind after two or three years.
Gas tar will drive away ants, but where
they gather around apple trees, as they
arc apt to do, it is question whether it
is to the advantage of the orchardist to
get rid of them. Ants are very de.
structive to the apple or plant lice which
on apple trees arc frequent cause of
unfruitfulness by destroying the foliage
at time when it is most needed for
starting the young fruit.
If cny one desires to use horses unshod
let him choose for the purpose thick
skinned, thick and strong hoofed horses
and he will be able to get on quite sue
cessfully; but if he choose very thin
skined horses, with thin shelled hoofs,
he will find them lame at once il used to
any extent on hard roads. The southern
part Of Georgia and Florida are full Of