Connecticut western news., 1886-06-30
FOR THE FARM AND HOME.
How Potatoes Grow.

"V" OtutOCb "TOws
 Most seeds grow by first absorbing moisture, then swelling and putting forth a germ and roots to sustain it. Hence they require some dampness in their seed bed. But the potato is not a seed. Its first nutriment is from the starch stored in the set and planted with it. Hence not only is dampness not es- sential to starting potatoes but it is even detrimental. If potatoes are covered with dry earth they will come up quicker than they will if covered with that which is wet. This is partly because dry earth in the same temperature of air is warmer. When potato has been cut the surface of the wound must dry over before the eyes will start. If planted freshly y-cut in very wet ground potatoes often rot, es- pecially if this is early while the soil is cold. But as soon as the germ is above the surface, or even before, fine roots start from the base of the eyes and catch ing hold of the fine soil soon do away with dependence on plant food stored in the set. If the soil is rich and in fine tilth the seed may be safely cut much smaller than where it is poor and cloddy. -Cultivator.
 Little Wastes.
 Manure, the farmers bank stock, in liquid form flows away to the stream and is lost. Old machinery, in which are many good bolts and screws, are al. lowed to rust out in the field. In an emergency, he drives an overworked horse to the nearest town or shop to duplicate an article that should have been preserved from the old one. He fails to keep his tools in perfect order, and in having time, when the weather is threatening, tire rolls off, bolt is missing. And down comes the rain and up goes the temper. The missing shingle is never replaced, and a constant leak finds it's way to the grain bin and then he growls because his wheat is docked for dampness. Odds and ends of lum- berremain where the last job is finished, curling up and becoming worthless in the hot sun. Good tools often keep company with the perishing boards. The weddings of his herds and focks are allo wed to remain with the strong until they droop away and die. This man tells continued story of bad sea- sons, weather too hot or too cold, toe wet or too dry, taxes too high. No in tellectual shadow falls across his pessi- mistic path, and he never reaches the goal of the successful farmer.-Farn and Liue Stock.
 Feed for Butter. 1t is not necessary to feed oily food fol Ia large production of butter. On the contrary nitrogenous food mixed with selected food rich in starch and peculiar. | ly we'll favored fatty matter is prefer 1 able. It is fact that oils taken into the digestive apparatus are largely ab' sorbed directly by the blood and are carried, without change, into the milk thus giving to the butter flavor like that of the food. But when peas, bran malt, sprouts, and other food rich 1T nitrogenous elements, and fats whicf have an agreeable flavor, are used witf cornmeal or other starchy food, thu whole is thoroughly well digested, anc pass into blood and the milk in changed form, and not directly. The butter i thus of better quality than when oi meals are fed. The selection of food fo dairy COWS is matter for the greates care, and also for individual experiment A good mixture of food for COWS use6 for making butter is 100 pound of peas or Southern COW peas, 200 pounds o corn, and 260 pounds of fine wheat o rye bran, all ground together. To eigh quarts of this meal may be added fou quarts of thoroughly soaked malt sprout and one of cotten seed meal for full daily allowance, divided into three feed for large full milking cow.-N y Times.
 | The Care of Pastures.
 At farmers convention held in Ney York Hon. Lewis Harris said: I hay heard it remarked many times that i cost more to summer COW in pastur than to winter her, but l have neve kept strict account so as to be able t decide the question. But I know tha our pastures are usually neglected. l we have aAy manure to apply, it is uset on the arrable land and not on ou pastures. Then in fencing our farms W fence off the poorer parts and then mak an average of fencing for the whole farm don't exactly like the principle of soil ing, preferring to send my cows to pas ture. In suggesting points for the i'm provement of pastures, I would say first: If there are any mudholes in tn pasture I would say tile-drain them They will then be the most productiv part of the farm. Another improvement is to break up the droppings of the cattl about the 2Oth of October. Break ther up with stable hook and then go owe