The Opelousas courier., 1886-11-06
Farm and Garden Notes.

Grass seed sown on well-pulverized
soil just before a smart shower will need
no other covering to cause it to terminate
than that resulting fIom the rain.
DR.. Fisher tells that animal manure
makes strong grapevines, but not much
fruit, and tends to induce rot and mil
dew. On the other hand he finds potash
and superphosphate to have quite the
opposite effect, producing a large amount
of fruit of superior quality.
The advantages of grating the grape
vine are: 1. The facility with which
new and rare varieties may be rapidly in
creased by grating on old cut, strong
and healthy vines. 2. The short time in
which fruit can be obtained of new va
%rieties. 5. The facility by which vines
bearing worthless fruit can be changed
into valuable bearing vines; and, A, the
fact that varieties that do not grow
readily from cuttings can generally be
grated easily.
The frequent rains and excessive heat
will cause poultry yards to be in a very
unhealthy condition unless the surface
soil is spaded or turned in some manner,
especially on heavy clay locations. If
spading is too la%borious, then the yards
may be benefited by sprinkling them
with a solution of copperas or bluestone,
dissolving n pound of the mineral in
two gallons of water, and sprinkling
through the nose of an ordinary water
ing pot. A ftw spoonfuls of carbolic
acid in the solution will be of advantage.
Every living active part of q plant
contains a certain amount of water.
From many juicy parts ninety per cent.
of water can be expelled by drying;
many green leaves hold from seventy
five to eighty, while from seeds which
we call dry , it is sometimes possible to
drive out ten per cent. Part Of this water
is so intimately combined with the plant
structure that, if it is once expelled, it
cannot again be taken up in such a man
ner as to restore the plant to its former
condition.
The Superintendent of the farm of the
Ontario Agricultural College states that
the cost of raising a thoroughbred bull
up to eighteen months, of either of eight
breeds, is $50, and that of a heifer of the
same age, $75. The cost of raising a
thoroughbred ram was $18, and of a
eve, $l2. The prices got have been
S235 for bulls, 1857 for heifers, $50 for
rams. and $21 for ewes. The profits
realized approximate to $3.50 for cattle
and $40 for sheep. It therefore stands
as a striking fact in Ontario live stock
breeding, that with eight distinct breeds
of cattle there has been realized a per
head profit of $3.50, or inc and one-half
more than the cost Of production.
The old fashioned dasher churn is a
barbarous relic Of the past. There is no
necessity for tugging away for an hour
il order to make the butter come. In
fact. milk is churned no longer-the
cream being separated from it and the
butter being made by compelling the
cream to fall from the top of the churn
to the bottom, instead of plnnging into
it with a dasher bored with holes.
Hence, in procuring q churn, get one
that revoIves, as it will greatly lessen
the labor and afford the best conditions
for success.-RaHaJ Home.
II has for some years been known that
trichina not only infest hogs, but rats as
well. and as hogs often eat rats it has
been suggested that from them most OF
the trichinosis in hogs has come. Recent
investigations in Europe confirm this sug
restion. and give evidence that trichino-
Sis Is due entirely to rats. A committee
of Vienna physicians found in Moravia
thirty-seven per cent. Of rats contained
trichinosis; IN Vienna and its enyirons.
ten Der cent and in Lower Austria about
four per cent. The well-knoWn veracity
Of the hog and its special fondness for
meat cause it to feed upon the flesh and
excrements Of other animals infested
with these parasites, and especially rats.
The practical application Of the results OF
this invetigation is to destroy all rats,
and to exercise especial caution about
the careless storage OF grain and the ac-
emulation Of litter about hog pens.