The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-04-28

for carrying off large bodies OF wa
ter. Hemlock boards always kept
under water are quite durable, but
if part Of the time dry they soon
decay.
NEATNESS PAYS.
Let any farmer look around in his
vicinity, and he will find the most
prosperous farmers are those who
take the most pains in keeping their
fields and fence clear of
weeds and their buildings painted
and in good repair.
POTATOES FOR THE BUGS.
1t is we'll after planting potatoes
to drop a few cut pieces on the sur-
face of the ground. This will at
tract the potato beetles, which may
then be destroyed. The beetle are
ly eats the potato. 1t is attracted
to it to deposit its eggs.
SORGHUM SEE o HOGS.
The Rio Grande Sugar Company
Of New Jersey has used its surplus
sorghum seed as feed for hogs with
excellent c The animals have
been healthy and have thrived on it
as well as on corn. The seed is
cooked by steam before feeding.
CABBAGE SEED.
Farmers sometimes plant the
stumps of cabbage for seed; but the
product is generally not worth plant
ing. The secret of success in grow
ing good cabbage seeds is in plant
ing large, w~ell-formed heads with
the roots attached. 1t is this neces-
sity for using the head that will al
ways make good cabbage seed ex-
pensive.
SOWING AFTER A RAIN.
A damp seed bed is important for
all grain, but on heavy land it is
better made damp before than after
putting in the seed. A heavy rain
falling just after sowing has often
formed a crust which has imrrison-
ed the germ until it's vitality is
greatly decreased. Narrowing the
surface slightly just as the grain is
coming up, is, in such cases, benefi-
cial.
Fl S VALUABLE DAIRY PRODUCT.
Cheese and butter are among the
most valuable farm products in the
country, but both are less in amount
than milk, as used and sold with no
expense for manufacturing. This is
partly because fraud in the imita-
ton OF butter and cheese unduly re-
duces the prices of these articles and
also decreases the demand. If we
had only good honest butter the
consumption would be enormously
increased. -
OATS AS FOOD.
Oatmeal is ~deservedly growing in
popularity as human food. The crop
in this country is unusually large
and in most places the grain is very
plump. 1t is not necessary to hull
the oats before grinding, as is usual
done, which makes oatmeal cost
more than the best wheat flower.
Grind first and sift the meal through
a fine sieve, and the oatmeal will be
just as good and cost considerably
less.
E MANURE IN SUMMER.
If the henhouse was properly
cleaned last Spring, and kept free
from vermin, the hens will roost in
it and make a considerable quantity
of valuable manure, worth quite as
much as the grain fed to them. In
Summer fowls with a good range
eat a good many insects, and this
makes a richer manure than the ex-
elusive grain diet given in Winter.
ACIDS POISONOUS TO SOILS.
Apples and other fruits should be
gathered and saved, however low
the price, since they are at least
worth gathering for their feeding
value. If left on the ground they
are positively injurious, the acid of
the fruit poisoning the soil and de-
stroying all vegetation beneath them.
A dressing of lime will correct this
acidity and restore fertility.
GIVING LAND A REST.
Producing a crop is a necessity
where fertility exists. If not a val
liable crop it will be one of weeds.
whose seeds are alwav nresant and