Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-09-24
rARM AND HOUSEHOLD.

noticed that apple trees growing alone,
or in one row along the road or fence,
would be exceedingly thrifty and pro-
ductive, while those in the orchard on
the same farms or soils would prove
unproductive and unthrifty. The rea-
son for this is the roots of the single
specimens have plenty of room. See
that great oak or maple standing out in
the field alone, or along the fence or
road and compare the trees of the same
age and kind in the forest. In the one
case you have strong, spreading branch
es, producing five TO ten times the
amount OF nuts of those i'm the forest.
We believe the same may be said OF the
fruit trees. Planted close together they
grow weakly and are unproductive,
while if standing out alone they are
productive and profitable. One needs
but to look at our large apple orchards
to be convinced. The outside row of
trees all around the orchard is healthy,
thrifty and productive, and these trees
produce more apples than the other
trees. The roots must feed and have
room for 1t. We are satisfied 100 trees
TINS planted will yield as much profit
as 200 or 300 set in orchard form. Apple
trees that lean toward the east furnish
complete and convenient Judgment
for the Larvae from which the apple
borer springs. The summers sans and
the winters winds and frost tend to
roughen the bark Of the trees on the
westerly sides of the body. This i'm
pairs the vitality of the tree somewhat,
possibly aided by bad pruning and
good culture. A perfectly straight and
healthy, vigorous apple tree is almost
impervious to the borer.
How TO SUCCEED WITH FowLs.-Suc-
cess with fowls kept exclusively for
their eggs, is gained only by constant
care for their cleanliness and comfort.
They must have variety of food,
good, large run, with opportunity to eX-
ercise, or be forced TO take exercise in
scratching for their feed, as upon the
floor covered with straw. They may be
kept safely in flOcks of seventy to one
hundred, but the larger the flock the
more danger there is from disease and
from thieves. The free use of crude
carbolic acid is a great safeguard. 1t
may be applied in sawdust or clay, the
dry material being moistened by the
carbolic acid thoroughly stirred into it.
The less of the carbolic acid that is used
the better, provided every particle of
sawdust Ut of dry clay has its quota.
The disinfectant thus prepared may be
used i'm the nests, in the busting box,
upon the floors, under the roofs, etc. 1t
is fatal alike to parasites and to tendency
to disease in most cases. 1t cannot be
depended npon in dirty houses, for fer
menting manure, receiving fresh addi-
tons constantly, will overpower almost
any disinfectant that could be safely
used.
BY spadiDg or blowing up portion
of the runs frequently, fowls gain
healtLful exercise and find few grubs
and worms, and with breeds OF fowls,
which are active by nature, exercise
means eggs, and incidentally, perfect
health.-American AgricuHmist.
DUcKs.-The saying often applied to
ducks, that "they eat more than they
are WORTH may be very unjust one.
Several years ago we were speaking
with a woman who raised yearly large
numbers of ducks and chickens, regard
ing the comparative amount of food
consumed 20 bring them to their full
growth. She stated that "ducks eat
less in proportion to their growth than
chickens" Our readers may be surpris-
ed at this, but upon giving the matter Il
little thought they will understand the
reason. 1t is because the ducklings
reach maturity sooner than the chick
ms, and, of course, the longer it takes TO
bring a creature to maturity, the greater
the expense, not only of food but OF
time and trouble. Experiment has
demonstrated the fact that with the
same quantity Of food and care, the
ducklings in ninety days from the shell,
may be made to weigh nine or ten
pounds per pair, or over, while chick
ems, in the same length of time, come
to weigh only six or seven pounds per
pair.
LEMON SYRUP.-Pour six quarts Of
boiling water on five pounds of loaf
sugar, one and a-half ounces of tartaric
acid, and half an ounce of whole ginger
slightly bruised. Let it stand until
cold; then add two ounces of essence of
lemon; strain, and bottle tight.
CRAB APPLE PREsERvEs.-Scald the
apples, then remove them from the
water. To every pound of apples add
one pound of granulated sugar. Put
the apples and sugar over the fire and
cook slowly until the fruit is quite ten
der. Then bottle tight.
GINGER BEER.-Take one and a-half
pounds Of loaf sugar, one and a-half
ounces of bruised ginger, an ounce of
cream tartar, the rind and juice of two
lemons, three gallons of boiling water
and two tablespoonfuls of brewers yeast,
fresh.
PICKLEs.-A nice way to make pickles
that will keep year or more is to drop