Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-03-19
Farm and Garden Notes.

Do not forget that the earlier the pull
lets are Matched the sooner they will Law
in the fall
There is nothing so handy as hand
Done mill for grinding shells, small bones,
grain, etc. Try one and it will be
saving in the end
The Plymouth Rocks, on account of
being easily fatted, their large size, hard
mess and fine form, are excellent for
market. They are good layers, have
yellow skin, blush black and white
barred plumage, and produce quick
growing plumage.
Avoid getting the boar fat. Feed him
no corn at all, and allow him plenty of
room for exercise. If too fat he will be
of but little service, and as it will be less
expensive to keep him in moderate con-
dition, it is a matter of economy not to
feed him heavily.
Hens sometime get into the habit of
picking at and pulling out their own or
each others feathers, and eating them,
until their bodies are bare in places.
This practice, it is believed, is accustomed
by want of salt, as when sailed food is
given them, they very soon discontinue
it. Salt pork chopped fine and fed twice
week has been tried with success; or
put teaspoonful of salt into two quarts
of meal or shorts, moisten, mix we'll, and
feed about twice a week. Fowls, like
all other animals; must have salt with
their food.
1t will not do to run pillow through
an orchard, as the roots of the trees may
be cut and hacked to pieces so greatly as
to do injury. A light cultivator may be
of service, however, as by its use weeds
and rank grass may be kept down.
A hill of raspberry plants after being
trimmed in the spring, should only have
three or four canes, about three and a
half feet high, and nearly one inch in
diameter at the base, each cane having a
few side spurs about ten inches long.
If you have good farm horse keep
him. The difficulties in the way of Sc
curing a good horse cannot be realized
until the animal is really required and
attempts are made at purchasing But
few horses are exempt from defect of
some kind.
The most profitable horses for farm
work are not the most active, rapid
walkers, but those of compact, bony
build, which secure strength and steady
motion. The larger the draft team can
accomplish the more economically, of
| course, it may be managed, other quail
ties being equal. Much depends, how
ever, on the constitution and disposition
of the horse, for the sagacity, easy keep
ing and general temperament of the ami
NAL are each worthy eff consideration, as
well as the size and figure.
Strawberry plants should be set out in
early spring or in August, in both cases
the object being to derive the advantages
of the early and late rains, The plants
should be set one foot apart. in rows
three feet apart, and should not be al
lowed to fruit orrun the first year.
If ammonia is allowed to escape and
permeate through the stable it will render
the animals liable to disease, and also
rot the harness. Plenty of dry dirt or
muck will absorb it, and the use of these
substances will, therefore, not only assist
in avoiding waste of valuable fertilizing
material but prevent annoyance to stock
from gaseous substances.
The rule in pruning grapevines is to
shorten the shoots in proportion to their
strength. Summer pinching, properly
performed, of the strong shoots should
equalize the strength of the vine. AS a
general rule, excellent grapes can be had
by almost any judicious system of prun-
ing, for the only object of pruning in
any case is to get strong shoots to push
where they may be desired, or to add tc
the increased vigor of the shoot, which
pruning supposes will follow the act, in.
creasing size in the fruit it bears.
There is no part of the whole economy
of the farm that affords greater field
for investigation, that requires greater
variety of information aud more thorough
preparation; than the health promoting
department, the growth of fruits. Crops
of other kinds, as grains, cotton, etc,
bring the bulk of the farmers income
but fruits are indispensable if a good
healthy enjoyment of life is any consid
Grafton. Grains and vegetables all, as
rule, need cooking before they can bc
used, but fruits come from the tree wher
ripe just as God made them, ready TO
mans immediate use.
Hints for Spring Cleaning.
l.. l. Al