Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-02-03
FARM NOTES

AMONG agricultural writers the
flrming Of the seed-bed has become
quite the standard precept, and most
farmers who take to talking OF wheal
culture mention this as an important
factor, some even giving this as
the final object to be obtained by siz
or seven times narrowing before SOW
ing. Firming the soil takes prominence
now where formerly the desired attain
ment was claimed to be breaking uT
of the soil particles, SO that the roots
could get out the contained plant food,
or the mellowIDg of the soil deeply fol
the admission OF air, that its ammonia
might be caught up and nitric acid
formed and other desired chemical
actiens promoted. Even the powder
ing of the silica of the plant has been
given as a sufficient end for extra till
age.
A PLowMAN says there are several
easy ways to prevent rusting of plows
and cultivators and to keep the teeth
bright. One is to give them coat OF
thick limewash as soon as they are
brought in from the field. Another is
to dissolve an ounce OF ro5in in four
ounces of linseed oil, and while hot mix
this with a quart of kerosene and stir
well. This Is laid on the smooth iron
with paint brush. Another way is to
dissolve an ounce of camphor in some
turpentine and add to this four ounces
of lard and one ounce of pulverized
black lead or stove polish and mix well,
This may be rubbed on with a rag. To
remove rust from tools or plows moth
ing is better than mixture of half a
pint of oil of vitrlol poured slowly into
a quart of water, and apply this to the
rusted metal. Wash off with water.
THE poultry house should be separate
and apart from other buildings where
farm animals are kept. Fowls need
treatment which they cannot get when
allowed to run and roOst with Other
stock; and besides, their uncleanly
habits make them unfit companions foI
farm live stock, and it is disagreeable
to have them rooSting about the barn,
They take on Yermin more rapidly than
any other creature, and when allowed
to roost in sheds or stables, are almost
sure to give lice TO cattle and horses
Kept in a house Of their own these evil.
are avoided, and the fowls themselves
can be kept in a much better condition
As \ rule, cattle and sheep relish
their feed best as near the natural
state as they can get it 4; grass fresh and
green, hay as nearly as possible to the
condition 1t is in the field, and fodder
bright and dry. without either chopping
or cooking. When feed has once beer
brought within the reach OF the animal
there Is no appliance that SO thoroughly
fits it for the animals use as the stomach
itself; hence when corn has beer
shelled for sheep or crushed for cattle,
further preparation of this food only
makes it less palatable.
WHEN a new mich COW has her call
taken from her she will often hold VI
her milk, apparently for the purpose o.
saving it for her offspring. 1t Will re-
uuire kindness and patience TO over
come this habit. The operation Of
milking is pleasant for the animal, and
if she is given a mess of warm slops
while being MIXED her attention viii
be so diverted that she will yield with
out remembering her calf. 1t is i'm
portant to milk clean from the first, "a
retention of milk in the udder Injuries il
and tends to decrease the yield.
GIVE Cows WARM DRINK.-It i.
said that in France some experiment:
were recently made with regard to the
temperature of the water supplied tC
cows and its effect upon the milk yield.
ed by them, the food being kept sub.
stantially the same. The quantity oil
water To drink at 1l3 degrees Fahren'
heit was one-third more than that from
the cows that had to drink cold water,
but nothing definite is stated regarding
the quality of the milk or of the com
parative effect of the differently heated
drinks upon the physical condition o.
the animal.
\ GOOD boar should have a short
head, wide between the eyes, fint
muzzle, silky ears, lively eyes, soft mel
low skin, long, fine, abundant hair, bui
no bristles short legs, heavy jowl and
quarters, full, short neck, well-devel-
oped organs, and compactly-built body,
The SOW should resemble him il mani
respects, but should have more length
and depth of body.
THE chief difficulty in teachin.
calves to drink from the pail arise
from too great haste. Let the calf be
come hungry, warm the food to tn
temperature of new milk, give it tht
finger TO suck, but only for a moment
and the calf Is easily taught to drink.
IL feeding roots it is very imp Jrtan
that they be sliced, especially whe!
given to cattle. If the weather become
Geld it is best to keep the frozen root
in water over night in order to draw
out the frost. Then sprinkle will
meal and a small proportion OF salt.
THE London Garden recommend
that walnuts and filberts be wintered il
flower pots, covered over first witt
slate, and then with several inches o
sifted ashes. We confess We do not Se
the object gained by such method, a.
most people prefer dry nuts 20 moist
for eating.
CORN is cheap, and as consequence
it does not pay to send half-fat sheep tC
market. The man who would do SC
under the present condition of the grain
and mutton market must be considered
somewhat deficient in judgment. Feec
the thrifty wethers the cheap corn and
make them fat.
THE Fdrm Journal says that neat
ness has a market value, as is easil,
seen when it adds cent a box to tn
price of berries, 10 cents barrel t
apples, half dime bushel to potatoes
cents pound to butter, or 3 cents /;
dozen to eggs, and a percaptible per