Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-01
FARM NOTES.

The use of Paris green on potatoes and
other things kills many bees and insects
that are useful, and also destroys many
small birds.
American pork now enters Germany
through England, and is branded as Eng
llsh pork.
A Pennsylvania fruit grower prevents
the ravages of the borer by killing the
earth about the tree ten inches in May,
as the borer appears in June.
1t is said that pyrethrum, mixed with
five times its bulk of plaster and busted
into the center of the leaves with pair
of bellows, will destroy cabbage worms.
| It requires more time to spread ma
nure over two acres than over one, and
| hence the aim should be to concentrate
the labor on the smallest space that can
be made profitable.
For the best egg production in heavy
fowls oats are as good feed as any. They
give bulk, while the nutriment they con-
| tain is of the kind which goes to make
eggs rather than fat.
Regarding the dehorning of cattle a
Western paper says that experience
teaches us that the growth of the horn
can be stopped by applying a red hot
iron to the horn germ in calves.
Into pound of soft soap dissolve one
ounce of carbolic acid crystals, and it be-
comes an excellent remedy for lice on
animals when they are washed in warm
water with the aid of the soap.
Celery plants should be pricked out
about six inches apart as soon as they
are large enough to handle with the fin
gers. When six or seven inches high
transplant foot apart.
Horses are not fully matured until six
years of age, nor do they arrive at their
full strength until eight years old. Ina
mature animals are often Overtaxed and
their usefulness injured.
An enterprising New Highlander, Mr..
Colcord, has invented governor" for
the silo, which is claimed as regulator of
the temperature, fermentation, and quail
ity Of the ensilage stored.
Australian fruit arrives in England in
excellent condition. 1t is packed in cork
dust Or saw dust and placed in cold
compartment where the mperature is
kept as near 40 degrees as possible.
Short hay crops mean cheap cattle in
autumn. But the farmer who makes full
provision for keeping can buy and turn
his fodder to good account not only in
sales but in added value to the manure
pile.
Time intelligently given to bees will
pay equally well with that given to any
other kind of farm work; and where too
many are not kept it may be done at such
times as not to interfere with other i'm
pOrtant work.
When a hoe becomes dull it retards
work because of the increased tax it i'm
poses on strength. Sharpen it by filing
to chisel edge. When sharp it works
much more effective, especially when there
are weeds to be cut.
In selecting a SOW for breeding choose
one that is quiet and mild in disposition.
She may be the one that will lay on fat
most easily, and it will therefore be nee
essary to feed sparingly, but she will be
all the better as a breeder for this.
One of the advantages from narrowing
corn is that man with a smart team will
run over fifteen acres or more day. The
smoothing harrow takes width of eleven
feet, and as only scratching the surface is
desired no tapping is needed.
n. W. utGlt, VI DdLdDOO, w 10, says nC
traps moths by placing shallow pans of
vinegar among the branches of the trees,
which attract the moths and drown them.
His method is contrary to the rule that
sweet substances should be used for such
purposes.
Professor E. NJ. Shelton considers thirty
loads of manure applied to one acre
about equal to forty spread over twice as
much surface, and bases the idea on rea-
sons similar to those employed in proving
large crops more profitable than smaller
ones.
Mustard plants used to be the terror
and disgust of California wheat-grpwers.
Now they are a source of profit. By in
geniOus mechanical harvesting both crops
are gathered separately, and the mustard
is worth more than the wheat on the same
land
After cutting, orchard grass spring
rapidly, and the aftergrowth is heavy.
This should not be pastured during the
summer or fall, but should be reserved for
winter grazing. It should be treated as
above directed in the case of the tall
meadow-oat grass
Make good use of the smoothing har-
row in the corn and other cultivated fields.
No tool in use will kill so many weeds as
this, if used at the right time. It will
keep down the weeds and keep the surface
mellow, the two prime necessities in the
culture Of any crop.