Connecticut western news., 1886-03-24
How to Use a Grindstone.

A grindstone is one of the worst used on the farm, or in the work shop. Few take the trouble to think about their work, and consequently the great majority of people fail to get the most and best use from their tools. The few who think will agree with us when we say that grindstone is both badly used and badly chosen. It is too small 1; too thick; it is not evenly and truly set and centred; it is not properly speeded, and is turned either too fast and is made to throw the water around, or too slow, and so fails to do its work we'll; it is not we'll taken care of, and is badly used.
 A grindstone, to do good service, should be at least three feet in diameter and two and one-half to three inches in thickness, having bevel on each side of the face for grinding on. It should be quite free from hard spots of iron pyrites, which are injurious to tools, although these may be taken out with sharp pointed punch. If it is not centred truly, it will work out of shape, and soon require trueing up. It should run as fast as possible, as it does work better and more quickly. To prevent it from throwing water, piece of bagging should be fastened to staple fixed across the frame on each end, but not so close as to grind it out; this will catch the excess of water and yet keep the stone wet enough and clean it. The stone should be kept in the shade, and never in water, which softens it and makes one side wear faster than the other. The water-box should have hole in it, to let out the water and keep the stone dry when not in use. In grinding, it should mostly turn from the tool, and if used otherwise, great care should be taken by the one who holds the tool, not to gouge the stone.
 HOW Long Should Cows Go Drys
 At the recent Illinois Dairymen's con- vention the following discussion was had on this subject:
 MT. Johnson: buy COWS and feed them-force them in fact, using them up as milkers in a year or two, then fatten them up for market. I let them go dry as short a time as possible. MT. Hostet- ter: Cows should go dry six to eight weeks. MT. Johnson: In the way COWS arc usually kept they should be allowed rest. MT. Boyd: Much depends upon the COW. My best COWS are persistent milkers. I have trouble in drying them off. If not allowed rest, COWS generally prove poor milkers the year succeeding nearly full year of milking; itseems tc undermine the constitution. MT. Boyd added that the calves of these persistent milkers are liable to be weak. MT. Du- bois: keep my cows as long as they produce well, and hence prefer to have them go dry six to eight weeks. MT.
 -: can get as much milk in the life of a good COW, by milking her nine months, as longer. MT. Buell.: My COWS will give milk right along up to the time of calving. What must do-sell then and get others? It is not always the case heifer milked up to calving the second time will remain persistent milker; nor if from accident she goes dry early in the season that she will eve1 after be short milker; they often re. gain natural period. A calf from ( ''persistent'' COW, and looking just like the dam, will be likely to inherit the quality. MT. Reed preferred six to eight weeks rest for cows; does not believe ordinary cows will make money for the farmer, counting the dry season, at 6C cents per 100 lbs. for milk Prof. Henry thought there was too much guess work among the farmers in the dairy business. They should know more regarding cost of food, care, etc. The statement was well substantiated by the fact that nc one present seemed to give actual figures of the last seasons results.
 How Raised Plums.
 Seven years ago last spring procured about thirty plum trees from Genevs nursery, and planted them out in an ole garden. They grew very fast. The third year they nearly all blossomed, but the fruit was all stung by curcuzio and dropped off. The next year they were