The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-09

Aside from the looks of the thing,
dead limbs on fruit or other trees should
be promptly removed. Where limbs die
from blight the cutting should be below
anv diseased part, or it will spread the
injection. Prompt cutting down TO
healthy wood will check most cases OF
blight. The saw used should not De ap.
piled to healthy trees unless first Washeo
with carbolic acid and water.
BARNARD manure is commonly deficient
in nhosphate. which is one reason why
the two kinds of fertilizers go so well
together. There is one advantage IN
mixing phosphate in manure heaps, as
the fermentation which takes place
makes the mineral manure more soluble
and available. In soils deficient IN veg
etable matter phosphate often becomes
insoluble before it can do any good.
The only safe way when weed seeds
abound in manure is to thoroughly com
post it until their vitality IS destroyed.
Turning the heap over at least once, TO
get the outer edges of the first heap IN
the middle, it is necessary, IN order that
all the seeds may be exposed to the heat.
If we'll done, so as not to burn the cen
ire. the manure will be all the better tor
the operation, as the plant food will be
more soluble.
There is growing inquiry among
farmers as to the profits from keeping
geese. Feathers are high, and though
geese if unrestrained are destructive to
grain crops, yet it is the belief of many
that they fully pay for all that they de-
stroy. A goose may be pluckcd three
to four times during the warm season,
and despite the cutlery against the cruel
ty of picking live birds, the goose will
be in as good condition in fall as If the
feathers had been allowed to drop out.
1t is we'll known that the common po-
tato is the product of seed which in its
wild state is wholly unfit for food. Tint
the quality of potatoes now, however,
depends largely on the soil and methods
stood. The potatoes grown on the soil
full of vegetable matter will be large
and coarse. In a wet season they will be
sssocgv" when cooked. If not we'll
covered from the sun while growing, the
tubers will be green and have harsh,
bitter taste, which is really that of poi
| son.
At a recent meeting of the Massachu-
sets Horticultural society DIR. Goessman
announced that in his analysis he had
found that the ashes of asparagus con-
tain a very large amount of possibility
per cent. With this knowledge be de-
cided that the asparagus plant requires
potash fertilizers, and for several years
has used potash on his asparagus beds
together with bone dust. On, an acre
and d half of poor gravel land he has
grown prize asparagus by the applica-
ton of bone and potash only, no animal
manure.
For use on the farm, especially in
drawing manure, the tires of wagons
should be three inches Or more in width.
The best mode of applying manure Is as
top dressing after blowing; but this is
made impossible by the common narrow
tired wagons, which cut into the plowed
soil like knives On roads broad tires
are equally beneficial, as they fill uE
rather than cut the ruts more deeply. II
; is, however, discouraging for one or two
alone in neighborhood to use broad
tires on roads, as they are mending, at
some expense, the ways of other people
EDGllSu Illthe IuuCu VI tuCll
turnip crop. 1t is, with oil smeal
and corn meal when it is cheal
enough, the staple food for fattenins
stock. We, perhaps, do not grow a
large turnip or rutab ga crops as English
; farmers, but we do grow'mango1a wtirtzu
as large as anybody, and presumably o
!, greater sweetness, as our summers ar,
! warmer and dryer than those of England
But here roots are scarcely consideIed
staple food for anything. We feed som
: to mich cows topromote milk Secretion
but supplemental With grain. .!IlAa 1ea
son is that we can grow lnqian oe:n, 4
English farmers had our corn crop the
would think less of roots.
: Sulphur bleaching. by which mean
. even inferior dried and evaporated fruit
are made to appear white and attractive
is denounced by Professor E. w. Hill
gard, of the California university. Pro
. fcssor Hilgard, having duly investigated
! by analysis and otherwise the effects o
: sulphur fumes on the fruit, states his oh
= jcctions in an ELUSIVE bulletin. Thes
y objections are not alone ON the score o
y health, but he insists that fruit art
: ficiallv bleached by means of suIphu
6 loses its flavor and is not nearly so pala
=. table as the darker tinted fruit. HI
n therefore advises consumers to selec
y dried fruits that possess a light, brown
f ish hue in preference to the whit
= bleached fruits.
- Recipes.
OATMEAL MUFFINs.-One cup of oa
q meal, Il pints of flour, one teaspoonir
n of SALT two of baking powder. one table
4 spoonful of lard. two eggs, one pint {
+ milk. Sift together meal, flour, salt an
y baking powder; rub the lard in colo
/, and then add beaten eggs and milk.
d TURNIP SoUP.-Slice five turnips an
h three onions, with piece of butter, in
l. saucepan (covcr close.) Let it stew ha
is an hour; then put in as much good stoc
IS as you require for the quantity of SOU
g add few peppercorns; let it simmer fe
two hours, add good slice of bread
,e rub it through a sieve and add half
e. pint of cream before serving.
I'd BOILING FIsH-After washing tho
" oughly in sailed cold water, sprinkle tt
e. fish with salt and pepper, and tie in
ne clean cloth with sprig of parsle
lg Cover with cold water, except in case
re salmon, when luke warm water must |
e. usei to preserve the color Cod requir
1t. fifteen minutes for each pound. A fl!
weio hinp one nOund will he done in r.