The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-12-01
AGRICULTURAL NOTES.
Among the Vegetables, Fruit, live
Stock and Poultry.

BREEDING SHETLAND PONIES. At Musca.
tine, Iowa, I found horse fanciers who were
giving their attention to breeding Shetland
ponies. They informed us that there was
very active demand for these miniature ami
mails in that region OF country; that not
only families in the villages, but also IN the
country, We're making use of them for rid.
ing and driving.
SAVE The LEAVES Gather the leaves
not merely on account of neatness, but be
cause the leaves themselves are valuable
too valuable to be blown about and wasted
10 protect plants, roots, etc, against severe
cold they are excelle I. If not required for
protecting from cod, they are worth
gathering to use as bedding for horses and
cattle. Leaves form most clearly bed
ding, and when they have absorbed the
liquids in the stables, add greatly to the
value of the manure heap.
DRIVING BANDS AND BELTS. When. nj the
end of their season of work, farm machines
are stored away until again required for
use, their driving bands and belts should be
thoroughly impregnated with castor oil.
This will keep the leather soft and flexible
and ready for use. The bands and belts
should be removed from the machines and
stored in tight box, which will keep it
from the dust, and also protect it from rats,
which are often very destructive to leather
especially If it has been we'll oiled.
The CARE OF HARNEss.-L of all
kinds is best preserved by filling its pores
with oil of some kind. Neatsfoot oil, OBJ
tanned from the feet of cattle, is regarded
as best for the purposes but castor oil, the
same as that employed medically, has been
found of great value in softening leather,
The usual method is to take the harness
apart, wash it with soap and water, allow il
to partly dry, and then oil and put the
parts together. 1t is regarded as a better
way to first oil the harness throughout with
castor oil and lampblack warmed, so that
it will penetrate the leather rapidly. Then
go over the parts of the harness with a
sponge dipped in warm soap-suds, which
will remove all the dirt. When dry, 90
over the whole with mixture of equal parts
of neatsfoot oil and tallow, melted together.
with enough lamp-black or powdered Prus.
sian blue to give sufficient color. Apply
this in small quantities, well-rubbed in, to
leave smooth, clean surface.
Ice HoUsEs.-Compared with neces-
'ary cost, nothing is more profitable than
an ice-house. The smallness of the number
of ice-houses found in the country is sufii-
cient foundation for the belief that but few
farmers properly estimate their value
Rightly they are more than luxury. To
those who have them they become necess-
ity. They do more than give pleasure and
comfort they allow of better butter being
made, preserve vegetables, fruits and meats,
and in many other ways will increase the
income or reduce the expense OF the house
lold. Rightly employed, their contents
not only make food and drink more agree
able, but more wholesome. Nor need an
iee-house be expensive We know of an
ice-house that has given good satisfaction
for years, and its sides are made OF poles
and its roof of clapboards. close pen of
poles was built up to a height of eight feet.
Another close pen was built around this
one, two feet from it on oil sides. the space
between the two being filed with sawdust
as The outer pen was built up. Pole rafters
held the clapboard roof, which projected
.hree feet at each end, tho gables being
left open, to save material and labor and
also to secure ventilation. The floor wal
excavated to depth of three feet and a
drain dug from tho outside. Old poles and
rails were laid to the depth of two feet to
secure proper drainage. doorway was
cut in one end, and house was made.
Where timber is abun amt this is the cheap
est ice-house that can be constructed. An
other man has one without the inside pen,
laying the ice within the proper distance of
the poles and filling in between with saw
dust as the ice is filled in. On the praires
cheap lumber can be used for the sides, as
something that will hold the sawdust in
place is about all that is required if the ice
is laid properly. OF course those who have
money to pay fox beauty can build an ice
house that will BIS credit to their taste
but all can have IA ice-house that will keep
ice at least; and If the house must be ugly
il need not be put up in conspicuous loca-
ton. The larger the house, the better the
ice will keep. Drainage and ventilation
nre essential. Pat the house as near the
dwelling as is prudent considering location,
etc. And we say earnestly to every reader
Build an ice-house if you have none already
building as nice a one rs your means jus
tify.-4naerican Agriculturist.