Connecticut western news., 1886-04-14
Applying Wood Ashes.

Applying Wood Ashes.
 E. P. Root, of Monroe County, N. Y., says in the New York Tribune: Clay lands, usually heavy and tenacious, unless deficient in potash is less benefited by wood ashes, for the tendency is to make it more compact; sandy and gravel ly soils, usually loose and friable and at the same time deficient in potash, are directly benefited by ashes. The light soils arc usually too loose for either grass or the small grains, and the effect of ashes is to solidify as we'll as to supply the want of mineral plant food. The grass crop is much helped by ashes, espe- cially on dried land, and in ordinary cases a greater profit will be derived from a given quantity applied to meadow or pasture than when used for grain grow ing. Moreover, the ashes are very last ing. But I think nowhere else will they pay better than for potatoes, this plant being rank feeder on potash. I have been in the practice of applying wood ashes, one part, mixed with plaster, two parts, to the potato land soon after plant ing, or as soon as the germ begins to break the ground, putting large hand full on each hill. I have also applied gypsum, ashes, and salt, mixed in about equal portions by weight, in the hill when covering the seed, which produced nl o1n %,,h r raised, and in good yield; and regard this treatment as a sure remedy for "scabby potatoes," so common on many farms.
 Watch tho Stock.
 Keep close watch of the stock, and be quick to notice if any of it is not thriving. The good farmer should be able to tell at a glance when any of his stock are not doing we'll. A dull eye, staring coat, an unnatural position in standing or lying, sluggish appearance, a loss of appetite, or an appetite for un- natural substances-any of these are usu- ally symptoms of something wrong, and it is not often that severe illness will commence among any of the farm stock without one or more of these evidences of ill-health, or at least of that unthrifty condition which predisposes to disease, having been manifested for some days previous. Taken in season, some sim pie remedy, with little extra care and nursing, may do more to effect cure than can be done by the best veterinary surgeon few days later It is usually better to separate such animals from the rest of the herd, so far at least to prevent them from being tyranized over by their stronger mates, as they are too apt to be. This is more important with sheep and swine which feed together, and where the stronger can rob the weaker of it's proportion of food. A feeble sheep or a weak zig will die of starvation in the midst of plenty, simply because it is crowded away by others; and sick COW or calf, turned loose in the yard with others, is to frequently attacked by them even as wild animals, when wounded, are said to be by their mates.
 | Farmers ns Gardeners.
 The remark is often made, says Vick's Magazine, that farmers are poor garden CTS, and it is too true in most cases. Farmers families. as rule, are far more poorly supplied with vegetables than city residents. Not more than a quarter of the farms in this region show anything better in the way of garden produce than little sweet corn and some bush beans and few tomato plants, and possibly even these last are wanting. The field crop is depended upon to supply the potatoes that arc wanted, and perhaps some turnips will be raised in the fall some years as g second crop. What miserable showing is this for those who are situated so that the choicest vegetables of the garden, the various kinds ill their seasons, might ap. pear in abundance on their tables, pro- vided the necessary care and labor should be given to produce them. But this picture is not overdrawn; it is, unfor tunately, too true, and it is not less true that if we inquire about the family fruit supply for country tables we shall find this quite as deficient, or even more so There is no necessity for this condition of things, and it is opposed both to the physical and financial interests of these families. No part of the farm can make greater returns for the labor and other expenditures than the vegetable. If wt inquire into the cause of their neglect we shall find, in many cases, that thcil importance is measurably comprehended and the want of them is felt, but tho labor and attention they require are some what different from that of the farm crops, and, also, the garden interferes, to some extent, with the farm work, when it is not properly planned and managed, as for the most part it might be, so as to cause little or no inconvcn. fence in the performance of the regular work. And for this purpose we woulo now ask our country and village readers who are directly interested, to give thu necessary thought for the preparation ot good garden, at this season of compar ative rest. What shall the garden con sist of? How and when shall it be pre- pared2 Who shall have the direct super vision of it2 These and other questions can be considered and decided upon, and when the time of action comes there neeC