The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-10-20

other Is IlaDle TO De misplaced, anu
presently a stone is pushed into the
channel. Earth accumulates around
this and the efficiency of the drain
is impaired. Tile set in a ditch just
wide enough to receive it cannot
easily be displaced.
CASTOR BEANS
The success which many persons
have in growing the castor oil bean
in private gardens naturally sug-
gests the query why they cannot be
grown with equal success on a large
scale for the market. They require
a pretty long season and very rich
soil, richer than is needed for any
grain crop. The reason why they
are not more generally grown is
because it requires extensive machin-
cry to extract the oil. The only
market for any large quantity of
castor beans is in St. Louis and the
crop is generally grown for market
near that place. 1t is successfully
grown on rich bottom lands in Mis-
souri, and Kansas.
THE BEST LAY CHEAPEST.
There are few markets in which
enough difference is made in the
price of hay on account Of quality.
Excepting those who feed fancy
horses, few men are particular
enough what they give to their
teams. Hay full of weeds and stained
withal sells within two or three
dollars per ton as high as that which
is bright and good. The higher
priced is generally the cheapest,
even leaving out the comfort and
satisfaction Of stock eating it. There
is only one exception to this rule.
Glover hay is always low in price.
Even when we'll cured it usually
sells low. Much clover however is
badly stained and often musty, as it
is the kind Of hay most difficult to
cure we'll.
SAVING OLD sOWS.
This is the time of the year when
hogs are put upfor %fattening. There
will be a temptation or the part Of
farmers to tatten sows after their
first O r second litter of pigs. Yet in
most cases this will be a great mis-
take. The litters improve in size
and quality as the SOW grows older.
If she is a good mother her milk
will also increase until she is three
or four years old, and has got all
the growth of which she is capable.
Even after this it will pay to keep
her for breeding if she has devel-
oped no bad habits, eating heryoung
and breaking out of enclosures. An
old SOW may have three litters a
year if well cared for, and not be
injured SO much as a younger SOW
will by two litters. Too early kill
ing of breeding sows is one of the
reasons why pork growing is not
mor profitable.
KEEPING GRAPES FRESH FOR WINTER.
Few are aware how easily grapes
can be kept fresh for winter use,
provided the right varieties are
selected. Concords ana the most OF
the very early grapes are poor keep
ers. The later varieties of Rogers
grapes, Agawam, Barry and Wilder
are among the best having thick
tough skins. If the Catawba is well
ripened it is also a good keeper.
Pick them on a dry day when fully
ripe, touch the stem and where it
breaks from the vine with sealing
wax to prevent evaporation, and
hang in a cool dry room where the
temperature will always be a little
above freezing. Well-ripened grapes,
however will not be injured by a
temperature for a few hours below
freezing, and which would destroy
those not thoroughly ripened.
Grapes a be kept until midwinfer,
and with car even longer.