Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1886-11-26

FARM AND GARDEN NOTES.


A New York State cow-feeder says
that wheat bran and middlings have
given him the best results.
The natural life of sheep is shorter
than that of any other domestic animal.
Five or six years is the limit Of practi-
cal usefulness, though valuable breeding
ewes may be kept enc or two years
longer by careful treatment.
1t is cheaper to clean out the poultry
house every day than to allow the drop
pings to accumulate, for the reason that
it requires but short time for the vola
tile elements Of the manure to escape.
What is saved by not frequently clean
ing the house, as labor, is lost in the de-
probation of the droppings.
1t is a singular fact that gypsum or
plaster of paris is so little used The
cheapest of all mineral fertilizers, and
the one best adapted to clover, its use
rarely extends far beyond the locality
where it is dug and ground. There its
cheapness insures large use by neigh
boring farmers, who find it very profit
able.
A late cultivation of strawberries.
with the application of bag Of super
phosphate per acre, scattered in the rows
near the roots of the plants, will give
good results next spring. All the run
ners between the rows should be re-
moved, the grass hoed away between
the plants, aud the ground made as
clean as possible.
1t is asserted that "a mixture of lime
in clay soils has the effect of making
them porous and friable; hence, by such
treatment they are made more workable
and are better fitted for ncurishing the
life of plants Clays that harden into
solid Jumps after shower of rain are
little better than rocks, in so far as the
food of plants is concerned"
Most cellars in early winner will be
decidedly benefited by thorough ventila-
ton. The air is usually too warm at
this season, and ventilating on cold days
to lower the temperature will not only
remove the foul air, but will also to
some extont prevent the decay of vegc-
tables which causes it With a Their
mometer iu the cellar it is easy to decide
when the air approaches u freezing point,
and after this the ventilation may be re-
stricted to warm days in winter when no
danger of frost need be appreheudeI
1t is not wise to put leaves for protec-
ton thickly over plants. They hold
moisture, aud rot instead Of protect, and
often breed mildew, which is as bad as
cold 1t is bright light, together with
frost, that Injuries plants, and enough
leaves to shade is all that is required.
This is why evergreens- such as rho
dodendrons and kalmias so much
in winter. Something to keep off the
sun is as beneficial as something to keep
of the frost For this reason the ground
is itself a good protector. Many tender
fruits can be taken care Of by bending
the branches and covering with earth.
Roots want air as we'll as water and
the soil should be somewhat open in
order to permit air to circulate through
it, When the earth does not dry up
rapidly something is wrong 1t is no
uncommon sight to see benches of roses,
carnations and other things completely
sOdden. and the plants then die from
root fungus. When fungus does appear,
sulphur exposed to the hot suns rays, is
among the best remedies. The above
remarks have in view mainly the culture
Of flowers in benches, as practicsd in
florists greenhouses. But similar in
structions are needed for the smaller
grower.
Professor Shelton has found that in
feeding cooked corn and raw corn to pigs
the advantage was decidedly with the
latter. In an experiment which he made
the corn was cooked by steam in bar
rel, to which pipe was run from the
boiler. II was SO thoroughly acted upon
by the heat that each grain could be
easily crushed between the thumb and
fingers. During the coolest weather the
cooked corn froze in the troughs, often
before the pigs could eat. Every detail
Of the experiment goes to confirm the
opinion that nothing is gained by cook
ing the food; that the trouble aud ex-
Dense are given for nothing