Connecticut western news., 1886-01-13
FOR THE FARM AND HOME.


 FOR THE FARM AND HOME.
 Selecting Seed Potatoes.
 Judging from experiments made at the New York Experiment Station last season farmers can increase the yield of their potato fields considerably by selecting their seed from the best tubers grown in those hills which yield the largest quantity. In the ex- pertinent alluded to "potatoes were taken for seed from the most produc- tive and also from the least produc- tive hill, and planted the next spring in regular and registered order. The result was that the largest tubers from the productive hill exceeded. by 16 per cent, the product of the largest tubers from the least productive hill, and the smallest tubers from the pro- ductive hill yielded slightly more than the largest tubers from the least pro- ductive hill.' Whether a series of experiments would show similar re- suits is uncertain, but as 1t will re- quire only a little extra labor at the season of digging for farmers to select the seed for their following crop from the most productive hills, it is an ex- pertinent that all can afford to try Cultioator.
 Muck as . Fertilizer.
 The value of muck as fertilizer is . much disputed question. It is not only in theory. but in practice, that 8 difference of opinion exists. Chemi cally muck differs very much, it's ni- trogen, for which it is mostly valued, varying from l to 3 or per cent. Pure peat, which Is wholly vegetable matter, contains 3 per cent. and up- ward of nitrogen, but is inert, and is not plant food until 1t is made avail able by decomposition. Its condition of decomposition, then, has much to do with it's value. The coarse, fibrous peat requires to go through decom- posing process before 1t can be used as manure, while the soft, black, buttery muck breaks down into fine. rich black soil very quickly, and in this condition it has an immediate and very useful effect upon grass, to which it gives a rich, deep green color and 8 luxuriant growth. Those who are interested in this question should first learn to dis tinguish pure peat from the earthy, sandy stuff which is often called muck, but is really g very poor sub- stitute for it. Pure peat contains only l per cent. of very light ash, and the quality may be accurately graded by the quantity of ash left after it is burned.-New York Times.
 Identifying tho HoMestead. Beauty of arrangement about the house has marked effect upon the inmates. What can make place more attractive than a nicely laid out garden in the midst of a well-kept lawn? It does not suffice to set out a few shrubs and ornamental trees without regard to order or effect. Landscape gardening is greater art than many lovers of attractive homes realize, and 8 mistake is often made by the "wen to do" in not securing the services of an experienced gardener, when new lawn is to be designed. A clump of bushes here or a tree there may materially impair the ar tistic effect of the whole lawn; there is place for the roses, one for the lilies and another for the shrubs. Attention should be given the location of the houses and the foreground kept quite free from shrubs and flowers.
 We believe that great mistake is made by farmers giving so little heed to ornamenting the grounds in front of the dwelling. The necessary time and expense involved would be well repaid by enjoyment secured from the pleasing effects of such a lawn. We would not in the least disparage ef- forts in this direction by those who cannot afford to employ an experienced gardener. Almost any farmer could materially improve the looks of a place barren of shrubs and trees, and should be encouraged in any attempt to do so.-1'ribu,ae and Farmer.
 Cheddar Cheese.
 The process employed by MT. liar ris, an American, in making Cheddar cheese at the Highland and Agricul- tural Society's show at Aberdeen, Scotland, is thus described in the North British Agriculturist::
 "In Illustrating the Cheddar system MT. Harris took the mornings milt supplied by the Aberdeen Dairy Com pany, and after warming it up to 9e degrees, he let it stand about two hours, till it cooled down to 86 degree: when it was ripe enough to add tn. rennet. To 58 gallons of milk he uset two ounces of rennet, and coagulatior was effected in twenty minutes. Or | Wednesday, the vat was filled with Q(