Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-08-12
FARM NOTES.

FARM NOTES.
| The land that will maintain twenty
| common bred COWS will maintain twenty
well bred ones, and the annual profit from
the latter will be considerably more than
from the former.
The practice of pegging down ever
blooming roses, so that they will cover
completely the surface of the bed, is well
known to produce very pleasing results
1t is said that pegging down dahlias
proves quite as satisfactory.
Overladen fruit trees mature their fruit
while it is yet small. Pick off one-half
before much growth is made, and the re-
naming half may grow to as many bush
els as all would if left.
1t is the same with an animal as with a
steam boiler-the more complete the COM
bustion of the food or fuel it gets the
more satisfactory will be the result, be-
cause there is less waste.
Resources of the soil do not end
abruptly at four or five inches in depth,
yet there are hundreds of farms where
all beneath is terra incognita because
no effort has ever been made to ex-
plore.
If you have thin, fiat stones at COM
mand, say as thick as roofing slate or
somewh at thicker, try mulching a few
strawberries plants with them. Tin an
swers the same purpose. Shingles are
good, but inclined to warp. patented
clay tile is sold in some places, but stones
are cheaper and better.
Much manure dropped by COWS yarded
over night in the barnyard is wasted. I'm
less the yard is well Uttered the LIQUID ex-
crement is lost, and the solid droppings
dry away until much of their value is
gone. Throw the manure in heaps and
applying little dry earth to the heap
daily will prevent loss.
There is much difference in the quality
of paris green, much that is sold being so
heavily adulterated that it is impossible
to decide how much to apply. The i'm
pure poison is believed to be injurious to
potato vines, perhaps because of its i'm
purity being applied stronger than it
should be. The high-priced pure paris
green is cheapest.
d. A. Jones, of Beeton, Canada, uses
chlorOform in introducing queens. He is
very successful, seldom losing a queen
when introduced in that way. He puts a
few drops of chlOrOfOrm on a rag or
sponge in the smoker, and giving few
puffs in at the entrance stupefes them,
and by the time the bees recover from
their stupor they know nothing of what
has happened.
These points as to his method are given
by farmer who knows how to raise 400
bushels of potatoes to the acre: Rich light
soil; pillow deep early in spring; plant Is
inches apart; cover 4 inches deep or more;
keep down the weeds, but do not work the
ground after the potatoes begin to bloom.
The main secret he says is in selecting the
seed. He always cuts off the blossom
end. One eye will yield more potatoes
than two.
The time to pick duck feathers, like
fruit, is when they are ripe. This may be
learned by catching two or three and
pulling few feathers here and there. If
they pull hard and the quilts are filed
with a bloody fluid they are not ripe; but
if they pull easy and the quilts are clear
you may know that it is the 'best time to
pick" Ducks may be picked four times
year. Never pluck the long tufts of
feathers on the sides that support the
wings.
The Sweet Pepper (Clethra Alnifolia) is
a neat, upright growing shrub, with light
green leaves, fine white flowers, and has
delightful fragrance. It is native Of
the New England States, and has for sew
eral years attracted the attention of bee
keepers as a shrub to furnish bees with
honey at time when flowers are scarce.
It can be successfully transplanted, and
will grow on all soils, from gravely loan
to black peat, as well as lime or slate
soils.
Success in Horticulture depends vastly
more on the care bestowed on the plants
than on large amount of money expend-
ed. Yet for all this many people will
yearly spend a great deal of money on
high-priced and rare plants, afterward
giving them no attention. A bed of ger
aniums, petunias, lantanas and other cas-
lily grown plants, if well cared for, will
be more satisfactory than rare plants
which require the care and attention of
an expert gardener.
Liquid ammonia is one of the most
useful preparations for tightening the
labor of housekeeping as well as a simple
remedy for the many common physical
ailments. A few drops in glass of water
will at once remove an acid stomach and
break up headache. A cloth wet with
weak solution tied around the forehead is
also beneficial. 1t affords speedy relief
in mosquito or spider bites or stings of
bees. few spoonfulls added to the
wash of the bath is very invigorating, and
even a little added to the water for wash
ing the hands and face is very agreeable
and refreshing.
There is nothing so cleansing and
strengthening for the hair as an occas-
sional washing in one part liquid am
monia, two parts alchol and four parts