The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-08-21

Do not hatch bantams before Septem-
Der, if you would have them beautiful
and diminutive.
The Game fowl makes an excellent
mother for young chicks, and are the
best sentinels against hawks.
Should fowls be troubled with scaly
leg" make mixture of two or three
ounces of sweet oil, one ounce of sulphur
and twenty drops of carbolic acid, and
anoint the legs two or three times
week until cured; first, however, wash
with soap and water.
If you wish your young chicks to grow
rapidly and thrive at this season of the
year, give them frequently scraps Of fresh
meat from the refuse you will find at
every butcher shop; they are exceedingly
fond of it.
Guinea fowls are excellent sentinels
against hawks, cats and other "varmints."
If you starve your hens you will not
fatten your egg.basket.- Western Plough
man.
Care of an Apple Orchard.
The lack of manure and cultivation
and general lack of proper care for or
chards are the causes in great part, of
their sterility. Neglected orchards pro-
duce small quantities of small, poorly
favored and poorly-ripened fruit. The
orchard should be supplied with all the
manure the trees can appropriate, and
the trees will then be vigorous and will
show it by good growth of wood and
handsome fruit. When the trees do not
make free growth of wood it is certain
that they are in i'll condition and need
the assistance of fertilizers and cultiva-
tion-probably, also, judicious pruning,
cleaning the bark and the destruction of
worms and insects ick's Magazine.
| Tree Mignonette.
! 1t is a delightful pastime for window
gardeners to form tree of mignonette.
1t is process that requires attention,
but it we'll repays it. Tree mignonettes
have been supposed b, some persons to
be distinct variety from the ordinary
| hAA0s Lilo 10 aOu 5Os tuCJ dL0 ekl0 It.
suit of pruning and close care. Sow the
seeds in rich, friable, but not heavy, soil.
When the plants come up, thin out until
one strong, growing plant is left directly
in the center of the pot. Push piece
of stiff wire down by the side of the
plant, and begin and tie loosely when it
is two inches high; use worsted for tying.
Punch off every side branch that appears
on the main stem, but do not remove any
of the leaves; their functions are required
for the strength and health of the plant.
In four months, turn out the ball of
earth from the pot, to ascertain if it re-
quires larger size, but do not shift it
unless the roots are curled around the
ball. When the plant is about twelve
inches high, side shoots may be permit
ted to grow; but their heads should be
occasionally pinched of, to force them to
form bushy top Of foot in diameter.
1t requires about nine months to COM
plete this process, but plant is then
grown that will richly perfume large
room. BY reporting every year, it will
bear an abundance of fragrant flowers
for number of seasons. ReSeda odor-
alta is the best variety to form into a
tree.-Good Housekeeping.
| Featherbone,
Few readers may be aware that
the coarse wing feathers of turkeys
and ducks, which cannot be used for
busters and are generally a nuisance
about the farm yard are of any value.
Large poultry raisers, especially, will be
glad to learn that recent invention of
Mr.. e. K. Warren, of Michigan, has Gre
ated demand for these hitherto worth
less feathers, and that company is now
manufacturing out of the quilts OF feath-
ers an excellent substitute for whalebone,
which, by the way, is becoming scarce
and dear.
The feathers are first stripped of their
plumage by revolving shears, then the
quill is divided into halves by delicate
machinery, after which the pith is re-
moved, to be used as a fertilizer. Anal
ysis has shown it to be very rich in nitro
gen, and therefore very valuable on the
farm. The split quilts are cut into mar
row shreds, and braided into strong
strands by machinery. These strands
are in turn combined, until there is pro-
duced firm elastic band, so strong that
great power would be required to break
it. This is sewed lengthwise many
times through with colored threads, the
featherbone taking various colors from
the kind of thread used. Though the
business is only few months old, hum
dred persons are employed, and it is dai.
ly increasing. Patents have been secured
in the leading European countries, and
large offers have been made for the right
to use featherbone in making whips, cor
sets, etc, but the inventor chooses to re-
serve his rights. One who has never Civ
sn any attention to the subj ct, scarcely
the demand for a substitute
'or whalebone. This commodity lie said
% be even better for most purposes thar
he whalebone which it initiates Three
oaks (hich.) san.