The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-05-12
Farm NOTES.

Az the Michigan Agricultural College 1t is
proposed 10 set a huckelberry plantation
next string.
How do you strain your milk2 If you use
cloth, how often do you wash il? Too
much of the impurity of milk comes from
The strainer.
Is there any reason why sheep can not
be made to work light dog-power for run
ning the churn? Here is a good chance to
make capital out of the surplu' energy Of
the old ram.
To have fine crop of large, rich currants
enrich the ground, make it rich and mellow
and thin out the brush. Cut away the old
wood after fruitiDg and leave the vigorous
young shoots.
Early gardening lengthens the growing
season, and permits, at times of rwo crops
on the same land, as turnips may follow
peas, and time is thereby gained by putting
in late crops.
The following general rules will apply in
the selection of calves to be raised for dairy
cows: The head should not be Overlarge
the neck rather thin than thick. and the SIX n
possessing a soft feel that can only be judged
by an expert. Look 10 the escutcheon aud
milk veins. These are good indications Of
cha acler IS the pedigree
The value of the hen mar ure from a single
bird for one year has been quoted at fifteen
CENTS 1ElS IL, we Inlnk, a very ION eSCl-
mate, and yet, even at this rate, the tot al
value of the manure from oil the poultry in
country in 1880 would be $4,000. 600. The
total value of The fertilizers manufactured
during the same year was SO, 650,795.
Large hogs are neither fashionable nor
profitable But few hogs are now bred tnat
when fully developed, weigh over 700
pounds. The small boned early developed
hog that weighs from 275 to 300 ounds at
10 months n q nOnnlar no
most profitable, while those large hogs most
always develop later and have to be kept too
long.
Use plenty of whitewasi in the poultry
house now. As the warm weather approac hes
the lice Will appear unless precautions are
taken TO avoid the vermin. Clcan up the
poultry-house and yards dust insect powder
into all the cracks end crevices, put tobacco
refuse in the nests, cOaloil the roosts and
whitewash the walls of the poultry house,
first adding tablesl oonful of carbolic acid
to each bucket of whitewash used.
Geese can be fattened cheaply, as they will
eagerly consume chopped turnips or any
other kind of cheap materlsl at this season
but to get them very fat they should have
corn also. goose should not be too fat, as
such is Objectionable, but they should be
market appearance. The young geese that
have not completed their growth, however,
can not be fed too literally, as they will not
become extremely fat until mltured.
1t may not be necessary and yet not amiss
to urge farmers to SOW or drill a good supply
Of sweet corn to cut up and feed to mich
COWS during the month of August, when past
ures dry up or partially so. There can be no
doubt that such corn is wholesome and
profitable supplement to pastures at that
time, or if there is, single experiment will
dispel the doubt. Oats may not be profit
able crop TO raise, and in some sections OF
country they are not, but few acres to be
fed by cutting the bundles in cutting box
and feeding with bran in connection with
other winter feed will pay well.
The whole art and mystery of planting
consists in placing the tree as nearly as
| possible in the same condition with respect
| to contact with the earth as that in which ii
| stood before removal. To this end wide
hole should be dug, allowing the roots to be
| spread out in their natural osition; and the
| richest soil, made fine with the back of the
spade, is to be shoveled in carefully and
worked well among the roots with the hands.
| In successful planting water is one of the
most important elements. Given beautifully,
| when almost done planting, it settles the
earth around the roots, shuts up every GREY
| ice, and with some gentle pressure of the
foot, after thOwing OH more earth, makes
the ground solid.
| lneIe are IdTneTS WHO always WS1L I'LL
the cry last moment before Ordering their
farm implements This is very poor policy
Such men always find fault. They will not
take the fact into consideration that it takes
I me to do business They wait until the
| time for using the implement and then order
| it sent Immediately" For any delay in
freight or expressage, and such delays are
ufacturer. little planning and head
work" would prevent all the trouble. w
| will venture to say that there are farmers al
| this time who have not secured their TOOL:
| for the season. Order them at once. Nevel
be caught behind hand again.
The sails best adapted to the potato are
| sandy and gravelly loans. Clay Soils if tut
| season be Wet produce very poor potatoes
| and they will be much more liable to rot
| than those grown on sandy land. An old
| pasture turned over, or any sod ground i:
| specially fitted for the growth of the potato
! little well-rotted compost, narrowed in
| thoroughly upon such sod. to give The
| plants good start. will usually give a fail
| crop upon comparatively poor soil. The
potatoes grown upon sod are usually
smoother, less liable TO rot, and of superior
| quality. The application OF fresh stabl,
| manure is not desirable on potato land as i
| frequently results in a diminished yield
and greatly increases the liability to rot.
| If we allow one egg every two days fo
each adult, and one egg every four days fo
each child, we would have with the popula
ton of 1880, as a basis home consumption
| of $50, GOO, coo dozens, so that our home pro
duct must be increased nearly 90 per cent
in order to supply our wants. We must in
crease the number of the present stock o
| poulty, or increase the productiveness of th'
| present stock by improved blood or better
care. The consumption of egg, rapidly in
creases from year to year. The carelessnes
| and neglect of many owners of farm poultry
prevent a corresponding increase of stock
| The egg can never be adulterated. There il
| as wide distir ction growing between fresh
| and stale eggs as there is between ''gilt
| edged" and common butter. What depart
| ment of the farm offers better returns fol
1 care and enterprise?
/ Professor Long, of England, thinks sheer
i might be rendered more profitable if theil